Need sewing maching guidance -

[equiss]

Hi there,

I have a toro 3000 that we bought to do headstalls and saddlery on, what I didn't expect was to also want to do more "craftlike" projects like watch bands, wallets, small purses.....what I don't know are what machines are best for these types of lighter weight work. I would look for something used, but I need some input and on what brands/models of machines are best for light work.

Thank you all for any advice/input that can help

Char

[Hilly]

Hi there,

I have a toro 3000 that we bought to do headstalls and saddlery on, what I didn't expect was to also want to do more "craftlike" projects like watch bands, wallets, small purses.....what I don't know are what machines are best for these types of lighter weight work. I would look for something used, but I need some input and on what brands/models of machines are best for light work.

Thank you all for any advice/input that can help

Char

Hi Char. Yes, I think that maybe the Toro 3000 is probably a bit overkill for lightweight projects? I have a Consew 206RB5 that can sew light weight leathers up to about 2 layers of 6-7oz without groaning. It does upholstery weight leather beautifully! I like it a lot for the price. It's supposed to handle leathers up to 1/2" thick, but I don't think it would do it without blowing up. I don't worry about different thread sizes - just run what I got on hand no worries. Just gotta make sure and change to a leather needle, and change the needle out once in a while to a sharp one.

Good luck in your search for machines!

Hilly

Edited November 17, 2008 by Hilly

[Kevin]

IF, you're a little handy and not looking for anything fancy, you might consider a Singer 31-15. I guess it was originally a tailors machine, but fitted with a roller foot you can sew right up next to a (insert your own teeny weeny thing here). There were at least thousands made, parts are available and pretty cheap, usually the suppliers minimum puchase is the problem. This is what many bootmakers use for their fancy stitching on boot tops.

HOWEVER, if you're not handy, it costs just as much to have these worked on as anything else, so a couple hours labor on a fifty dollar machine adds up fast and makes you feel like you're throwing good money after bad.

Kevin

[SteveBrambley]

Hi there,

I have a toro 3000 that we bought to do headstalls and saddlery on, what I didn't expect was to also want to do more "craftlike" projects like watch bands, wallets, small purses.....what I don't know are what machines are best for these types of lighter weight work. I would look for something used, but I need some input and on what brands/models of machines are best for light work.

Thank you all for any advice/input that can help

Char

Hi,

Kevin is quite correct, the 31-15 (31K15) is very suitable for light leather work. We used one, many years ago, for making small leathergoods, wallets, coin purses, key cases etc. However, there are many machines which would also be suitable or even better. You might consider the Singer 31K47 (31-47?) as this has many identical parts to the '15 but has the advantage of being equipped with 'alternating pressers' which are a great advantage when it comes to variable leather thickness, that is, it will 'climb' over lumps! Another good choice would be the Singer 211G146; this is a little bit heavier than the 31 class and comes with a 'roller presser' as standard, like the 31-15 class it has simple 'drop feed'. A good 'compound feed' machine ('drop feed' and 'needle feed') for light to medium leatherwork, would be the Adler 067-63, this will handle quite a range of different weights of leather, and has a very smooth action. Lastly, the type of machine to handle all kinds of leatherwork would be one with both 'compound feed' and 'alternating pressers', typical examples would be the Singer 111W101, 111W112 or 211G166, but these machines are quite a bit heavier than the 31-15 (Though not as heavy as the Toro 3000!).

These are all 'flat-bed' machines, a good light weight 'cylinder-bed' machine would be several of the the Singer 17 class, such as: 17-16 ('drop feed' with reverse, can be fitted with roller presser) 17-20 ('drop-feed' with alternating pressers). Adler 069-373, with 'compound feed' and narrow cylinder arm, would be a good, slightly heavier, alternative (cylinder version of the 067-63).

As I said, these are only a few examples of suitable machines, I'm sure others can suggest many more.

Steve

[equiss]

Thank you all for the information, unfortunately, I had just started wanting to do saddlery when I bought the Toro - I really like it, but I didn't realize how much I would be doing smaller lighter projects - so now I have no clue what is sufficient, and can't spend a ton of money on another machine.......I am still in process of building my first saddle, and I should have waiting until I knew more about what I was going to do - but I love the Toro, and will continue to try to learn to make my own saddlery - but want a light weight model and just don't have a clue!

Thanks a bunch, I appreciate all of the help, now off to see about what one of these can cost!

Char

Hi,

Kevin is quite correct, the 31-15 (31K15) is very suitable for light leather work. We used one, many years ago, for making small leathergoods, wallets, coin purses, key cases etc. However, there are many machines which would also be suitable or even better. You might consider the Singer 31K47 (31-47?) as this has many identical parts to the '15 but has the advantage of being equipped with 'alternating pressers' which are a great advantage when it comes to variable leather thickness, that is, it will 'climb' over lumps! Another good choice would be the Singer 211G146; this is a little bit heavier than the 31 class and comes with a 'roller presser' as standard, like the 31-15 class it has simple 'drop feed'. A good 'compound feed' machine ('drop feed' and 'needle feed') for light to medium leatherwork, would be the Adler 067-63, this will handle quite a range of different weights of leather, and has a very smooth action. Lastly, the type of machine to handle all kinds of leatherwork would be one with both 'compound feed' and 'alternating pressers', typical examples would be the Singer 111W101, 111W112 or 211G166, but these machines are quite a bit heavier than the 31-15 (Though not as heavy as the Toro 3000!).

These are all 'flat-bed' machines, a good light weight 'cylinder-bed' machine would be several of the the Singer 17 class, such as: 17-16 ('drop feed' with reverse, can be fitted with roller presser) 17-20 ('drop-feed' with alternating pressers). Adler 069-373, with 'compound feed' and narrow cylinder arm, would be a good, slightly heavier, alternative (cylinder version of the 067-63).

As I said, these are only a few examples of suitable machines, I'm sure others can suggest many more.

Steve