Sewing machine

[RJLamie]

I’m looking at buying a vintage sewing machine the can sew two pieces of 4oz leather together.  I want something used but will do the job for at least a few hand bags.  Any recommendations on what to look for and what to avoid in vintage sewing machines?

[Northmount]

@RJLamie moved your post to Leather Sewing Machines (instead of How do I do That.)  Likely to get more visibility from sewing machine people here.  Have you looked in Marketplace under used and like new sewing machines?

Tom

[dikman]

Look up the top at the last sticky (by Wiz). It should give you a bit of an insight into the subject. Basically, you're looking at a walking foot machine, either flat bed or cylinder arm (less common used) and ideally with a servo motor - if you're new to industrial machines a clutch motor is likely to scare the socks off you the first time you use it! You don't need a heavy duty machine, something like a Singer 111/211 class, Consew 206, Seiko SDH series, Pfaff 335 (or it's flatbed equivalent, can't remember the no.) etc. There are, of course, many more models than these. I'm assuming you want to use #69 or #138 thread, which is the heaviest these machines can use.

There have been many posts asking the same basic question, it might help you to understand a bit more if you look these up here. If you find a used one then you need to understand a bit about them to know what to look for, best thing is to ask here if you do find something. Unfortunately, industrial sewing machines are a complex subject.

Oh, one word of advice if you go looking online - if you see an ad for "industrial quality", "semi-industrial" etc be cautious as there are sellers who use these terms to try and sell old Singers (in particular) that are nothing more than domestic machines. It's either an industrial sewing machine or it isn't, no ifs, buts or maybes.

Edited May 11, 2018 by dikman

[Wizcrafts]

9 hours ago, RJLamie said:

I’m looking at buying a vintage sewing machine the can sew two pieces of 4oz leather together.  I want something used but will do the job for at least a few hand bags.  Any recommendations on what to look for and what to avoid in vintage sewing machines?

Basically, avoid home style (aka: domestic) sewing machines. They are not good at sewing leather, except for about 5-6 ounces (chaps). All of them are bottom feed only, via feed dogs. Leather is much denser than cloth and takes much more foot pressure to hold it down as the needle and thread ascends. If the pressure spring isn't strong enough to hold down the leather you'll get skipped stitches. The added pressure needed to hold down the leather often causes to top layer to drag out of sync with the bottom layer. Also, the largest commonly sold needle size for domestic sewing machines is #18 (aka: 110), limiting the machine to no more than #69 (T70) bonded thread. This is strong enough for thin leather goods, like leather skirts and wallet interiors, but is a little weak for 1/8 inch thick hand bags.

While buying a vintage domestic sewing machine for leather is at best iffy, getting an industrial walking foot machine is just about a sure thing (up to its thickness and thread handling limits).

[dikman]

Ah, I just assumed you meant an industrial machine but I missed the fact that when you said "vintage" you could have been referring to domestic machines, as Wiz has picked up on. Don't even think about a domestic machine as no matter how good it is you will have problems sewing leather.

[RJLamie]

I’m not necessarily looking for industrial.  I’m looking I guess general information on what to look for in a used machine that I can buy fairly cheap to get my feet wet.  There is a lot of used models on Craigslist in my area.  It was pointed out that I should be looking for a walking foot model.  I also need to look for one that can accommodate the size the thread I’m planning on using.  Any other pointers?

[Wizcrafts]

9 minutes ago, RJLamie said:

I’m not necessarily looking for industrial.  I’m looking I guess general information on what to look for in a used machine that I can buy fairly cheap to get my feet wet.  There is a lot of used models on Craigslist in my area.  It was pointed out that I should be looking for a walking foot model.  I also need to look for one that can accommodate the size the thread I’m planning on using.  Any other pointers?

You never told us what size and type of thread you want to sew with. Perhaps if you consult this thread/needle chart you can choose a combination that meets the minimum required sizes. With those stated we can recommend machines that are able to handle that combination. How's that sound?

[BDAZ]

There is  difference between used and vintage as well. You may find used industrial machines which may cost a bit more but will do the job for many years and also have a reasonable resale price. Toledo, usually in the banner ads, sells used machines and  not too far from MI.

Bob

[RJLamie]

The thread size I would like to use on these bags is about 1mm.  I think it works with a 360/32 needle.

i said I was looking for a vintage machine but that isn’t completely true.  I would prefer a vintage.  What I really need is a machine that can work with something close to that thread.  I’m looking to spend about $200 so that means it may be well used.

[BDAZ]

1 hour ago, RJLamie said:

The thread size I would like to use on these bags is about 1mm.  I think it works with a 360/32 needle.

i said I was looking for a vintage machine but that isn’t completely true.  I would prefer a vintage.  What I really need is a machine that can work with something close to that thread.  I’m looking to spend about $200 so that means it may be well used.

My suggestion is to head into a sewing shop like Jo Ann's and bring in some scrap leather and have then load up one of the heavy duty Singers with Polyester Outdoor Upholstery thread and 110 leather needles and do some testing. JoAnn's has the singer heavy duty at $229 with a 40% discount tomorrow.

There is an inexpensive walking foot attachment available as well. Again, I have successfully stitched 5-6oz x 2 with this machine and it supplements my Cowboy on thinner materials and fabrics as well as neoprene.

Bob

Edited May 13, 2018 by BDAZ