Members strathmoredesigns Posted December 2, 2017 Members Report Posted December 2, 2017 8 hours ago, Fire88 said: I've spoken to Bob at Toledo industrial just need to make the trip up north. @Fire88 what are you getting from Bob? I'm always curious about the used machines. Quote
Members Fire88 Posted December 2, 2017 Author Members Report Posted December 2, 2017 46 minutes ago, strathmoredesigns said: @Fire88 what are you getting from Bob? I'm always curious about the used machines. It’ll be a new cowboy machine, not sure what yet. Quote
Members strathmoredesigns Posted December 2, 2017 Members Report Posted December 2, 2017 @Fire88 Cool, lucky you! Quote
Members AdamPCain Posted December 11, 2017 Members Report Posted December 11, 2017 I have hand sewed 3 bags so far, it doesn't hurt my hands but very time consuming. I would like to dive into bigger projects but haven't for this reason saving up for a Cowboy 227r or a Techsew Quote
Members Sheilajeanne Posted December 11, 2017 Members Report Posted December 11, 2017 A big help in sewing is a hemostat or pair of needle nosed pliers to help get the needle through the holes. I was repairing an old pair of Sorel winter boots tonight, and just about went NUTS hand-stitching a seam that was only an inch and a half long! Couldn't find my hemostat, and the leather was thick and stretchy and the holes just very small slits. I needed my strongest glasses and a very bright light to even see them! Using my awl to stretch the holes a bit did help, but it was still a real PITA! Had me wishing for a needle with a smaller eye, and sharper point! Quote
Members Fire88 Posted December 11, 2017 Author Members Report Posted December 11, 2017 36 minutes ago, AdamPCain said: I have hand sewed 3 bags so far, it doesn't hurt my hands but very time consuming. I would like to dive into bigger projects but haven't for this reason saving up for a Cowboy 227r or a Techsew I just bought a CB3200 from Cowboy Bob at Toledo Industrial. I looked at the 227r but with the thread limit of 207 and what I will be doing and planning to do I will need heavier thread than 207. 27 minutes ago, Sheilajeanne said: A big help in sewing is a hemostat or pair of needle nosed pliers to help get the needle through the holes. I was repairing an old pair of Sorel winter boots tonight, and just about went NUTS hand-stitching a seam that was only an inch and a half long! Couldn't find my hemostat, and the leather was thick and stretchy and the holes just very small slits. I needed my strongest glasses and a very bright light to even see them! Using my awl to stretch the holes a bit did help, but it was still a real PITA! Had me wishing for a needle with a smaller eye, and sharper point! I've used needle nose pliers plenty to hand sew. I won't completely give up hand sewing as some projects there are no other options. Quote
Members Sheilajeanne Posted December 11, 2017 Members Report Posted December 11, 2017 (edited) Absolutely! There is no way these boots could have been fixed using a machine, as the split was where the toe of the boot meets the upper, where 3 pieces of leather come together. Sorel is a very reputable make of boot. I was surprised by the low quality of the construction. Stitching sucked, the dyeing sucked, and the boot had lost a D-ring for the lace because the loop holding the ring never got stitched! Just finished reading the thread on how to make a living with your leather work, and if this is the quality of (no doubt!) overseas mass-production going into the things we buy, there definitely IS a market for well-made quality leather goods. Edited December 11, 2017 by Sheilajeanne Quote
Members luxuryluke Posted March 2, 2018 Members Report Posted March 2, 2018 I just finished my first bag, a shoulder bag for the wife out of 7oz horween latigo, ritza 1.0 thread and the needle nose pliers saved my fingers. It took like 12 hours, phew! That was a stitching thrill. Here I go for more! Quote Handstitcher since ‘17. Newly acquired: Necchi 840-100 RB (rotative binder)
Members jfak7670 Posted January 14, 2020 Members Report Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) I just remember myself doing the same stuff a couple of years ago. But then, I got my Tippman Boss machine and started doing everything a way faster than when I did it by hand. Edited January 14, 2020 by jfak7670 Quote
Members Squid61 Posted February 6, 2020 Members Report Posted February 6, 2020 I've looked at machines, the REX on Amazon looks reasonable for the casual user at under $400 . Most of the "heavy duty" Singer and such are really not good for much more than garment leather from all I've read. So far everything I've sewn including a few clutches and a purse for the wife look better saddle stitched than they would lock stitched so a machine wouldn't have helped. I don't suffer any pain stitching and can go along pretty fast using a sharp awl, blunt needles and smooth jawed needle nose pliers, I have discovered that awl stabs bleed more than needles but needles hurt worse. Quote
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