Machine company with best customer service?

[Jordanball33]

I'm looking to get into sewing with a machine for my leather goods. I've been handsewing for years and I'm ready to take the plunge and buy a machine.

Rather than discuss machines, I would like to know who has the best customer service and can help with any setup problems, and issues that may arise down the line. I'm in a rural area and don't even know where the closest tech shop would be. I want to buy from a company that has the best customer service.

This is why I'm choosing to buy new instead of used.

 

And of course I'll need a specific machine, to sew 2 layers of up to 6 ounce (each) leather.  But I would think there are more than a few companies that have a machine to meet my needs. 

 

[MADMAX22]

There are several. Bob toledo sewing, Steve cobra sewing, Ron Techsew, Neel Neels saddlery are the few I have personally been provided excellent service from. 

Not sure about in your area though. Imagine Bob or Neel are the closest to you. 

[Wizcrafts]

There are several esteemed industrial sewing machine dealers who advertise their wares via banners on top of every page on our forums. They pay to support us and value their reputations when it comes to customer service. You should consider using these banner ads to investigate the machines and prices from these dealers.

Many of us own machines from two or more of our supporting dealers. I personally own machines bought from Cowboy Bob (Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines), Cobra Steve (Leather Machine Co.) and have parts purchased from Techsew. These are not the only places I buy machines and parts, but are my primary suppliers. I can tell you from experience that these dealers do support their customers. But, the first two are not large scale operations (2 or 3 people) and it may take a while for the owner or technician to reply to messages and emails. Despite any delays, none have ever left me hanging.

Sometimes a servo motor may quit (electronics!) or a v-belt may shred, or I may need accessory presser feet, a different needle plate, needles, bobbins, thread, or oil. In my experience, the item is usually in the mail or on a truck the next day after talking to the company.

[brmax]

I think its a wise decision to look around ones area say 50 miles and talk with others like upholsters, leather, canvas fabricators.

This just for the homework, that they may share with locating tech's or even retired tech's as there seems to be many more of them in this area. I suppose because we manufactured sometime ago!

I'm in the Heartland and know of several others in Florida and its the same as here as mentioned there's just not mechanic technicians for these machines anywhere close to the numbers that was available. Far and few between actually!

This small bit of info runs into I hope, the thought that each of us has to answer "how much do we want to do ourselves" and then more importantly what level we should attempt.  There are task we will have to do, even in the best situations.

I have found not one forum on the internet that begins to even rate on scale with this Leatherworker net.  When it comes to sew machine knowledge, troubleshooting problems and the open thanks to others. Members with their interest here and many times sharing these results to better others machines and operations they learned is great.

So welcome, take a look around, do some searchin and even google brings back amazing results "right back here", go figure!

 

Floyd

[Jordanball33]

Thank you all very much. The cowboy 3200 and the techsew 2700 look great on the top ads. I've watched videos of them on YouTube and both seem like solid choices. Glad to know they have great support here. 

[JLSleather]

If 2 layers of 6 oz is as thick as you need to go, then many machines will do what you need.  If you just want one, and can afford it, then by all means.  But a '441 clone' is far more machine than you need.

 

[Jordanball33]

Who sells the 441 clone? I'm not familiar with that machine. 

[Wizcrafts]

1 hour ago, Jordanball33 said:

Who sells the 441 clone? I'm not familiar with that machine. 

The Cowboy CB3200 is an entry level 441 clone. It can sew with thread sizes #138 up to #346. Its range of thicknesses is from about 6 ounces up to 32 ounces.

If that is too heavy duty, the CB227R will use thread sizes up to no more than #207 on top, with #138 in the bobbin, and thicknesses from about 2 ounces up to 20 ounces.

If you want to get into very heavy work, the Cobra Class 4 can sew over 3/4 of an inch.

[bikermutt07]

2 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

The Cowboy CB3200 is an entry level 441 clone. It can sew with thread sizes #138 up to #346. Its range of thicknesses is from about 6 ounces up to 32 ounces.

If that is too heavy duty, the CB227R will use thread sizes up to no more than #207 on top, with #138 in the bobbin, and thicknesses from about 2 ounces up to 20 ounces.

If you want to get into very heavy work, the Cobra Class 4 can sew over 3/4 of an inch.

But Wiz, the link for the 3200 says it will run thread from #69 up to #346?

Is this a misprint? The stated range of this machine has had me leaning that way for a while now.

I do understand I would have to learn how to adjust it well to take advantage of such a range.

(Humbly bows and backs away)

Edited February 25, 2017 by bikermutt07

[MADMAX22]

 

7 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

They pay to support us

Support you the webmaster , na but really they advertise to sell there services. Yes lots of them are on the forums and answer alot of questions and they also get a ton of referrels from this site and sell alot of machines either directly or indirectly from primarily content on this site and the ads that the forum gets paid for. Doubt they pay the forum out of the kindness of there heart like some of us have.

 

49 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

But Wiz, the link for the 3200 says it will run thread from #69 up to #346?

Is this a misprint? The stated range of this machine has had me leaning that way for a while now.

I do understand I would have to learn how to adjust it well to take advantage of such a range.

