Consew 206Rb Capabilities

[Rarere]

Hi all,

I'm trying to buy my first sewing machine and I'm in need for some advice.

I have been handmaking small leather goods for a little over a year. While I would like to continue to make these by hand, I have begun a duffle bag project which has prompted me to look at a sewing machine.

I have read through all the threads about machines and have gained a lot of information. Locally there is a consew 206rb3 for sale and I thought I was set. It then dawned on me while constructing this duffle bag by hand that a flat bed isn't the ideal machine for projects like this, and a cylinder arm would be the better option. I am based in New Zealand and machines are few and far between. The techsew machine (2700) seems like a great machine for this or any 441 type. After crunching the numbers with exchange rate and shipping it comes to over 3k in nzd, whereas I can pickup this 206rb3 for around 800nz.

Now my question to you, will I still be able to construct bags with this machine? I plan on using Chrome tanned leather that is about 4-5oz (total 10oz max thickness).

I understand there is no machine that will be suited to every task, but I am hoping that the 206rb3 will be manageable for this job.

I also hope to construct bags (duffles, messenger, women's clutches) with waxed canvas and maybe tarpaulin which it seems the 206rb would be fine with.

Does anyone have any first hand experience with making items like this with a flatbed? Is it manageable?

Thank you in advance

Craig

[Colt W Knight]

I made these on my Consew 206 RB - Yes a Cylinder arm would be preferably, but you make do with what you got. My consew will sew with thread as large as #138 and will sew almost 3/8" thick. It will sew through 10 ounce leather without a problem, especially chrome tanned stuff.

Edited August 23, 2015 by Colt W Knight

[Rarere]

Thank you for your reply Colt, great looking work too!

Did you sew the lining with the 206rb also or did you need to use a home machine for that?

[Colt W Knight]

Everything was done on the 206. It feeds heavy cloth, felt, garment leather, vinyl, and veg tan leather without any problems. It doesn't feed thin linen type cloth well, but mine has had the serrations on the feet ground smooth to prevent marking on veg tan leather, so I bet with standard feet it would work just fine.

[CowboyBob]

Hey Colt,keep up the great looking work there!!

[Colt W Knight]

  On 8/24/2015 at 10:58 AM, CowboyBob said:

Hey Colt,keep up the great looking work there!!

Thanks Bob

[Manuel1949]

Really good looking stuff. I'm very jealous.