Members Grumpymann Posted August 22, 2017 Members Report Posted August 22, 2017 Never thought I would be here. But I have a line on a Singer 29-4 leather sewing machine. I do a lot of smaller items. Phone cases, Messenger bags and the like. I was wondering if it not only was a good fit for what I'm doing but if it was a good deal. i.e. worth the price I'm paying up front and if the things I need to put it in working order are avable with out taking out a mortgage. I want to start out knowing if the machine is a good fir for what I'm doing. What kinds of things is a 29-4 treadle machine good for? Quote
Members DrmCa Posted August 22, 2017 Members Report Posted August 22, 2017 This is a shoe patcher, you realize that? For phone cases I would imagine you need a flatbed machine or a desk attachment for that patcher. Thread-wise it should be fine. Quote Machines: Mitsubishi DB-130 single needle, Kansai Special RX-9803/UTC coverstitch, Union Special 56300F chainstitch, Pfaff 335-17 cylinder arm walking foot, Bonis Type A fur machine, Huji 43-6 patcher, Singer 99 hand cranked, Juki DDL-553 single needle (for sale)
Members Grumpymann Posted August 22, 2017 Author Members Report Posted August 22, 2017 Um..... Nope that's why I asked.... Thanks! Quote
Moderator Wizcrafts Posted August 22, 2017 Moderator Report Posted August 22, 2017 I own three patcher machines. I use them for odd jobs that have lots of turns, like sewing patches onto vests and jackets, especially over sleeves and pockets. Seiing as how the 29 type machines are top fed, via teeth on the foot, and the foot can be turned 360 degrees and they have a very narrow snout, they can sew where no one has sewn before! There are a few things one should keep in mind when considering buying an old used patcher, as outlined below. The 29-4 machines were produced around the turn of the 20th Century, until the 1930s or so. This makes any surviving machines ancient and usually well worn. A Singer 29-4 can only sew and safely advance about 1/4 inch of leather, although you can drag about 5/16" under the foot. The maximum stitch length is 5 to the inch at 8 ounces thickness or less. This usually decreases as you approach the maximum usable thickness. As the feed mechanism wears down over time, the maximum stitch length gets shorter and shorter. It's not uncommon to see a Singer patcher that only gives 8 stitches per inch. They are top feed machines that depend on aggressive teeth on the bottom of the presser foot to drag the leather back as it sews. These teeth can leave very impressive tooth tracks in the top grain. The bobbin on a 29-4 is about the size of 4 dimes stacked together. Unless you load them with #69 thread, you'll run out of bobbin thread after only a few projects. There is no standard way to attach an edge guide. If the front barrel locking thumbscrew is missing, the foot can freely turn as you sew. Getting straight lines on a patcher is a challenge. If you turn the foot around to sew backwards, you can't see the stitch line as well as in the forward direction. Some of the parts that wear out may not be available from aftermarket makers in China. They tend to support later models of these machines, from the mid 20th Century. The last Singer patch machine was the 29k172 or k173, made in the 1970s in Japan. I own a 29k172, which is a long arm, big bobbin Singer patcher. I use it to sew patches and fix purses. Finally, Singer long ago dissolved its industrial sewing machine business and sold off all assets and tooling. They will be of no help if you need parts, manuals or advice. Quote Posted IMHO, by Wiz My current crop of sewing machines: Cowboy CB4500, Singer 107w3, Singer 139w109, Singer 168G101, Singer 29k71, Singer 31-15, Singer 111w103, Singer 211G156, Adler 30-7 on power stand, Techsew 2700, Fortuna power skiver and a Pfaff 4 thread 2 needle serger.
Members Constabulary Posted August 22, 2017 Members Report Posted August 22, 2017 There are better machines for serious leather work out there. Patchers are funny sewing machines and they are good for many purposes but I´d rather look for a triple feed / walking foot industrial machine either a flat bed or cylinder bed machine. Maybe this pinned thread will give you an idea. Since you are in PA I´d check with dealers like keysew.com - they are in Phili, PA. or maybe Toledo Sewing Machine in Toledo, Ohio.I´m sure both offer good used machines (and new of course) and both have an excellent reputation here in the LW forum. Quote ~ Keep "OLD CAST IRON" alive - it´s worth it ~ Machines in use: - Singer 111G156 - Singer 307G2 - Singer 29K71 - Singer 212G141 - Singer 45D91 - Singer 132K6 - Singer 108W20 - Singer 51WSV2 - Singer 143W2
Members Grumpymann Posted August 24, 2017 Author Members Report Posted August 24, 2017 Thanks for the information. I will keep looking. Quote
Members catskin Posted October 4, 2018 Members Report Posted October 4, 2018 Has anyone on here dealt with Horse n harness in Ohio they claim to have sold hundreds of 29-4 machines and claim to have almost all parts for them. For same day shipping. Was looking at the website and wondered. Since I might be interested in parts. Quote
Members shoepatcher Posted October 4, 2018 Members Report Posted October 4, 2018 Prices seem high to me. There are no new parts available special to the 29-4 now that Pilgrim Shoe Machinery has closed in May of this year. glenn Quote
Members ScoobyNewbie Posted October 4, 2018 Members Report Posted October 4, 2018 SQUEEEEE! I just bought one of these Saturday! 50$! It’s been in a barn for 30-40 years! It’s going to be so much fun to fix up! Can I use WD-40? Or is that too rough? Can I use the stuff that reverses rust damage? Or will that just weld my internal parts together? So excited to know somebody that knows! oh, well, that wasn’t creepy at all, was it? Quote
Members catskin Posted October 4, 2018 Members Report Posted October 4, 2018 Hi S N , As for using WD40 it likely won't hurt but I recently found that what really worked for me to loosen up tiny rusted parts was john deere hytran low viscosity. Its a hydraulic oil and it seemed to get in and loosen up the latches on antique sock knitting machine needles so it would likely do a good job on other stuff that is not as delicate too. Quote
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