Sewing machine from china???

[Mocivnik]

I came to the conclusion, that I could technically buy a sewing machine from alibaba/aliexpress etc. Since I'm quite on budget, what do you guys think of machines as this?

 

I'm sewing knife sheaths and gun holsters in 90% of my work. Knife sheaths are 3-5 layers of 3mm thick leather.

 

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/244-Cylinder-bed-leather-sew-machine_60484704621.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.32.1d8e2303si8yJa

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/amazing-BOMA-810R-wig-making-heavy_60759781981.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.21.498565aa9uUoZ5&s=p

Edited September 25, 2018 by Mocivnik

[kgg]

Hi Mocivnik,

The price is right but how much is shipping / import taxes going to cost?  If you are mechanically inclined and don't mind waiting for parts should something need to be replaced maybe a good deal. I would still advise you to see if you could find a good second hand cylinder bed machine that you would have easier access to parts and accessories.

kgg

[ComputerDoctor]

Mo, I'm going through the same thing you are as I am looking for my FIRST Leather sewing machine and there must be a thousand different ones AND, they are all the BEST according to their retailer's

I find that 99% are from China but I won't 'bad mouth' that fact because I'm sure I will end up with a CHINA one anyway:(

What bothers me most is there are hardly no 'Overlap' machines that do thin leather like on some wallets and purses and do knife sheaths and thick holsters like I also make! I have actually been told that most need 2 machines, one for the light stuff and one HD for the heavy stuff---how very convenient:)

Personally, I think it's important to buy from someone that is close, that has great customer service, if needed, which I'm sure it will be:)

I'm not a 'Globalist' at all and I wish that the United States produced what I need. Some play with the "Made in America,' thing but have to admit that all of the parts are 'foreign sourced.' Oh well!

Sam:)

[Handstitched]

G'Day 

I agree with kgg & ComputerDoctor ,  it might seem like a good deal, but by the time you've paid  for shipping, taxes etc. it might not be such a good deal after all . And what about the voltage ? Obtaining parts  could be an issue as well. I would lean towards getting  a known brand closer to home,    even a good S/H machine  where parts  and service are easy to get. 

HS 

[bikermutt07]

@ComputerDoctor, if there was a good middle of the road machine it would probably be the cowboy cb341. It is basically the 277r with a larger bobbin, slightly higher? lift, and runs up to 207 thread. This could do knife sheaths as well as wallets.

The 3200 could technically be adjusted to do wallets and sew with small thread. But, the presser foot tension is really high on these machines for running thicker material.

And, once you get one in your hands you will find yourself wanting to get it to a "set it and forget it" mode. These things a kind of finicky. I'm just now learning how little I know about these strange beasts.

All machines have a range of thickness and thread size they can work with, but really what they have is a design that is really geared towards the middle of that range. 

So, that's where we wind up needing more than one.

 

Edited September 25, 2018 by bikermutt07

[Wizcrafts]

3 hours ago, Mocivnik said:

I came to the conclusion, that I could technically buy a sewing machine from alibaba/aliexpress etc. Since I'm quite on budget, what do you guys think of machines as this?

No matter what brand name machine you buy, if you get it sent directly to you from China, you become the "dealer" for servicing purposes. You will be responsible for all repairs, adjustments and parts costs. It is highly unlikely that you will receive any after sale assistance. If there is any assistance, unless you speak Chinese, it will have to be handled by email, using a translator.

Worse of all, if the machine is totally defective from the start and needs to go back to the factory, you will be responsible for packing and shipping it at your own expense.

Some Chinese sewing machine companies may offer phone, text, or online chat service agreements for an additional up front fee, making the machine more expensive. The problem with that is, do they speak/read/write your language, or do you speak/read/write theirs?

[Matt S]

Prices may be tempting but like a lot of these drop shipping companies you're buying a pig in a poke -- buy a CB4500 for instance and what arrives via Fed Ex may well be a 441 clone with a 16" arm but it won't be the same as getting one from a reputable distributor. There's a lot of finesse that goes into setting up an industrial sewing machine for use on leather and frankly I don't trust any of the drop shippers to do it. You can do it yourself if you have the mechanical aptitude and spend time learning what needs doing (I think @amuckart went down this route) or you can pay a professional to do it. My guy charges nearly £100/hr so any savings would get eaten up very quickly, especially if any parts need changing.

(Neither of those machines are suitable for your purpose. Most popular are clones of the Juki TSC-441 and Adler 205, though there are several others. Cheapest would be something like a GA5, a clone of the Adler 5 which itself was "heavilly inspired" by the Singer 45K. Each machine has its advantages and drawbacks.)

[LetterT]

How about buying a used machine from a reputable service/shop instead of an unknown gamble from China?

There is a local shop here that caters to shoe people, they sell leather, rubber and plastic parts, metal hardware, etc. but occasionally also have used machines from Italy and Germany. There is also a guy that services sawing machines who occasionally has machines for sale.

