First Projects Sewn Using New Cobra 4

[Allan1972]

These cuffs are the first items I have sewn on my new Cobra 4 machine, #25 needle was used.

-The brown cuff was sewn using 277 natural thread, I think it turned out nice stitch wise.

-The purple cuffs were sewn with 346 black thread, the knots were showing on the back. With the black lining and thread you can't really see the issue.

-The black cuff was sewn with 346 white on top and black on bottom, this is where the knots not pulling into the middle show up as you can see the white thread showing through.

The machine is set up to sew with 277 thread, I did not want to mess with the settings before I tried a bigger needle as the charts I've seen state #26-29 needle size with 346 thread.

Allan

Edited December 8, 2014 by Allan1972

[Rohn]

Looks like your new machine is working out great for you. I am hoping to purchase one of those machines in the near future. So this topic is especially interesting to me.

[JLSleather]

Show us how nicely it stitches back in the same holes

[silverwingit]

Looks like you are having fun. I wouldn't be afraid to experiment with different needle and thread sizes. I swap out 22-26 size needles and 138-346 size thread (appropriate to needle size) on my Cobra 4 with little if any change in tension at all, ever. I can think of only one time I had to adjust the bobbin tension. It's good exercise just swapping out needles and bobbins and getting comfortable with changing tensions. Time will come when you need to make a change and with that kind of experience you will know what needs to be done.

You will come to learn that the Cobra 4 is a very versatile machine capable of stitching anything from thin glove leather to 3/4" thick layers of saddle skirting. It is a very forgiving machine so long as you oil it regularly and remember to hold onto those threads ~tight~ for the first several stitches.

I'm going to share two excellent Cobra 4 videos by our own Al Bane that I have found profoundly helpful.

Good luck and keep up the good work!

Michelle

[GrampaJoel]

Nice work!

If the knots are showing on the back side tighten you tension until the knot gets pulled inside the hole.

Did you groove your leather before sewing? Or just use the roller for spacing?

Joel

[Allan1972]

Show us how nicely it stitches back in the same holes

do you want me to sew a test piece and post a picture of the stitching…...

do you not have the same machine?

there are videos showing it back stitching, mine does it the same as the videos.

if you want to see front and back finished stitches I can do a test piece and post pics.

[Allan1972]

Nice work!

If the knots are showing on the back side tighten you tension until the knot gets pulled inside the hole.

Did you groove your leather before sewing? Or just use the roller for spacing?

Joel

thanks for the advise Joel, I want to see the effect of a bigger needle before I adjust the tension. I did groove the leather before sewing but I have been practicing using the guide.

Looks like you are having fun. I wouldn't be afraid to experiment with different needle and thread sizes. I swap out 22-26 size needles and 138-346 size thread (appropriate to needle size) on my Cobra 4 with little if any change in tension at all, ever. I can think of only one time I had to adjust the bobbin tension. It's good exercise just swapping out needles and bobbins and getting comfortable with changing tensions. Time will come when you need to make a change and with that kind of experience you will know what needs to be done.

You will come to learn that the Cobra 4 is a very versatile machine capable of stitching anything from thin glove leather to 3/4" thick layers of saddle skirting. It is a very forgiving machine so long as you oil it regularly and remember to hold onto those threads ~tight~ for the first several stitches.

I'm going to share two excellent Cobra 4 videos by our own Al Bane that I have found profoundly helpful.

Good luck and keep up the good work!

Michelle

Thanks for the info Michelle, I have watched those videos a few times. Now that I have used the machine the info on the video has more impact.

Looks like your new machine is working out great for you. I am hoping to purchase one of those machines in the near future. So this topic is especially interesting to me.

I have a couple belts to make for customers so we will see how it goes when it counts. Happy with the machine so far.

[JLSleather]

do you want me to sew a test piece and post a picture of the stitching…...

do you not have the same machine?

there are videos showing it back stitching, mine does it the same as the videos.

if you want to see front and back finished stitches I can do a test piece and post pics.

No, I don't need a picture If yours stitches back in the same holes as it arrived, you are the exception.

On a number of machines now, someone (not always me) has put the thing in forward, stitch a line. Then move over, put in reverse, stitch another line parallel. Stitch length clearly NOT the same. So, while it CAN be made to fall back in those holes, you can't simply put it in reverse and assume that it will (though they could be adjusted to - and in fact, SHOULD have been but weren't).

[silverwingit]

My Cobra 4 doesn't have the same stitch length in reverse either.

JLS, if you know how, please share the adjustment you refer to.

Thanks,

Michelle

[JLSleather]

Okay, just a bit further. I'm not sure what "video" we're talking about here -- that Al video above? He goes back what.. 2 stitches? 3?

If you do the simple test I describe above, you'll see that this is a ratio (which, makes sense). The longer the stitch length, the more the ratio is thrown off when putting in reverse.. And the further you go, the farther it will be off (incremental error).

And yes, I do have one of these. And yes, I do use it. I'm simply not ignorant of its limitations, nor do I tell people it does what it doesn't do.

