Singer 17-23 capabilities

[Jaybogg]

I have researched everything I can find, including this forum, for the leather sewing capabilities of a singer 17-23... The singer manuals themselves are vague, at best.  One singer reference says the machine is a leather machine... My specific question is "Will it sew up to 3/8" leather?"  I make sheaths and have been hand sewing so far, but there is a certain amount of distinction a machine stitch gives that is hard to obtain hand sewing... My hope is that there is someone here that has actual experience with this model as there is so much variance between the various models... Thx in advance for any help you might be able to lend... JB Marsh

 

[Matt S]

3 hours ago, Jaybogg said:

I have researched everything I can find, including this forum, for the leather sewing capabilities of a singer 17-23... The singer manuals themselves are vague, at best.  One singer reference says the machine is a leather machine... My specific question is "Will it sew up to 3/8" leather?"  I make sheaths and have been hand sewing so far, but there is a certain amount of distinction a machine stitch gives that is hard to obtain hand sewing... My hope is that there is someone here that has actual experience with this model as there is so much variance between the various models... Thx in advance for any help you might be able to lend... JB Marsh

 

The Singer 17 and 18 class machines are usually good up to size v138/TKT40 thread and about 1/4"/6mm thickness. Individual machines and sub-classes may be capable of a little more but it's not guaranteed.

What in particular are you unhappy about with your saddle stitch?

[Jaybogg]

Quote

46 minutes ago, Matt S said:

The Singer 17 and 18 class machines are usually good up to size v138/TKT40 thread and about 1/4"/6mm thickness. Individual machines and sub-classes may be capable of a little more but it's not guaranteed.

What in particular are you unhappy about with your saddle stitch?

 

The 17 class has about 30 machines and trying to figure out the exact capabilities of a certain model in the class is my problem... My saddle stitch is good enough for most projects... I usually use veg tan from 8 to 11... I drill through 3 layers including the welt, and the thickness ranges between 1/4 and 3/8"... Being laid out and drilled by hand, there's just enough imperfection that it adds a rustic look to most projects, but I also make some very high end knives, where the fit and precision of a sewn stitch would be desirable...  Thx for your input, much appreciated!!

Edited July 6, 2018 by Jaybogg

[Matt S]

1 hour ago, Jaybogg said:

The 17 class has about 30 machines and trying to figure out the exact capabilities of a certain model in the class is my problem... My saddle stitch is good enough for most projects... I usually use veg tan from 8 to 11... I drill through 3 layers including the welt, and the thickness ranges between 1/4 and 3/8"... Being laid out and drilled by hand, there's just enough imperfection that it adds a rustic look to most projects, but I also make some very high end knives, where the fit and precision of a sewn stitch would be desirable...  Thx for your input, much appreciated!!

There's even more if you count the 17U series  Singer never seemed to publish the extensive machine specs that we expect today. I suppose it was assumed that your factory manager knew what he was looking at or trusted that the dealer did. I see nothing in the 17-23 operator manual, its catalogue entry, photos, or discussions on this forum and elsewhere that this particular sub-class could sew anything thicker that 1/4" or use heavier thread than any other Singer 17. It's just not what it was designed for. The svelte castings and tiny bobbin of the 17 class don't leave very much room. The largest needle thread I've read people reporting is TKT20 and that really would be the upper end. Certainly I couldn't get my 17 to run it.

If I may suggest, drilling is probably not helping the... refinement of your saddle stitch. A diamond awl will make a huge difference. I like the Osborne 43. If you're laying out your stitches by hand you might want to invest in a pricking iron or a couple stitching chisels. At the very least a pair of dividers with fine points would make things more even around curves and such.