Still looking for a sewing machine. Need opinions on a couple.

[Grunt]

I am still looking for a sewing machine and I have questions about a couple of different machines. I am looking to sew concealed carry belts, saddle bags, chaps, and knife sheaths.

First I have the opportunity to buy a Tippman Boss for $750.00 complete mounted on the tippman table/bench. This machine is one of the older cast iron machines and is in great shape. It is also about 10 min from my house.

I have also seen a couple of different machines on Ebay for sale that look interesting. One is the Neel's Saddlery Model 5. From the description is seems like it would do most anything I would ask of it. How are these machines and how is the customer support?

I have also seen the TECHSEW GA5-1 Heavy-Duty Cylinder Industrial Sewing Machine

sold by Raphael's same as above it seems from the description it would do most jobs I would need done.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Nick

[esantoro]

I am still looking for a sewing machine and I have questions about a couple of different machines. I am looking to sew concealed carry belts, saddle bags, chaps, and knife sheaths.

First I have the opportunity to buy a Tippman Boss for $750.00 complete mounted on the tippman table/bench. This machine is one of the older cast iron machines and is in great shape. It is also about 10 min from my house.

I have also seen a couple of different machines on Ebay for sale that look interesting. One is the Neel's Saddlery Model 5. From the description is seems like it would do most anything I would ask of it. How are these machines and how is the customer support?

I have also seen the TECHSEW GA5-1 Heavy-Duty Cylinder Industrial Sewing Machine

sold by Raphael's same as above it seems from the description it would do most jobs I would need done.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Nick

Both of those are lower feed only. They are similar to the 440 from Ferdco. I think Ryan now also has the Model 5 with reverse, which is similar to Ferdco's 440R. I like this machine. It sewed everything I threw at it and was better at sewing thread sizes 69 to 415 than my Juki 441 clone does. The only draw back is its lower feed mechanism, feeddog only: the feeddog has sharp teeth that will mark your leather, especially in tight areas where the needle and presser foot have to transition from thinner to thicker plateaus.

ed

[Randy Cornelius]

You really need to look at the Artisen Toro 3000, I do everything you want to do on mine, great machine, good customer service. Call and ask Steve or Jerry to send you some info. There is also a video that he posted that you can look at. Not sure where or what it was listed under.

Randy

I am still looking for a sewing machine and I have questions about a couple of different machines. I am looking to sew concealed carry belts, saddle bags, chaps, and knife sheaths.

First I have the opportunity to buy a Tippman Boss for $750.00 complete mounted on the tippman table/bench. This machine is one of the older cast iron machines and is in great shape. It is also about 10 min from my house.

I have also seen a couple of different machines on Ebay for sale that look interesting. One is the Neel's Saddlery Model 5. From the description is seems like it would do most anything I would ask of it. How are these machines and how is the customer support?

I have also seen the TECHSEW GA5-1 Heavy-Duty Cylinder Industrial Sewing Machine

sold by Raphael's same as above it seems from the description it would do most jobs I would need done.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Nick

[hidepounder]

I use an Artisan 797AB for just those size projects. I can use up to 207 thread.....but I have discovered I like using 138 and 92/99 for those size projects. It's a walking foot machine that sews up to approx 3/8 thick material.

[bruce johnson]

It really depends on how much leather you are going to run under it, how much you will use it, and your budget. When you said saddle bags I am thinking that you are going to prefer a cylinder arm machine for them. You can always build or buy a flat bed attachment for doing other stuff. I would shy away from the 440 and similar machines. There is a thread somewhere already on these. If you are going to spend that much on one machine, then pop for the extra $500 and get the 3000 or whatever machine there is in your price range. Personally I had a cast iron Boss and liked it for what it did. When I bought mine, there was no Toro 3000, nothing that would sew close to what the Boss did within $3500 of the Boss' price back then. I had to buy it out of necessity and budget, and would do it again in a heartbeat in the same situation. My business outgrew the Boss and I sold it. For the $750 price and 10 minutes away, that is a pretty good deal on the Boss. Tippmann will inexpensively rebuild them if they ever need it and warrant it like new. There is a little bit of a learning curve for the Boss, but there is on every other machine if you haven't run one too. I taught 2 wives and a 15 year old son to sew on mine in about 5 minutes each. If you want a powered machine then you have some better priced options than I ever did. If two machines are an option, the Boss to sew the things you need a cylinder arm for, and a flat bed for the other stuff might be a good way to go. A good flatbed like one of Artisan's or Ferdco's new ones, or a good used Pfaff 1245 might be the way to go to have the best of both worlds on a decent budget. I wish someone had told me that years ago instead of trying to make one machine do everything. My thoughts.

