Consew 206Rb-5 Vs Chandler 406Rb-1

[cheriva]

I have a home sewing machine (Elna) and a Cobra Class 4. I do tack repair (chaps, breastcollars, horse blankets, etc) and make assorted home décor items, but I am wanting to make purses and other accessories out of light to medium weight leathers. I feel that the Cobra may be too "heavy-duty" and had someone suggest the Consew 206RB-5 as a machine to fill in the gap. Is the Cobra capable of crafting the light/medium weight items with good quality or do I need the fill-in machine? Also, after researching on Toledo Industrial's website I saw the Chandler 406RB-1. It is a bit cheaper but seems like the exact same machine as the Consew. Would anyone have any reccommendations for me and information on the differences (if any) of the two machines.

Thank You-

Cheri

[cheriva]

I am going to post this under a different topic...new to this website and still learning!

[Colt W Knight]

I have a Consew 206RB-1.

It sews light-medium weight stuff like a dream. It will sew up 138 thread without a hitch. I can not get mine to sew with thread larger than 138 worth a flip though.

[cheriva]

Thanks for your input. I was told the 206RB-5 is a bit heavier duty than the 205RB-1...but that was one person's opinion. Good to know about the 138 thread max. Definitely a question I will ask, as they advertise up to 207.

[Colt W Knight]

Well the RB-5 is made in China, and has a different style forward/reverse lever. The RB-1 is made in Japan. The RB-1 is built like a tank, so I can't imagine the 5 being more HD. Its just the latest model. The 206s are advertised as being able to sew 207 thread, but You have to fuss with the machine a lot to get them to work with thread that large.

[JLSleather]

Until not so long ago, I had a -RB5. Good solid machine, lays a nice stitch. My only problem with it, and what could end up being yours, is that it's a flat bed machine. I used thread on it from 42 to 207, but purse gussets sometimes just weren't going to happen on the flatbed. Some designs just much easier on a cylinder machine...

Still, that thing worked with basically no issues (well, there was that one spool of black thread it didn't like, but that turned out to be that thread). Rather kickin' myself for letting it go, but I don't have room for one of everything ...

Edited December 5, 2014 by JLSleather

[Colt W Knight]

Until not so long ago, I had a -RB5. Good solid machine, lays a nice stitch. My only problem with it, and what could end up being yours, is that it's a flat bed machine. I used thread on it from 42 to 207, but purse gussets sometimes just weren't going to happen on the flatbed. Some designs just much easier on a cylinder machine...

Still, that thing worked with basically no issues (well, there was that one spool of black thread it didn't like, but that turned out to be that thread). Rather kickin' myself for letting it go, but I don't have room for one of everything ...

I have a spool of black thread that wont feed through my 206.

[JLSleather]

Wiz said it's likely due to the black thread being stiff (with dye). Coils tried to stay coiled when it came off the spool. He was right.

[Colt W Knight]

Wiz said it's likely due to the black thread being stiff (with dye). Coils tried to stay coiled when it came off the spool. He was right.

Makes sense. When I run that thread, it rips and frays eventhough the same machine with the same setup will sew white the same size without issue.

[cheriva]

Thanks for the input Colt and JLS. After more research I saw that the higher numbers were later models, as you have pointed out. I am glad you also pointed out the flat bed vs cylinder issue. I was wondering about that. From sewing on a home machine my whole life, I of course am more comfortable with a flat bed, but I want to get a machine that will aid my projects not restrict them. I also saw a post bed and read somewhere in this forum about someone using that type for purses and accessories. What is your opinion on that? I do want some versatility with the machine, so is a post type pretty limiting? Is there a platform available that would convert the cylinder are into a flat bed? I have one for my Cobra.