Maybe you could look for something like this instead. While you may not be getting a new machine you would be getting a reputable point of service for what ever issues you might have.

Edited September 25, 2018 by LetterT

[chrisash]

I have a Singer 201k that just purrs yet was built in 1927, when you listen to it its hard to understand how so many parts can run in unison so well and with all the years of use you get no vibration at any speed just the perfect purr of a fantastic machine, I don't use it for leather apart from goat

What i am trying to show is that in many occasions the old machines were fantastically designed and made with near perfect alignments and gears that fit perfectly. to give virtually unlimited use through the past and future generations

So I would suggest you consider a older machine but one that has plenty of spares availability, which you may not ever require, but handy if you do need something

Many clones are great machines, , but others especially the unknown makes or just badge'd ones from unknown backstreet Hong Kong sellers may just be a very bad buy, quite a gamble

[R8R]

Cheap tools are expensive.

[billybopp]

Did you notice that the post machine has a minimum order of 10??   They are both head only - up to you so sort out a table, motor, and such.  And, as stated above, don't count on any support really.  None of which makes them for the faint of heart, probably even for somebody with a lot of experience much less a beginner.

- Bill

[dikman]

As soon as holsters are mentioned you're straight away into the realms of heavy-duty machines. A CB3200 (or equivalent) would have to be considered the starting point, and most likely a CB4500. Forget the post bed machine, totally unsuited to your needs.

Alibaba is generally considered a supplier to the trade/companies, whereas Aliexpress is their equivalent to ebay (supplying to the consumer, but their prices are higher). I've also looked at importing a machine (441 type) but by the time all costs are factored in there's very little to be gained and a lot to lose if something goes wrong! You really need to have a lot of experience working with industrial machines if you go down this route as you will basically be on your own.

ComputerDoctor, industrial sewing machines are designed to work within a particular range of operations. It is a simple fact that no one machine can be designed to sew thin garment leather one minute and then also handle 3/4" thick holsters next. It's a sad fact that unless you specialise in only making a certain type of item then you will soon learn that you need more than one machine.

[gottaknow]

8 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

No matter what brand name machine you buy, if you get it sent directly to you from China, you become the "dealer" for servicing purposes. You will be responsible for all repairs, adjustments and parts costs. It is highly unlikely that you will receive any after sale assistance. If there is any assistance, unless you speak Chinese, it will have to be handled by email, using a translator.

Worse of all, if the machine is totally defective from the start and needs to go back to the factory, you will be responsible for packing and shipping it at your own expense.

Some Chinese sewing machine companies may offer phone, text, or online chat service agreements for an additional up front fee, making the machine more expensive. The problem with that is, do they speak/read/write your language, or do you speak/read/write theirs?

We buy Brother and Juki direct from China. The savings enormous. That being said, Wiz is right about the support and warranty issues. For us it’s a non issue since we’re a factory with 3 full time mechanics. We’ll get the occasional bad control box, but just order another. We always check the settings, and trust me they sometimes don’t sew a stitch right out of the box. I always advise folks to use dealers, it just makes sense. 

Regards, Eric

[Darren Brosowski]

As a dealer it pisses me off no end when someone buys a machine direct from China and then they bring it to me to get it to work. Half the time it is shipped incomplete with a three phase motor, a stand that does not fit properly and no accessories.

When I quote them what they need to get the machine up the standard that I would have sold them they are going to have to shell out another $1000 or more on top of a landed price that is already higher than my price because they did not realise that landing costs, import agent, taxes, transport from the wharf were all on top of the shipped price.

Being an importer I know these costs and I know exactly what to order from the supplier and even then I can make mistakes BUT they are my mistakes and the buyer does not wear them

 

[SolarLeatherMachines]

On 9/25/2018 at 8:30 AM, Mocivnik said:

I came to the conclusion, that I could technically buy a sewing machine from alibaba/aliexpress etc. Since I'm quite on budget, what do you guys think of machines as this?

 

I'm sewing knife sheaths and gun holsters in 90% of my work. Knife sheaths are 3-5 layers of 3mm thick leather.

 

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/244-Cylinder-bed-leather-sew-machine_60484704621.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.32.1d8e2303si8yJa

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/amazing-BOMA-810R-wig-making-heavy_60759781981.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.21.498565aa9uUoZ5&s=p

Neither of those machines are going to sew your sheaths or holsters.  Get a 441 clone from a local dealer in slovenia.  

 

[chrisash]

Mocivnik

One thing you could do to hopefully limit and set up problem,s is to ask them to video your machine, including the serial number and a test piece of the leather, thickness and thread size you want. that way at least you have a visual record of the machine prior to purchase, what you don't know is if they will do that for you, but if not go elsewhere

I dont know about Australia and can understand Darren is a bit upset about people using his when he is a dealer, but in the UK we have loads of sewing machine engineers who are freelance and happy to work on any machine and that's there main source of income