Singer 29K - What Do You Use Yours For?

[RavenAus]

Just got my new machine working right, and looking forward to some sewing, but I've not really used a leather machine before.

What do you use yours for? What would you avoid doing with a patcher like the 29k? I'm already looking at holsters and maybe some soft leather bags & purses but I could use some ideas that will challenge me

[Constabulary]

I use mine for what it was made for - repairing different things. Last repair I did was the center seam of a .30M1 Carbine pouch and a box tack on a compartment of the same pouch. I have sewn straps in rucksacks and so forth but I always consider the patcher as the last choice when an other machine can´t do the job. There are much better machines for for sewing bags and holsters.

People often think that these patcher are THE holy grail of leather sewing machines - they are not. They are for sure nice machines and always good to have one when you need one but nothing I´d like to work with the whole day or doing larger projects.

[RavenAus]

I've looked for over a year and this is the only thing, even used, that is within my price range for at least the coming 2 years - so yeah, to me it is the Holy Grail. Whatever machines you have in the States, double the price for Aussie models. Which is why I'm asking, what do you, and what don't you, use it for?

[pcox]

Don't use mine for anything over 10 oz. not a holster machine for sure. I patch shoes and boots some times leather welding gloves repair coat zippers and pockets and shoulder seams on winter coats and coverall. put patches on letter jackets etc. 69 thread mostly

[Wizcrafts]

I have two patchers. One has a long arr and large bobbin; the other a short arm small bobbin. The small machine is mostly used to sew patcher over pockets on vests or small mending jobs. I use the long arm machine for various projects. I usually restrict both machines to T70 (US #69) bonded nylon. However, I do occasionally run #92 in the bigger patcher only. Today, I used it as an up-the-arm sewer for a pair of Santa boots I enlarged for a customer. Occasionally, I use the patchers to sew new zippers into purses, or to reenforce loose tabs for purse straps.

I almost never use a patcher for any manufacturing project. However, if they, or only one of them was all I had to sew with, I would find a way. For instance, I cannot maintain much of a straight line on a patcher. But, if I was to first cut a groove in the edges of the leather, I could probably follow it.

I used to sew for a good friend in the area who's main machine was an Adler 30-70 motorized patcher. Compared to my Singer patchers, it was built like a HumVee. He threaded it with #138 bonded nylon thread from Weaver Leather, top and bobbin. Sometimes, we preloaded a dozen bobbins for big runs of rifle slings and guitar straps. All the edges were pre-grooved and having a real 1/2 horsepower motor driving it, with excellent foot pedal control, allowed for two hands on the work at all times. It yielded a solid 5 to the inch, at 16ozs, and 4.5 per inch into 8 ozs of leather. No Singer I've ever owned could deliver this performance.

In our friend Down Under's case, I would have the machine brought fully up to original specs, thread it with no more than T90 thread and fit it with a titanium coated system 135x16 or 29x4 - size 120 (aka: #19) needle. Groove the edges in advance for long straight lines. Double stitch the same holes if you need more strength than one line of #92 thread. If the life span of the machine is less important than a particular job, try adjusting it to sew the T135 (US #138) bonded thread. You'll need a #23 leather point needle.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Wizcrafts

[Constabulary]

Raven - I know sewing machines are extremely expensive in Australia (I have checked ebay.com.au a few times for parts) but that makes the 29K not better suitable for producing holsters or bags. It´s not that you can´t produce things with this machine but I think it is far beyond from being a proper machine for these purposes. It is what it is - a repair machine. Please don´t get me wrong.

How about this one - it´s a flat bed but for sure the better choice.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/INDUSTRIAL-LEATHER-SEWING-MACHINE-SEIKO-WALKING-FOOT-model-STH-8BL-/331402457552?pt=AU_Sewing&hash=item4d292031d0

[howie696]

Raven - I know sewing machines are extremely expensive in Australia (I have checked ebay.com.au a few times for parts) but that makes the 29K not better suitable for producing holsters or bags. It´s not that you can´t produce things with this machine but I think it is far beyond from being a proper machine for these purposes. It is what it is - a repair machine. Please don´t get me wrong.

How about this one - it´s a flat bed but for sure the better choice.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/INDUSTRIAL-LEATHER-SEWING-MACHINE-SEIKO-WALKING-FOOT-model-STH-8BL-/331402457552?pt=AU_Sewing&hash=item4d292031d0

That's the problem its a pickup item and Australia is bigger than Europe :-( with a very sparse population per sq mile so the chance of finding one nearby are very remote

[Constabulary]

I know that very well

I see that Brisbane to Blacktown is about a 10hrs trip one way but I personally would take the pain if I can get a machine that I would need for my projects / to make some money. It´s an investment and that sometimes can hurt a little bit at the beginning.

I once traveled 6 hrs one way to get a machine and that was in 2011 when gas was 1.59€ per Liter (not per Gallon). And I would do it again.

But thats not the topic here - I hope some more member will tell what they do with their patchers.

[RavenAus]

10 hours, 11 if you take the New England highway, and that's without stops, for a machine from ebay... No telling what it's like or whether the seller has been honest, and no way of seeing it in action before committing to buy... Even I couldn't persuade my wife that's logical, acceptable or worthwhile - and gas here is averaging $140-$160 a litre too. Not going to happen.