Help choosing my first industrial machine

[Double Daddy]

What ever'body (and especially JLS) said. I started my machine journey with a CB3200 from Toledo...doing holsters, belts and other similar thickness gear with the mindset that that would be what I always wanted to do. Now that my hobby has blossomed into a jobby/side business, here comes "lighter" items like wallets, small bags and other accessories (by request) that I have tired of tinking with my machine's settings all the time (tension, thread, etc) to change between product runs. Now I'm shopping for a lighter duty "little brother" for the CB3200 to handle the thin stuff and leave it set for the heavier gear. Think out what you intend to do...shop with that in mind, if you can.

[Wizcrafts]

2 hours ago, Double Daddy said:

What ever'body (and especially JLS) said. I started my machine journey with a CB3200 from Toledo...doing holsters, belts and other similar thickness gear with the mindset that that would be what I always wanted to do. Now that my hobby has blossomed into a jobby/side business, here comes "lighter" items like wallets, small bags and other accessories (by request) that I have tired of tinking with my machine's settings all the time (tension, thread, etc) to change between product runs. Now I'm shopping for a lighter duty "little brother" for the CB3200 to handle the thin stuff and leave it set for the heavier gear. Think out what you intend to do...shop with that in mind, if you can.

Cowboy makes a smaller version cylinder arm machine, with compound feed walking feet, named the CB227-R. It fills the gap between light and heavy duty machines. The specs are in the right sidebar on the page.

[brmax]

Any of the machine companies most likely will send their product by truck freight. In total this would be the cheapest I’m sure. 

Figure that amount, it’s not much of a negotiable cost. Although the cost can be moved about within the dealer cost and profit. 

Probably need a project list to have a more specific answer here. As this question can lead several to suggest a thread size. So with strictly 69-138 the standard machines are great, with standard adjustments. 

Now finding a longer cylinder arm non- shuttle machine. Well this is a real stretch I believe, best of luck though. 

 

Good day

Floyd

[Double Daddy]

1 hour ago, Wizcrafts said:

Cowboy makes a smaller version cylinder arm machine, with compound feed walking feet, named the CB227-R. It fills the gap between light and heavy duty machines. The specs are in the right sidebar on the page.

Thanks, Wiz! The 227 is actually on the short-list...contending against the Consew P1206RB...still scraping together some more coin in the equipment budget and still figuring out exactly where things are going on that end...then another phone call to Mr. Kovar. The 227 does appear a bit more versatile, ergonomics-wise, if'n I needed to sew something awkward...such is the advantage of cylinder arms, I reckon.  Thanks, as always, for your knowledge!

[MG513]

On 5/2/2018 at 6:18 AM, RockyAussie said:

without seeing your bag models or what sort of weight bags that you make and want to make it is hard to say what machine or machines would be best. A cylinder may be best and whether it has are a short or long arm will rarely matter. If you are wanting to go thicker than 1/4" but still do lighter work I can see a lot of merit in the CB341for handbag use. It can take a large M bobbin and has the advantage of having a small end that when doing tight gussets etc will come in very handy. The price as well looks good to me be that it has not got a walking foot,  but I have found that walking feet sometimes restrict sewing when you want to get around tight ends on gussets. To explain a little better , walking feet keep pressure down all through the sewing operation and being able to release the foot pressure with the needle still in helps the leather relax and stop from twisting up and sometimes forcing the 2 parts to separate. Hope that makes some sense to you. Here is a link on that machine-http://www.solar-leather.com/cowboy-cb341/

If you would care to check my website you will see many bags I make and most of these are done on a smaller cylinder than this one but still not with a walking foot.

 

Hey, first I want to thank you for suggesting the Cowboy, as this had yet to come up in my search. I assume this is a Juki 341 clone, correct? Can a binder also be attached to this machine?

