Holster Sewing Machine Questions

[cleanview]

Me and the machine (cowboy 3200) are finally getting along.

First.....

I was doing my first double stitched holster and was wondering how you do it?

I started and stopped for each separate line, but was wondering if there was a way to do it continuously?

Second.....

How do you know when the needle needs changing?

I have changed it during trouble shooting problems, but have not the foggiest as to how to tell if it is due for changing.

Thanks

[JLSleather]

I change the needle more than needed, probably. They're $1/apiece, so Watch for the hole in the back to start blowing out more, and swap it out. Keep in mind that on this site, you're talking to people who sharpen disposable razor blades (not me, but some) so FWIW... For a buck apiece, needles just aren't my top priority.

And I stitch continuous whenever possible. If you look at the design for a minute, I'm sure you'll see a way. If nothing else, stitch around back to the start hole, and then step over (sideways) and continue. There is always a way ...

[Art]

If you are thinking about it, change it. Check where the needle comes through the leather in the bottom of the stitch, it it looks nasty, change the needle. If the needle gets really hot (not just hot, but REALLY HOT), it is not cutting cleanly and should be changed.

Go to the gun store and examine the Safariland and Bianchi production holsters. They use union locks without any reverse and they can be quite imaginative and decorative in the way they lock stitches. For double stitching, the manufacturers would use a double needle machine, but if they didn't, the general rule is you start, you stop, you're done. I haven't seen them using servo motors yet either.

Art

[cleanview]

The looking at the back is exactly what I wanted to see (no pun intended). Makes sense. Thanks

I sat and studied the two stitch lines and seems like you would have to over travel the first one to lock it and then sew across the lines? Was not sure if that was normal?

Thanks again

[Josh Ashman]

Clearview,

Here is a pic of a holster that I double stitched on the gun side in one continuous stitch line. You could double, or triple, quadruple, etc. stitch the whole thing that way if you wanted to. Back stitch a few holes at the start and end to lock your stitches and plan where to turn or offset to jump into the next line and away you go.

Good luck,

Josh

[Greystone]

Is there any plus to double stitching other than LOOKS ?

Fancy ?

Stronger ?

[Art]

Well yes it will give a second line of defense against failure, but I glue and stitch (most everyone does) and that doesn't come apart in normal use. I can maybe see double stitching a knife sheath, one that fits tight along the edge, but here again, a welt will take abuse better than a second row of stitching. If it is a design element, then do it.

Art

[cleanview]

Thanks for the pic....it does give a good example.

I would think that the double stitch is more cosmetic, yet it would give added strength as well......seems to me the cosmetic is more my people ask for it.

[Colt W Knight]

I change mine before every big project, and about every 4-5 little projects. As someone pointed out above, they are a relatively cheap expense in the expensive world of leather working. When I first started sewing, I would go too long between needle changes, and things would always go wrong like: frayed thread, skipped stitches, and these things lead to other problems like the feed dog hanging up the thread and changing your stitch length or pulling your work from the center line or just plain breaking the needle.