Curlywolf Report post Posted October 21, 2017 I'm hand sewing bridles, belts, halters at the moment. Thinking of getting a sewing machine, but which ones do such thick leather & don't cost a fourtune? I have looked on eBay but there are so many makes and models. Can any one tell me what they use or would recommend. Few people have mentioned : singer 44k? brother DB2-B755-3A mark3 any advise would be great thank you Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt S Report post Posted October 21, 2017 Where are you located? This affects what is available to you and prices. What is your budget? There are some very reasonably priced machines coming out of China these days -- about US$2500 will get you a properly tuned, versatile machine which will sew 3/4" thick of leather, shipped to your door. If that seems a lot, a similar capacity machine cost a year's wages in 1900. Neither a Singer 44k nor a Brother DB2 is suitable for leather over say 2mm of the softest leather. Can you show an example of your work so we can make an informed recommendation? This is an excellent resource provided by one of our top contributors. There's a lot of information to take in but it's all gold: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Curlywolf Report post Posted October 22, 2017 Hi thanks, I am in England too. I can try and up load a picture but the files are too big it won't let me. I am happy sewing by hand but I does take me a few hours to hand sew a horse head collar. I would like to buy a sewing machine as I am trying to go into home decor too and have recently made some curtain ties backs from faux leather but my mums sewing machine only would take 3 layers. So it would be good to buy one what can do the horse halters, but otherwise would settle for a machine that could do up to 3mm to make leather/suede chaps etc. Thank you very much Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark842 Report post Posted October 22, 2017 Neither of the machines you have mentioned will handle 12 oz leather. For that thickness you need something like a Cobra or Cowboy 441 clone with a walking foot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikesc Report post Posted October 22, 2017 Both the Cobra and the Cowboy ( and many others )..are actually clones of the Juki 441. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt S Report post Posted October 22, 2017 The various clones of the Juki 441 are, as our friends above agree, probably the "single machine solution" to what you want to do, Curly Wolf. They are, by all accounts, very capable and capable machines. For some reason there are very few of these available in the UK, but are available for import from Germany or the USA. After shipping, VAT and duty import from the USA will cost about £2500. Germany probably is a little cheaper. The disadvantage of the one-machine-fits-most approach is that you will spend some time setting your machine up for each job. The 441 machines have a lot of videos and guides online how to adjust and maintain them because they are popular with hobbyists and small scale manufacturers in the US. If you have some degree of mechanical experience you will find it not very difficult. Another approach is to consider buying a modern, medium duty needle or walking foot flat bed machine for your more general purposes -- chaps, curtain tiebacks and such. These are readily available either new or refurbished from any industrial machine supplier from around a grand, or if you are lucky/handy you will be able to get a used one privately for a lot less. This gives you the freedom to buy a heavier machine dedicated for tack work, which could even be something beautifully classic and clunky like an eBay special singer 45. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leathersmyth Report post Posted October 23, 2017 Seeing that you are in the UK....Pearson stitcher might be what you are looking for. British united shoe # 6 other name. Yes, they are getting on in age, but can still pull a Beautiful stitch. They can pretty much sew anything you throw at them. I have sewn a Inch of leather on mine. They sew thinner no problem as well. Mine is still a peddle stand but i like, because i can go as slow or fast as i want and get a good leg work out at the same time... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt S Report post Posted October 23, 2017 18 hours ago, leathersmyth said: Seeing that you are in the UK....Pearson stitcher might be what you are looking for. British united shoe # 6 other name. Yes, they are getting on in age, but can still pull a Beautiful stitch. They can pretty much sew anything you throw at them. I have sewn a Inch of leather on mine. They sew thinner no problem as well. Mine is still a peddle stand but i like, because i can go as slow or fast as i want and get a good leg work out at the same time... Pearson #6s are absolute beasts... mine weighs 185KG including the stand but they do some real beautiful work. They'd better considering what they cost new! They aren't hugely common even over here -- remember only 11,000 were ever made, and a lot of them were exported around the world. A #6 will sew bridles, headcollars and other tack for another century with a little care and maintenance but they aren't suitable for everyone. Needles are readily available primarily in #5 size, a lot of the setup and adjustments are different from modern machines adding to the learning curve, they don't meet modern safety regulations, spare parts and accessories are either rare or bloody expensive, they leak oil like an old Labrador leaks other fluids and there is no reverse. I love my #6 and urge anyone who sees one to give it a good home, even just to save it from the scrapper -- but they aren't for everyone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikesc Report post Posted October 23, 2017 (edited) That description could ( apart from the needle number ) fit Triumph Motorcycles :) Edited October 23, 2017 by mikesc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt S Report post Posted October 24, 2017 13 hours ago, mikesc said: That description could ( apart from the needle number ) fit Triumph Motorcycles I think it fits a lot of British engineering! My British 7" crank splitter is about 50KG for some reason and the oil pan seems to have been designed primarily to keep the apprentice busy wiping up drips. I don't have an apprentice. Land Rovers fit this pattern also -- a friend of mine advised that the leaks are a handy diagnostic feature: Is it dripping onto your new driveway? 1) No -- it's out of oil, better top it up. 2) Yes -- it has oil but it's about to run out, better top it up. Lee Enfields appear to have been designed to keep idle armourers busy, tweaking the Byzantine bedding arrangements with springs, screws, cork pads, slivers of oiled cardboard... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Colt W Knight Report post Posted November 7, 2017 (edited) A 441 clone is over kill for 3mm leather. Something like a Consew 206 or Singer 31-15 with a roller foot would work fine. But for serious horse tack the 441 clones are ideal, I think. Edited November 7, 2017 by Colt W Knight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Safronsue Report post Posted November 16, 2017 Hi, I'm a bit of a vintage singer sewing machine collector and the rolls royce of singers for leather is the 201 and you can pick them up in uk for a song. Absolute works of art and often set in beautiful oak and cast tables. Look on gumtree for your area or ebay, they go for under 100 pounds. The earlier ones were cast iron and weigh a lot but the post 50 models were alluminium i believe for lightness. Perhaps the earlier ones would be more suited for heavy duty work, look on youtube for vids of these machines sewing leather. wow, so happpy i've found a thread to offer some advice on on this site! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Talex Report post Posted November 18, 2017 Hi, im a newbie have lurked here for a while, I just purchased a used consew 225 I added a gear reduction setup and just got done sewing 14oz belts it sewed through it easily the control and power I have is truly remarkable Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikesc Report post Posted November 18, 2017 (edited) Hi, I'm a bit of a vintage singer sewing machine collector and the rolls royce of singers for leather is the 201 and you can pick them up in uk for a song. Absolute works of art and often set in beautiful oak and cast tables. Look on gumtree for your area or ebay, they go for under 100 pounds. The earlier ones were cast iron and weigh a lot but the post 50 models were alluminium i believe for lightness. Perhaps the earlier ones would be more suited for heavy duty work, look on youtube for vids of these machines sewing leather. wow, so happpy i've found a thread to offer some advice on on this site! The problem with your "advice"..is that it is totally incorrect in relation to the original poster's question..the singer 201 is a domestic machine , drop feed , designed for sewing textiles, for "home dressmaking" ..even sewing 2 mm leather will have the leather sliding all over the place, it won't even pierce 12 oz , 5mm leather. I have to wonder..are you the person who sells singer 201s on ebay as "semi industrial" ,"sews leather" next to stacks of dimes ? btw..I have ( along with my other sewing machines ) a 201..a lot of us here have one..we don't use them for sewing leather Edited November 18, 2017 by mikesc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