You mentioned that you used a different machine though, can you say which one? So far I really like the 341 but if you can get results like what youve shown Id like to research that type of machine as well. I am selling my Consew 206rb to get a cylinder and Im trying to narrow down the results. Thanks

[RockyAussie]

18 hours ago, MG513 said:

I assume this is a Juki 341 clone, correct?

I believe so.

 

18 hours ago, MG513 said:

Can a binder also be attached to this machine?

I don't think that will be any problem ...You can see one in this video on a Juki but not in use unfortunately -

This video is also worth a look -

 

18 hours ago, MG513 said:

You mentioned that you used a different machine though, can you say which one?

They are nearly impossible to find but what I use A LOT is a Pfaff 331-33/1B  L. This is a needle and dog feed setup and means I don't have the problem with the back walking foot holding the bag gussets further out amongst other advantages. I have seen another brand similar machine recently but cant seem to find it at the moment. If I do I will get back and let you know.

[MG513]

On 10/7/2018 at 6:10 AM, RockyAussie said:

I believe so.

 

I don't think that will be any problem ...You can see one in this video on a Juki but not in use unfortunately -

This video is also worth a look -

 

They are nearly impossible to find but what I use A LOT is a Pfaff 331-33/1B  L. This is a needle and dog feed setup and means I don't have the problem with the back walking foot holding the bag gussets further out amongst other advantages. I have seen another brand similar machine recently but cant seem to find it at the moment. If I do I will get back and let you know.

Thanks so much for the reply. Yea I’ve never even heard of that model Pfaff until now lol. Would u say that the 335 is the closest machine to this out right now, despite it being a compound feed I believe? 

I’m trying to decide whether to go with the 341 or possibly a 335. I like the additional thread options and punching power provided by the 341, especially as it uses singer 111 parts and should cover whatever I may decide to make in the future, but I’m wondering if at some point the smaller diameter cylinder may come in handy. Decisions decisions!

[MG513]

On 5/2/2018 at 6:18 AM, RockyAussie said:

The price as well looks good to me be that it has not got a walking foot, 

Also just for further clarification, are u saying the 341 is not in fact a walking foot machine??

[RockyAussie]

7 hours ago, MG513 said:

Would u say that the 335 is the closest machine to this out right now, despite it being a compound feed I believe? 

Yes that is correct.

 

7 hours ago, MG513 said:

Also just for further clarification, are u saying the 341 is not in fact a walking foot machine??

No it is a walking foot but does come with extra punching power/thread thickness etc. I would have them both if I could but as to which is more suitable would depend on the type of products that you mostly make and what sort of weight/thickness those are. I have been trying to find a similar machine without walking foot and this Consew model 223R may be of interest-

And another link - http://www.consew.com/View/Consew-Model-223R-2

They do look a little large at 65mm dia on the end but still a lot smaller than many others as well.Keep in mind that the foot can be a lot narrower for fine jobs as well.The one in the picture of mine above is one that I made to suit much of my work finer work jobs.The dog foot was smoothed as well.

[MG513]

23 minutes ago, RockyAussie said:

Yes that is correct.

 

No it is a walking foot but does come with extra punching power/thread thickness etc. I would have them both if I could but as to which is more suitable would depend on the type of products that you mostly make and what sort of weight/thickness those are. I have been trying to find a similar machine without walking foot and this Consew model 223R may be of interest-

And another link - http://www.consew.com/View/Consew-Model-223R-2

They do look a little large at 65mm dia on the end but still a lot smaller than many others as well.Keep in mind that the foot can be a lot narrower for fine jobs as well.The one in the picture of mine above is one that I made to suit much of my work finer work jobs.The dog foot was smoothed as well.

Thanks a lot for your responses. The video was quite helpful, although I watch this particular channels videos a lot its only now that im noticing the differences between a walking foot and a needle feed. It now makes more sense what your were saying about being able to relieve a little pressure when going around a tight corner. i would assume the only way to geth around that on a walking foot cylinder would be to think of ways how to avoid those tight spaces in your initial design.

 

Lots to think about!