Juki LK 1852 Bar Tacker

[Chayse]

Need some advice and opinions please...I have a chance to pick up a one owner Juki LK 1852, 28 stitch bar tacker for a VERY good price....what say you ole wise ones of this forum? I know that it is designed to sew one stitch and it has one purpose....I am intrigued?

 

Thoughts, opinions, criticism welcome...

 

V/r,

 

Chayse

[Chayse]

I Know that this may not be a 'Leather Sewing' machine and may not belong in this section...mods, feel free to move...just looking for honest info..... Here is  question....would it sew leather...it can run 92 thread...? If so, what possible ounce or what possible function would it have on a leather project, if any? Thanks!!

 

V/r,

 

Chayse

 

 

 

 

[patria]

It will be useless for leather, bartacker machine will do 1 thing only zig zag ing back and forth on very limited width.

If you design leather bag with cotton webbing handle / strap, It will do bartack / reinforcement on it. 

 

[Chayse]

Thanks patria...it is intriguing because I do work with nylon, not only leather. Hmm...it is tempting, just solely on the price point alone. With talking with the owner, he bought the machine for a project...now he is moving on...at $400, compared to the price of a new machine, if it works as advertised, it may be worth the purchase. The machine is only 8 months old....all this info is solely provided by the owner, as I can not verify.... The price includes factory table and motor also....which is 110v, which is also an added benefit for me.

Edited March 30, 2017 by Chayse
added information

[Chayse]

i have researched the limitations of the machine....it is designed to do one thing and one stitch. I guess if I wanted to produce some nylon dog collars and leashes pretty quick, it would work like a champ. Understandably, I know this has nothing to do with leather or leather working...I am just looking for opinions solely based on the machine, I guess. I know Juki is a reputable brand in the business, however, I think I would tend to lean toward the older...all metal versions compared to the mass produced machines they make today....there is just something about metal parts that scream longevity! 

I know this thread will get more views than responses but I was just inquiring with all of the knowledgeable folks on here, as I lack the sufficient knowledge when it comes to this....this is just one of those occasions where the collective knowledge base of this forum applies.

Thanks

 

Chayse

[JimTimber]

There's a Camatron converted Singer here with a Box-cross configuration for sale at $300, and it works per the owner.  One program size, one set of cams, no real adjustments to speak of.  A great deal if that's what you need, a $300 paperweight if it's not quite perfect.

[Chayse]

Those cams can get expensive to change things up....I guess these would be considered a 'niche' type machine....Thanks JT for your input

[JimTimber]

There's a lot going on, on the drive side of that platen.  Neat to watch, not so neat to try to reverse engineer. 

[gottaknow]

The Juki 1800 series are good tackers. A 28 stitch machine is good up to 1/2" long max, 3/8" long is ideal. That's for woven fabric. Jeans belt loops are set with a 28 stitch machine. A 42 stitch is good for 1/2" to 7/8" length. I have a 1852 with a button tacker cam that's a workhorse.  I'm also still using 2 Juki 900 series, and a 1900 series pattern tacker. Juki's only weakness on their cam driven tackers is the pin that holds the roller in the main cam groove is prone to breaking. Quick fix for me, not for novice mechanics. 

It will handle up to T90 bonded on the needle. I always use a smaller thread for the bobbin. Makes a much nicer looking tack. I have used mine for tacking leather neck loops on jackets without issue. 135x16 needle size 100/16. That's with T60 poly/cotton thread. 

Regards, Eric

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

9 hours ago, Chayse said:

Thanks patria...it is intriguing because I do work with nylon, not only leather. Hmm...it is tempting, just solely on the price point alone. With talking with the owner, he bought the machine for a project...now he is moving on...at $400, compared to the price of a new machine, if it works as advertised, it may be worth the purchase. The machine is only 8 months old....all this info is solely provided by the owner, as I can not verify.... The price includes factory table and motor also....which is 110v, which is also an added benefit for me.

Are you sure about that?