Juki LU562

[Kenl]

I am fairly new here. I am wanting to purchase a used machine to sew belts, messenger bags and knife sheaths. Trying to decide on a arm or flatbed machine. I have located a Juki LU 562 machine close to me. I would appreciate any advice or comments you could share with me on it. Thanks in advance Ken

[Wizcrafts]

Depending on its age and amount of wear in the moving parts, it would be a good upholstery/garment/chap leather machine and can even sew leather belts and webbing straps.  The maximum thread size is #138 and if properly adjusted, it can sew up to at least 5/16" and possibly 3/8". It uses the same bobbin as the Singer 111.

[RockyAussie]

10 hours ago, Kenl said:

I am fairly new here. I am wanting to purchase a used machine to sew belts, messenger bags and knife sheaths. Trying to decide on a arm or flatbed machine. I have located a Juki LU 562 machine close to me. I would appreciate any advice or comments you could share with me on it. Thanks in advance Ken

Arm first is my advise....they are way more versatile.

[DrmCa]

I would be cautious about re-purposing a textile machine to stitch leather, as these materials have completely different properties. There are many sellers who will do anything to ride on the train created by the surge in demand for leather goods and they will advertise textile machines as leather machines. Seller stating that this machine is for leather does not mean it is. And stitching vinyl canopies and covers does not equal stitching leather.

Before you buy, take your typical leather sample and thread to the seller and try stitching. If  it works, you are golden, otherwise no amount of adjustment may tune it up to the task.

When I was buying my Pfaff 335, I knew it was capable of working on light upholstery leather and it performed fine in the shop. As I was buying primarily for textiles, I was fine with it not being able to stitch anything heavier.

[Kenl]

Thanks for the replys 

[brmax]

On your find, Fyi the Juki brand is the biggest sew machine manufacture in the world. In time your going to find they have been the clone for all others to copy for at least 20 years. 

The 562 you found does have a smaller bobbin, as many did of that vintage and very few had otherwise. So if in your looking over the machine, these following parts will be required on the machine by anyone in the leather world today 

First is a Servo type motor, next required is a Speed reducer pulley setup. This my friend will be mentioned in most every post on this site. And to my knowledge the internet site having many around the world  contributing experiences in helpful post. 

When doing small articles or products the seam length is a measurement not real important. My only point here is its always pain unless I put in a full bobbin and have a stack of not full ones on a thread post. Here on an old wall listed is a G size bobbin in a singer I have. It is loaded with some v-92 poly and holding 24yards. So in my estimating this is good for 54 feet, of course the same requirement from the top thread. 

Your talking about some great projects and so I think mentioning the thread size in some way is a good way for discussion going ahead for a best answer to your machine question. This or rightly these particular medium size machines mentioned need bolstering. As there is one heck of a lot of projects with V138, V92, V69 being produce by leather workers here. Many of these using the medium size machines. So its a tough call for everone, and we all sometime usally early on find a machine cannot use all thread sizes we would like.

The above motor and pulley setup is likely a figure to set at 350.US this you will find required in a great way! Like why didnt i change to this years ago.

Good day 

Floyd

[Tejas]

Here is a link to a very good  pdf manual for the Juki 562 / 563.

http://keysew.com/Webpages/DemoImages/Juki_LU-563_Instruction_Keyfooter.pdf

 

[DonInReno]

If there ever was a stereotypical perfect first walking foot machine - that would probably be it.  If you don't know exactly what you'll enjoy making - who knows, the flatbed might be as good or better than another variant.  One month spent with this machine and you'll know what type your next will be.

[dikman]

If the price is right it's probably a pretty good way to get started (although a cylinder arm is certainly more versatile).