(Humbly bows and backs away)

They all advertise that these big machines handle that range or in the case of say the 4 class bigger thread. Yes they can theoretically but if your stitching with 69 or even 92 thread into a couple or few layers of upholstery leather there are far better machines. If your sticking with thinner layers say 12oz of softer temper leather and less than 207 thread than the 26, 20, 18, 227 ...... are more versatile and easier to setup for that situation. To add I would save up if your getting the bigger stitcher and grab the 3500. Its a better overall machine with better resale, better feeding for leather that you want to avoid marks on,  

[bikermutt07]

I thought the 3200 had the same feed as the bigger machines? I thought the only difference was thread max and lift height. Dangit, back to the drawing board.

To be totally honest I don't even know how small #69 thread is it if I would use it. Hoping to make wallets, belts, sheaths, and holsters......

[MADMAX22]

29 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

I thought the 3200 had the same feed as the bigger machines? I thought the only difference was thread max and lift height. Dangit, back to the drawing board.

To be totally honest I don't even know how small #69 thread is it if I would use it. Hoping to make wallets, belts, sheaths, and holsters......

You could use it for wallet interiors. For the outside its up to you. Sheaths belts and holsters are gonna use 138 on up depending on the look and holding ability you want. In general terms dress belts 138, double layer gun belts 207-415 (I usually use 277) sheaths 207-415 (I usually use 207 or 277) holsters 207-415 (I usually use 277). 

Ask Bob though as I may be confusing some of the models feeding capabilities, regardless for the price increase for the higher capability 3500 is worth it IMHO especially since sheaths and some holsters can get pretty darn thick. I just thought there was a difference in the 3200 and 3500 but could of been thinking of the 2500 vs 3500. 

Edited February 26, 2017 by MADMAX22

[Wizcrafts]

7 hours ago, bikermutt07 said:

But Wiz, the link for the 3200 says it will run thread from #69 up to #346?

Is this a misprint? The stated range of this machine has had me leaning that way for a while now.

I do understand I would have to learn how to adjust it well to take advantage of such a range.

(Humbly bows and backs away)

I have the big brother to the 3200; the 4500 and my buddy has a Cobra Class 4. I sew on both of these machines and have not had much luck with thread sizes smaller than #138. I have been able to fiddle with the settings to sew with #92 thread, but it takes time to get there and back again for heavy sewing. I find that even after adjusting these machines to use #92 thread, the reverse sewing is iffy at best. The problem is that the thinner needles are farther away from the hook to start and get pulled even farther to the left as you sew. Skipped stitches are easy to accomplish with this setup.

I find that rather than fighting with a huge machine to dumb it down, it's easier to buy a lighter duty machine to handle thin thread projects. So, I use a standard build of compound feed walking foot machine to sew wallets, phone cases, hems and zippers. When the material is too light or soft for even that machine, I switch over to an old tailoring machine that is only good with thin (up to #69) thread and little needles, with about a 1/4 inch material capacity (not leather).

If you care to spend time readjusting spring tensions and hook timing, you can probably get a CB3200 to sew about 4 ounces with #69 thread. The goal is to create the largest loop possible for the approaching hook to pick off. That is easier to do with larger thread sizes than smaller ones on the big machines that have heavy springs and huge take-up levers.

Finally, as difficult as it can be to dumb down a big machine, the reverse is also true if you try to smarten up a lesser machine. Many members, including little old part time Webmaster me, have tried this on a lot of machines, only to throw in the towel and get a bigger machine for thick thread sewing jobs. If most of your current sewing will be mostly not exceed 3/8 inch and you will be happy with 15 pound test #138 thread, a medium duty walking foot machine should get you by until the need and money arises for something bigger.

FYI: a 441 machine is a synonym for the Juki TSC-441 machine that is built in Japan. You can have one for the mere price of $6500 + $225 shipping from Nick-O-Sew.

[Wizcrafts]

5 hours ago, bikermutt07 said:

I thought the 3200 had the same feed as the bigger machines? I thought the only difference was thread max and lift height. Dangit, back to the drawing board.

To be totally honest I don't even know how small #69 thread is it if I would use it. Hoping to make wallets, belts, sheaths, and holsters......

It does have the same triple feed mechanism as the bigger 441 type machines! The difference is that it is specifically built to only sew a half inch above the flattest throat plate. Attaching a raised holster or stirrup plate that is normally used on the CB4500, or equivalent, would reduce the available sewing capacity down to as little as about 10-12 ounces. The two feet need to alternate up and down at least an eighth of an inch and sometimes more to feed the material or climb over new layers and back down.

How small is #69 thread? Answer: .0115" (.292mm) (Source)

I use #69 thread to sew pigskin wallet interiors and to hem denim or thin leather garments. Chinese belt makers use it to hold their bonded leather belts together (until they crack and fall apart in 6 months). Upholsters use 69 to hold seat cushions/covers together. It is okay for any thin projects that don't exert over 11 pounds pull on the seams. For some machines, #69 is the upper limit. For others, it is the lower, or probably below the lower limit (as in 441 clones).

I hope this isn't too confusing.

[bikermutt07]

You Are the WIZ!!! That was very helpful. Thanks.