wcook Report post Posted May 11, 2016 I have been leatherworking for about a year now and after making a couple of bags have decided to buy a cylinder arm sewing machine. I am specifically looking at the Techsew 5100 and 2700 and want build classic briefcases (think Saddleback bags). My dilemma comes from the large range of thicknesses I will be sewing through. In places I will be sewing through up to 3/8” leather (around the d-rings for example) and in others I will probably be only pushing through around 5-6oz of leather. These weights put me at the bottom end of the 5100 and the top end of the 2700 capacity. The people over at Techsew have recommended the 5100, which I completely agree with but I am wondering how these machines operate when working at their bottom working capacity. Any thoughts on this or considerations I may have missed? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MADMAX22 Report post Posted May 11, 2016 I have an older 4100 or whatever they are. It does fine with 6oz leather as long as you make the proper adjustments. I am using mine right now for my motorcycle seats where it stitches 2 or 3 layers of 3oz leather and no complaints so far when it comes to the stitching part of it. Wizcraft has a few post/threads on getting them setup to sew thinner leather with smaller thread. I personally am using 207 thread at the moment for my projects. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wcook Report post Posted May 11, 2016 Thanks for your response! When adjusting the machine what is involved? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLDNSLOW Report post Posted May 11, 2016 WCook, where are you located? If there is a company near by that will let you test machines that might be the best route so that you can see how they will function with the material you want to sew. O n S Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wcook Report post Posted May 11, 2016 I am in Calgary, AB. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daveottawa Report post Posted May 11, 2016 I have a model 3800. It's just like the 5100, according to Techsew, but with only a 10.5" throat. I've gone from sewing 10 oz to putting trim on 6/7 oz and back again. I had to adjust tension as I expected. It was a learning curve and I got it now, with some help from the peeps at Techsew. It's only a month old and I'm very, very happy with it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wcook Report post Posted May 11, 2016 daveottawa, You ever find that you would like to have the larger throat of the 5100? Now that I am thinking about it I am not really sure I need the larger throat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daveottawa Report post Posted May 12, 2016 (edited) At this time I don't make enough items with that extra width to justify buying the 5100. The few times I did I just bent over the item 90 degrees to squeeze through! For me, a better option will be to keep the 3800 and eventually get a second machine, like a 2700, specifically to sew lighter stuff if I get interested in making that down the road once I figure the machine will pay for itself in a reasonable time. I learned from the pros here that I won't try to force one machine to do it all. Also, I think it would be nice to not have to fiddle with the tension when changing thicknesses. Like, leave the 3800 tensioned for thicker stuff and the 2700 tensioned for thinner stuff around 5oz or thinner. Edited May 12, 2016 by daveottawa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shoepatcher Report post Posted May 16, 2016 wcook,, Because you can't sew on the machines to test them, I suggest you send a few samples to Ron at Techsew and have them sew the samples for you. Just make sure you let them know the weight of thread you are going to be sewing with. glenn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
