Machine beginner Renaissance Faire

[Goblinworx]

I mostly build for Renaissance faires and cosplay. Looking for some help in what I should pick up for my first machine. I would like to spend under $1000. I build out of many thickness but mostly in veg tan.

[Goblinworx]

 I have a chace to pick up a Singer 29-4  but that doesn't seem good for what I am doing. I'm also looking at a Sailrite 

Edited June 23, 2016 by Goblinworx
grammar

[Uwe]

Many of the usual suspects like Juki LU-562 or LU-563, Adler 67, Singer 111W155, Consew 225/226, etc. can often be found for under a grand and they're a BIG step up from the Sailrites. If you need to sew three-dimensional things like bags, armor, codpieces. a cylinder arm machine is desirable, but those usually run more than a grand for the nice walking foot ones.

[Wizcrafts]

Armor is sometimes made of sole leather. You ain't gonna sew that with much less than a harness stitcher. These machines can sew 1/2 inch with the heaviest bonded threads in common use. Other models with longer arms can sew over 3/4 inches of hard leather.

[Goblinworx]

Heavy armor I rivet. More taking about 4 to 8 oz leather for pouchs and sword sheaths.

[mikesc]

What are going to be the deciding factors are, how many layers, of how many ozs.. such as 3 layers of 4oz ? ( 12 oz total ) or 2 layers of 8oz ? ( 16 oz total )
Pouches ( if "cased" ) sounds like you are going to want a cylinder arm machine that can sew at least 3/8" total, and you'd probably be happier with one that can do 1/2" total or even a little above that occasionally..There are medieval fairs all over France all year round, at least half a dozen big ones within 30 minutes drive from me each year, plus various jousting tournaments and similar events at local châteaux..I knew one full time professional "costumier" who had a workshop in the town of Dinan
http://www.fete-remparts-dinan.com/

She also made all the costumes for the theatre there for many years ( she is now retired ), she used a Juki lu 563 and for the lighter ( textile and chrome tan ) work a Pfaff select 4..I bought my Kachiran 4048D ( the same machine as the Pfaff on her recommendation ) ..But it won't sew more than a couple of layers of 2 or 3 oz chrome tan leather ( bear in mind you may also be making some lightweight costumes for women and girls, chrome tan is fine for that sort of work ), you may also know the same machine as a "Pfaff jeans machine"..You can get an industrial textile machine for textile work, but they are usually fitted with clutch motors that go "like a bat out o' hell", and you'll want the control speed..the Kachiran ( a Pfaff clone ), is a domestic, but a very solid and useful one..

You might also "luck" on a singer 20u ( zig -zag and straight stitch ) for the textile work..in which case you'd have piercing power to spare ( much more than the Kachiran type ) so no problem with multiple layers of textile, and even butt joining some veg tan leather..But for control with veg tan you are really going to need a walking foot, after it depends as others have said above on how thick ( total thickness ) are you needing to sew..and you'll want a speed reducer ( if you are using a clutch motor ) or ideally a servo motor ( with maybe a speed reducer for real slooooooooooooow work )..

 

Cosplay is probably going to mean lots of diverse textiles, foams and leathers..definitely want "compound feed" ( needle feed walking foot ) for that..

 

ps..this link might be useful for you for inspiration..

http://www.fetes-medievales.com/departement/bretagne

and this one from the largest French theme park after Disneyworld Paris, specialised in Medieval spectacles ( now does others aswell ) http://www.puydufou.com/en/shows?season=summer

Edited June 23, 2016 by mikesc

[Goblinworx]

I have an1940s White for the fabric stuff. So I'm looking for a machine for pouches and clothing

[Uwe]

Leather armor just needs to look convincing at a renaissance fair, it doesn't need to be functional - nobody's going around whacking people with sharp swords or axes like in Game Of Thrones. You don't really need to sew shoe sole leather to make convincing looking leather armour. A used medium duty cylinder arm walking foot machine is still your best bet for coming even close to $1K, I think. A $2K budget would open of the field of candidates considerably and include some post bed and heavy duty cylinder arm candidates.

[Goblinworx]

I actually do stage combat. So we do try to make the armor a little heavier to protect against accidents. Most of those heavier armor panels I was expecting to hand sew or rivet. I do a lot of pouches, leather doublets, and even bodices with 4 to 5 oz veg tan or some chap leather. I also use kip a lo t for accents. I love doing mixed hide stuff as I see few people doing it, as well a scrap coats. I may go up to a heavy grade machine later but right now I need something  to get the labor intense sewing of pounchs down to something minimal.

Edited June 28, 2016 by Goblinworx

[Sturme]

If I were you Goblin, I would go for a sailright. plus they have an accessory for a heavier flywheel that you can even attach a handle to. that would allow you to do minor repairs at a fair without electric. it will handle most of your needs in your price range

Edited June 28, 2016 by Sturme
spelling

[Constabulary]

I NEVER EVER would buy one of these sailrite LSZ  thingies for heavy leather work. You probably have to climb over different thickness materials and the sailrite  is a top and bottom feed not really a compound foot machine and it has no needle feed.

Look at this BULLSHIT - I hope this will cure you from the idea of using this LSZ thingie for heavy leather work.

Oh - and don´t forget to watch the 2nd Video - it show "how well" this thingie works for heavy leather

 

Edited June 28, 2016 by Constabulary

[msdeluca]

What an abortion...!!!

[dikman]

I'd be ashamed if I did stitching like that! I note that he said it's a rush job and not to be over-critical!!

Edited June 29, 2016 by dikman

[bikermutt07]

On 6/28/2016 at 2:06 PM, Constabulary said:

I NEVER EVER would buy one of these sailrite LSZ  thingies for heavy leather work. You probably have to climb over different thickness materials and the sailrite  is a top and bottom feed not really a compound foot machine and it has no needle feed.

Look at this BULLSHIT - I hope this will cure you from the idea of using this LSZ thingie for heavy leather work.

Oh - and don´t forget to watch the 2nd Video - it show "how well" this thingie works for heavy leather

 

Oh my God!!! Is this the video that shows you how to do everything to do wrong?

Maybe I'm being to hard on myself. Perhaps I could graduate beyond hobby level. Hahaha

[Yetibelle]

Oh-My ....That is like a sewing comedy act?  That can't be real, he must be pranking us.  I am crying a little I laughed so hard.  He breaks out the digital thermal gun to check the water temp?  HAHA.  This is to much.  He has so many rows, front stich, back stich....front stich... back stitch.... , - Sailrite should pay him to take this down.

"Once this thing dries out don't forget to treat it with glove oil, that's the way you do it".

Thanks for that it totally made my day!