[Grunt]

It really depends on how much leather you are going to run under it, how much you will use it, and your budget. When you said saddle bags I am thinking that you are going to prefer a cylinder arm machine for them. You can always build or buy a flat bed attachment for doing other stuff. I would shy away from the 440 and similar machines. There is a thread somewhere already on these. If you are going to spend that much on one machine, then pop for the extra $500 and get the 3000 or whatever machine there is in your price range. Personally I had a cast iron Boss and liked it for what it did. When I bought mine, there was no Toro 3000, nothing that would sew close to what the Boss did within $3500 of the Boss' price back then. I had to buy it out of necessity and budget, and would do it again in a heartbeat in the same situation. My business outgrew the Boss and I sold it. For the $750 price and 10 minutes away, that is a pretty good deal on the Boss. Tippmann will inexpensively rebuild them if they ever need it and warrant it like new. There is a little bit of a learning curve for the Boss, but there is on every other machine if you haven't run one too. I taught 2 wives and a 15 year old son to sew on mine in about 5 minutes each. If you want a powered machine then you have some better priced options than I ever did. If two machines are an option, the Boss to sew the things you need a cylinder arm for, and a flat bed for the other stuff might be a good way to go. A good flatbed like one of Artisan's or Ferdco's new ones, or a good used Pfaff 1245 might be the way to go to have the best of both worlds on a decent budget. I wish someone had told me that years ago instead of trying to make one machine do everything. My thoughts.

Bruce,

I think that two machines may be the way to go. I am assuming that that I can use the flat bed machine to sew multiple layers of fabric like cordura nylon, canvas, and denim as well as leather.

Thankfully I have some time to think about this. The funny thing is the fella I am buying the Boss from was going to sell me his Artisan 3000 for a good price, but his wife said that he may need it one day, so that nixed that.

Thanks for all the help guys!

Regards,

Nick

[K-Man]

I've had the BOSS, the Model 5 by Neel's Saddlery, and the Artisan 3000. I would say that all are pretty equal when it comes to the customer service support. All stand behind their products. The Model 5 will serve as an excellent start for a cylinder arm machine, and with the capabilities it provides in cost comparison. I used one for over 2 years. In one instance with that machine, we made some products for a young girl who garnered first place in the costume contest at the Star Wars convention held in Indianapolis a couple of years ago. So, yes, you can make top end stuff with a relatively inexpensive machine. I use Artisan 3000's now and am fully satisfied with them.

[esantoro]

I've had the BOSS, the Model 5 by Neel's Saddlery, and the Artisan 3000. I would say that all are pretty equal when it comes to the customer service support. All stand behind their products. The Model 5 will serve as an excellent start for a cylinder arm machine, and with the capabilities it provides in cost comparison. I used one for over 2 years. In one instance with that machine, we made some products for a young girl who garnered first place in the costume contest at the Star Wars convention held in Indianapolis a couple of years ago. So, yes, you can make top end stuff with a relatively inexpensive machine. I use Artisan 3000's now and am fully satisfied with them.

K-man,

Did you ever modify the feeddog on your Model 5?

If I had the space, I'd still have Model 5 as my #2 machine. I was using it to prep suede pockets, a task for which it made more sense to get a portable walking foot machine. Maybe because it was my first machine I have some nostalgia for it, but the thing was always wanting to stitch everything. " Come on, come on. Givittome. I can do it." It was like a Golden Retriever who always wants to go outside and play. I loved hand cranking the flywheel. It was effortless and smooth. Maybe because its feed mechanism was so simple it had the flexibility to stitch with a variety of thread thicknesses. To switch metaphors, the Model 5 is to my 441 long arm what college football is to professional football, and they both play a mean game.

I wonder, does the 3000 do better than the 4000 at stitching with thinner threads, or is it simply just a short-arm version of the 4000, everything else being equal?

Ed

[Art]

Hi Ed,

According to Jerry, he dreamed the 3000 up on one of those long trips to China. He says he took 7.5 inches out of the center of the 4000R and lost the shaft driven bobbin winder. The story is a lot longer than that, but that's it. The 4000P is a whole different animal.

Art

K-man,

Did you ever modify the feeddog on your Model 5?

If I had the space, I'd still have Model 5 as my #2 machine. I was using it to prep suede pockets, a task for which it made more sense to get a portable walking foot machine. Maybe because it was my first machine I have some nostalgia for it, but the thing was always wanting to stitch everything. " Come on, come on. Givittome. I can do it." It was like a Golden Retriever who always wants to go outside and play. I loved hand cranking the flywheel. It was effortless and smooth. Maybe because its feed mechanism was so simple it had the flexibility to stitch with a variety of thread thicknesses. To switch metaphors, the Model 5 is to my 441 long arm what college football is to professional football, and they both play a mean game.

I wonder, does the 3000 do better than the 4000 at stitching with thinner threads, or is it simply just a short-arm version of the 4000, everything else being equal?

Ed

[esantoro]

Hi Ed,

According to Jerry, he dreamed the 3000 up on one of those long trips to China. He says he took 7.5 inches out of the center of the 4000R and lost the shaft driven bobbin winder. The story is a lot longer than that, but that's it. The 4000P is a whole different animal.

Art

Hi Art,

So, in addition to being a production line machine and even more heavy duty than the 4000R, the 4000P has a different soul? I'm still not getting out much.

ed

[Art]

Hi Ed,

Parts that sew are basically the same, hook might be higher quality, other stuff is beefed up, casting is heavier and different, bobbin winder is on top of head not front. I have one set up to sew blankets and run it at the max, it scares children, and small animals.

Art

Hi Art,

So, in addition to being a production line machine and even more heavy duty than the 4000R, the 4000P has a different soul? I'm still not getting out much.

ed