Deryk Report post Posted January 7, 2018 I am a hobbyist but am looking to move up to a machine that can sew leather. Mostly would be stitching 5-7 or so oz veg-tan, I want to get into making rugged leather US mail/messenger style bags, and backpacks, and weekend away bag's...but I also like making journal covers and pouches. I was considering the cowboy cb3200 but then I came across this model... being able to sew up to 7/8" of leather and I can sit it on my workbench to sew, I don't really have a lot of room for a 4 foot long table in my already crowded workshop. Anyone have an idea of the weight of the unit fully assembled and ready to sew? I found a dealer 3 hours away from me in New York state, so I would be willing to take a drive their and get to see it in person . http://a1sewingmachine.com/3200 BT~Artisan+3200+BT+Bench+top+Leather+sewing+machine.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deryk Report post Posted January 7, 2018 dam....got an email back...weighs in at 200lbs and it ships from Cali...he doesn't stock them....yeah 200lbs is not portable lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted January 7, 2018 Here's what you need to know before buying such a machine. The specs claim it can sew from 3 ounces up to 7/8 inch. That is a huge range of thicknesses requiring a wide range of needles, thread and tension settings. The machine is a Juki 441 clone, using System 7x3 (round point for cloth and webbing), 7x4 and 794 (leather slicing or diamond point) needles. Sewing thin material and hiding/burying the lockstitch "knots" requires very thin thread and needles. Sewing 3 ounces would call for #69 bonded thread and a #18 (110) needle. The needles used by that machine are about 2 3/4" long. There are few or no leather point needles normally stocked by dealers in North America below #23 (160) in System 794. Number 18 (round point) needles in system 7x3 are very easily deflected and will break if deflected into metal. Ask me how I know this! When you reach 5-6 ounces you can use #92 thread and a #19 needle. This is the bare minimum I recommend sewing on a 441 clone. Both of the above thread sizes require low tension on the tension disks and the moving check spring and more tension on the bobbin spring. 441 clones, like the 3200, are normally adjusted to sew with very heavy thread, using huge needles, into thick stacks of leather under very high spring tensions and foot pressure. Such tension will distort thin material/leather or even pull it down into the feed dog or throat plate slot. It takes time (and sometimes tools) to dumb down the machine to effectively sew thin material with thin needles and thread. If you have to sew seams that are 16 ounces thick, you should use #207 or #277 thread, with a #24 or #25 leather point needle. The tensions need to be tightened up for this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deryk Report post Posted January 7, 2018 Thanks Wiz... What I have ideas I want to sew would not normally be less then a few layers 5-7 oz leather, but a bag I want to make would have some 8 oz veg tan strap holders and d rings straps... would get close to 1/2" in a few places... For anything lighter like if I wanted to make myself a new wallet I have my sailrite lsz-1 machine. And I can agree with your blog post... those of us who are new are looking for a machine that can do it all, and I guess it doesn't work that way. I know myself dropping 2k as a hobbyist is a lot of money to end up with a machine that won't do what you need it to do...and once you buy it you are sort of stuck with a machine. I know that is why I keep reading and asking questions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted January 7, 2018 @Deryk My own experience is that once people find out that you have big sewing machines, work will come to you. My current leather business is about 50% sewing and repairs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
R8R Report post Posted January 9, 2018 On 1/7/2018 at 10:01 AM, Deryk said: dam....got an email back...weighs in at 200lbs and it ships from Cali...he doesn't stock them....yeah 200lbs is not portable lol I've been to the Artisan showroom and seen this one first hand. "Movable" is more the word. Not portable. That bench-top configuration is for people that have limited shop space and workbenches, etc already in place that they don't want to sacrifice for a sewing machine footprint. Nice machine though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brmax Report post Posted January 9, 2018 Im curious on the setup of this model description. A question I have; Is there a reduction pulley in this particular mounting. I have not looked any farther than the photo in the post. So my thoughts are that everything is on the bench top. Thanks for any tips Good day Floyd Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
