Sewing Machine Needed

[Bohikeman]

Hi, my name is Louie, two years ago I became a Paraplegic, so I'm wheelchair bound. I used to be a surgical nurse, my wife, who used to be a nurse also, had to quit her job to take care of me. I've done a few little things in leather, as a hobby. Now I would like to make little shop in my garage, so that I can do leather work. I just finished my first holster, but for some reason I can't post pictures. I would like to get a sewing machine , but financially, I can't. I was wondering if anyone knows of any charity that could help me, I've seen a few machines in the Goodwill stores, but I don't know if they can sew leather. Are there any kind that can sew fabric & leather? Also, I want to know which is the right leather for holsters? I know it goes by ounces, but I don't know which one is good for what. Thanks for any help. Louie.

[DrmCa]

What type of leather are you planning to use in the machine? You mentioned holsters. To stitch the holsters, you will need a heavy duty machine. Certainly not a household machine you can find at Goodwill store, even if it was cast iron. The members here will correct me if I am wrong: from what I know holsters can be made on Union Lockstitch or at least Juki 441 clones.

[Wizcrafts]

You will not find a machine in any bargain stores that can sew any leather thicker than chaps, if even that.

Holsters are usually built of two or more layers of leather that is over 1/8 inch (8 ounces) per piece. Better holsters reach 3/16" (12 ounces) per side. Western holsters often have a filler rib along the outside to position the revolver. This adds up to another 1/4" (16 ounces) of thickness. Packages like these need very strong thread, typically #277 (1/2 mm diameter), which requires a #25 leather point needle.

Here is a typical heavy leather sewing machine that is used to produce holsters such as I described.

[Colt W Knight]

Are you familiar with kickstarter or gofundme campaigns on social media? I believe you could offer up leather goods for pledges to goto the purchase of a new machine using social media like Facebook.