7-33 advice

[Thommoss]

Hello, new member but have been lurking and reading alot on the site for over a year now.  I have a yard sale find 111w151 that I have been using to make little items like wallets, aprons, knife roll. Nothing great just having fun.  I ended up buying a 7-33 from my local sewing machine repair shop for pretty cheap (I think) when I was in for a servo motor.

Spur of the moment purchase, have no need for it, nor from what i have no read on here is it a the best option for leather.  It was just too cool and beautiful to pass up.  Its threaded with 138 now and used it to sew up an old canvas bag (sea bag). Which it did flawlessly.

So have searched the site, printed out manuals but still have a few questions.  So appreciate all of the help so far.

It came with about 50 7x1 needles. I found two sponsered vendors here one with 7x4 and the other with 794dia.  Is there a big difference?  Any recommendations?  I still can not find 7x2.

So no big plans and while overkill still plan on making wallets, aprons etc.  But i do make knives (which lead me down this leatherwork road) what size thread would you recommend for sheaths?

To be honest I plan on playing with it for a while but will probably trade it in for something more suited for my needs.  

Edited July 19, 2018 by Thommoss
spelling

[CowboyBob]

Use the new 794S or D for leather they old 7x2 original Singer needles had small eyes in the so you had to use a couple sizes larger than what you need than if you use the newer style.Also the newer needles have a scarf in them that allow you to adjust the shuttle closer to the needle reducing skip-stitches.

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

Just some notes on this machine and needles...we normally sell this machine type with either a system 1000H or 6X3.  Standard machine from the factory has 9/16" presser foot lift, and most often we convert this machine to 1" of presser foot lift by cutting and welding parts, including cutting away part of the frame of the machine arm.  Also common was the now discontinued system 5X15 as well.    

This machine originally from the factory uses a 7X1, still available from NM120~250 and can be used.  This does need does not have a scarf, or cutout for the hook point where the 794 (AKA 7X3) does have a scarf.  The 794 has a pretty good range of available sizes points and finishes where the 7X1 does not.  

In other words...keep using the 794!!!  Don't want to be confusing, but as you can see over the many years this machine has been in service since the 1930s people have used various needles for different reasons to keep this machine up and running for their applications.

[Thommoss]

Thanks for the help Cowboy Bob and Gregg.   

I will order some 794 and thread shortly.  Going with 207 I think, but really tempted to see how well it does with 5 or 6 cord.

The Spent the last few days just cleaning,  scraping and lubing.  Modified and sharpened some harbor freight scrapers for the job.  I am fighting  the urge to fully take it all apart and clean it up.  Mild OCD when it comes to machinery,  But also think it one of those if it not broke don’t fix it times.   I did find a missing nut on the screw that connects the feed regulator to the connection link.   (Anyone know the tread pitch of this?)  

still no idea what I am going to do with it.  My parents made leather bags in the basement back in the 70s/80s.  The state of Massachusetts  even paid half the wages for two South American immigrant women to work for them for a while.  They did well with it from what I have been told and we’re sold in a number of stores on the east coast.  I only vaguely remember some machines collecting  dust as they gave it up due to family/jobs.  So might fly mom down to get some ideas (slave labor) out of her.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 21, 2018 by Thommoss

[councilman24]

I have a 7-33 and 7-34.  The 7-34 is in good shape but someone put some parts together wrong and I have to sort out the feed timing.  Parachute riggers like me have used these for decades with 5 cord to make parachute harnesses.  I don't use mine for anything smaller.  In good working order a parachute rigger would expect to pay $1500 to $2500 depending on where in the country.  Often folks looking for them.  If you bought it on the spur of the moment when spending a couple hundred for a servo motor my guess is you paid a lot less than that.

A pretty good complement to the 111w151 (have one also).

Now also have 132k6 that some riggers like better.  Trying to decide if I want to keep my 7-33.  7-34 will be for sale when I get it working right.

[Thommoss]

Finally got it all cleaned up, could do more, but just a lot of grime dirt/oil on her.   I threaded some 5 cord and have sewn some things together, no issues what so ever.  Still not sure what to do with it.  I am still hand stiching, or using my 111w151.  I am learning why a lot of you collect these machines, every time I think I should sell it and my 111w to fund a used cowboy or something like that I can’t seem to list it.

Edited August 10, 2018 by Thommoss