Enough of hand sewing

[Kcstott]

I had no problem parting with nearly $4000 not to mention the work it took to haul the Cobra Class 4 into the house in two pieces. Front yard has a set of steps it's about a six foot elevation change to the front door and no help to be had. 
Yeah I'm never hand stitching again other than a few little buck or box stitches and what ever you call the stitch where you butt two pieces together. I can live with that. 

[LiftPig]

On 2/5/2020 at 5:11 PM, Squid61 said:

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.

The "heavy duty" singer machines are good for denim and canvas but that's about it.  If I have a sharp needle and give the motor a nudge with the hand wheel I can get it to sew 4-5 ounces of soft chrome tan.  I wouldn't dream of trying to get it to do more.

I'm hoping to make enough money this year on bits and pieces I sell to get a Cowboy or a Cobra.

[Kcstott]

18 hours ago, LiftPig said:

The "heavy duty" singer machines are good for denim and canvas but that's about it.  If I have a sharp needle and give the motor a nudge with the hand wheel I can get it to sew 4-5 ounces of soft chrome tan.  I wouldn't dream of trying to get it to do more.

I'm hoping to make enough money this year on bits and pieces I sell to get a Cowboy or a Cobra.

Once a person that is accustom to residential sewing machine sees a 7x4 series needle it all makes sense. Well at least a person with some mechanical inclination to understand how much horse power is required to drive that needle. My Janome HD1000 will sew up to a total of 4 oz with 69 thread and a #18 needle but that is pushing the machine for everything it is worth and quite literally shortening it's life span. I don't do that anymore. I'll sew up to a 2 oz stack with Coats and clark upholstery thread what ever weight that is and the same #18 needle. then sew that to a wallet shell with up to 138 on the Class 4. 
Home machine are for light weight materials and as you stated will have a tough time getting through the seem on a pair of jeans.