But, I have commented in another thread (not mine originally) about the accessories sold with these. Holster plate, stirrup plate, slotted plate, blanket thingy.. Is there no manual or video showing the use and purpose of these? Seriously, there are people I swear posted pics and vids of EVERY project they ever made.... but no cobra accessories...

Personally, I get by just fine. I'm wondering if there's a video with some TRUE information that I can point to when OTHERS ask.

[JLSleather]

My Cobra 4 doesn't have the same stitch length in reverse either.

JLS, if you know how, please share the adjustment you refer to.

Thanks,

Michelle

You are #5 Michelle -- and thanks for your honesty.

A 'fix" for this can be done in a few ways. Ideally, the people making them - OR the people shipping them - OR the people servicing them -- would set that before you get it. I haven't yet taken it apart to see how that adjustment is made, though I suspect it's set screws like about everything else on this thing. You are rotating a lever on a pivot point.. and basically the pivot is not the same angle in each direction. It looks like up and down, but looking down that machine it's more like rotating 2:30 to 3:30 (sorry, old machinist mind).

Second, and certainly simplest.... One guy I talked with doesn't use reverse. He simply gets where he going, TURNS THE PROJECT AROUND, and goes forward in those same holes. He's had the machine a few years, and never checked that. His reasoning was, turning it around made it easier to see the work and where the needle was going. When he tried it, he found his didn't 'stitch back' either. Couple things about this....

1.) Sometimes the simple answer is right in front of you

2.) You need a project that allows room to turn it around.

And, if a guy wanted to 'adapt' this WITHOUT turning the work around and WITHOUT opening the machine... then you could get some shim stock in a brass or stainless (non-rust material) -- back off the screws holding that plate behind the stitch adjustment lever -- and shim one end or the other until they actually do match.

[Red Cent]

Those with the bad backstitch, how far are you backstitching? I do 3 forward, back to the original hole, then forward. My C4 does very well for those amount of stitches.

PS: Very nice work Allan.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Red Cent

[silverwingit]

Actually, my machine was set properly in terms of reverse stitch length when I took delivery, but I had an incident early on where the thread jerked out of my grasp at the beginning of a run and that caused the machine to go out of timing. Steve successfully talked me through resetting the timing and I haven't looked back since (nor have I allow threads to slip from my grasp). The only side effect was that the reverse stitches are no longer the same length as the forward ones -- but not by much -- so I haven't worried about it since I don't do long runs in reverse. I would like my machine to be set up properly, though, ergo my question. I should give Steve a call.

Michelle

[JLSleather]

Oh, the others I was talking about CAME that way. Perhaps something could get knocked out during shipping, though you'd think if that was the case then SOMETHING would be said about what to do about that (if it were common).

Don't believe it's a timing issue, though I suppose a timing problem could result in this.

[Allan1972]

Okay, just a bit further. I'm not sure what "video" we're talking about here -- that Al video above? He goes back what.. 2 stitches? 3?

If you do the simple test I describe above, you'll see that this is a ratio (which, makes sense). The longer the stitch length, the more the ratio is thrown off when putting in reverse.. And the further you go, the farther it will be off (incremental error).

And yes, I do have one of these. And yes, I do use it. I'm simply not ignorant of its limitations, nor do I tell people it does what it doesn't do.

But, I have commented in another thread (not mine originally) about the accessories sold with these. Holster plate, stirrup plate, slotted plate, blanket thingy.. Is there no manual or video showing the use and purpose of these? Seriously, there are people I swear posted pics and vids of EVERY project they ever made.... but no cobra accessories...

Personally, I get by just fine. I'm wondering if there's a video with some TRUE information that I can point to when OTHERS ask.

Yes that is the video

I too would love to see some video of actual use of the accessories, not sure how to use them.

Allan

Those with the bad backstitch, how far are you backstitching? I do 3 forward, back to the original hole, then forward. My C4 does very well for those amount of stitches.

PS: Very nice work Allan.

Thanks Red Cent:)

[Colt W Knight]

My consew 206 will back stitch into the same hole, I have horrible time with it either cutting the previous thread or birdnesting underneath.

[Allan1972]

My consew 206 will back stitch into the same hole, I have horrible time with it either cutting the previous thread or birdnesting underneath.

With the 277 tread it is working well, with the tension not set for 346 tread it will nest on the back. I am sure when I set the tension for the 346 it will pull in clean like the 277.

Allan

[JLSleather]

My consew 206 will back stitch into the same hole, I have horrible time with it either cutting the previous thread or birdnesting underneath.

My 206 (RB-5) stitches back very well - run in reverse all day in the same holes -- no issues. Not sure about yours, but on the -RB5 it's a simple adjustment if it ever went off.

Only thing I didn't like about the machine was that you can't "lock" it in reverse (have to hold the lever down). Occasionally that could be a pain.

[Colt W Knight]

My 206 (RB-5) stitches back very well - run in reverse all day in the same holes -- no issues. Not sure about yours, but on the -RB5 it's a simple adjustment if it ever went off.

Only thing I didn't like about the machine was that you can't "lock" it in reverse (have to hold the lever down). Occasionally that could be a pain.

I have a foot pedal setup on mine for reverse, but I would prefer a locking lever.