Machine stitching lightweight leather pieces?

[GregC]

Hello,

I have a heavy duty Singer industrial stitching machine and I was wondering if I could use this for lightweight leather work. I'm thinking about making some small pieces out of lightweight leather, things like wallets and small bags. The unit is a Singer  model 112W145 double needle, 4 thread machine with a very powerful motor. We purchased it for stitching vinyl banners (I own a sign shop). It was sold to us by a professional shop here in Maine that sells and refurbishes industrial sewing machines, and he specifically recommended this unit for us. We make those giant 30 foot long street banners with heavyweight material and nylon reinforced webbing, which can get pretty thick. This machine can breeze through multiple layers without effort.

Is anyone here involved in machine stitching  garment weight leather, and if so, what do you think is the heaviest I could run through this? I expect I would need to do it slowly.

Fun fact - this machine was originally manufactured in 1938, and I was told it came from a mill where they made uniforms, duffel bags, parachutes, and upholstery for the War effort. So this is literally the "machine that won the war"

[ScoobyNewbie]

Cool!