Techsew 3850 questions

[guymokia]

Ok so I start with I got techsew 3850 few weeks back , I never used sewing machine before is its all new to me , this site gave lot info , so thanks to all of u that post and help people like me , guys at techsew have lot of patience and helped me a lot , I'm finally getting to the point where it looks ok , at least from my point t of view , but still have few questions .

1. The photos below is 3 layers of 3-4 oz vegetable tan cowhide I used 138 bonded nylon with 23 r needle , by the look of it tension looks good on both sides but few times it did not look it properly and I see the knot on the bottom, 

2. When am I supposed to do reverse ? Needle position wise , I tried few times and it looks like shit , or is there other way to finish the stitching? Do I have e to do reverse ? 

Thanks in advance

Guy 

[Yetibelle]

Reverse is typically just for backstitching the end and start of the row.  So you go forward 2-3 stiches and then backstitch over that 2-3 stiches then continue on forward until you get to the end and then reverse for 2-3 stiches and done.   You don't typically drive the machine in reverse for very far.  Try and run with 138 on the top and 92 in the bobbin and see if that makes a difference.   Also with a new machine it should work correctly I would contact Tecsew support and see if they can help get it adjusted right.

 

[mikesc]

Personally, I'd also drop down a size on the needle too, ( make smaller holes, the knots will be better hidden ) , reduce the foot pressure ( reduces the "pressed through" effect on the bottom ) and lower the feed dogs a smidgen ( if you can on that machine ? )..that with lowering the pressure on the top foot/feet will make the bottom look less "battered"*..the occasional knot on the bottom is probably down to the thread tension varying  in the top thread path somewhere..look for small "snags" anywhere from how it comes off the spool right down to the needle eye..

and ditto ..what yetibelle said re "reverse"

*Three  layers of 3 to 4 oz is not thin in total, but each layer is pretty soft , and from your photos it seems to be the case..the pressure at the needle and around the needle and hole in the base plate when the needle pierces is actually "silly high" ( very tightly focused force at high pressure ) ..the bottom layer/ skin is trying to get out of the way via the hole in the base plate..which is affecting the stitch, the "knots", and the bottom layer outside face..which adds to the "shit" effect..many of us have seen / done far worse in "the early days"..:) ..you'll get there..keep your scrap leather ( even the small pieces ) to practice on ( even if only in runs of a few dozen stitches ) and to learn from ..

Edited May 18, 2017 by mikesc