Canvas and Leather Sewing Machine

[taltexan]

Two machines would be better but if you are just repairing your own “ stuff” and don’t mind 138 thread on the lighter items then you could get by with a cylinder arm machine.  Thread thickness adjustments can sometimes be a chore. Changing from 138 to 346 takes time or it does for me. Large tarps or bed roll size tarps?  

[DonInReno]

Hi - welcome to the forum!  

My sewing table is in pieces or I’d invite you over to Reno to try a few flat bed walking foot machines that are great for canvas, and an artisan 3200 that sews 7/8” ....

The link to the Artisan 3000 is a good deal if it comes with a variety of presser feet and needle plates - in our neck of the woods there aren’t many 441 clones that show up for that price.  You could get that machine and a good used walking foot flat bed machine for less than $2k out of pocket.

Yes one of the big machines will sew 138 weight thread very well in canvas - if my big machine is the only one set up I don’t hesitate to hem or repair Carhartts, but, and this is a big but, to be worth a darn both the presser feet and feed dog need to be switched.  For something easy like gemming pants it doesn’t matter, but climbing over thick seams in a saddle blanket or panniers would be frustrating without the serrated feet and dog.  Likewise sewing leather with the serrated parts rather than the smooth ones will be frustrating as it will mark up the leather unnessesarily.

Another source of frustration with repairs and one machine is the switching between thread and needle sizes in addition to having to swap presser feet and feed dog.  When a machine sews great with one combination it’s nice to not screw it up swapping back and forth.

 

[catskin]

Now I am going to throw out something  that might help IF you could find one.  I have an Adler 20-2 large flat bed machine. And looking at the link you added I believe it would do all you need to do.  I have sewn from 2 ply denim to 7/8 inches of leather without changing feet or feed dog. with from 206 thread up to 346.  In Canada they were used in the military for making everything from parachutes to harness.  They have a  wide range of feet both smooth and toothed. I have made harness on it as well as patching jeans and everything in between.  This machine is for sale but distance will most likely make buying it not an option.  Only selling it because I have now a cowboy 4500  and just bought a pearson # 6. I don't really need 8 machines for what I do.

[chrisash]

Just a note

If you buy from a dealer you will get a hell of a lot of free advice available over a number of years and also spare parts availability, but it means buying either new or their own second hand stock

If its your first use as you say then a modern servo motor on it would make life easier to start with rather than a clutch motor

[councilman24]

Your getting lots advice. Two more to recommend since you not doing english or western saddles that we all think of are singer 7 class or 132k6. Both are used for building parachute harnesses. New version is seiko sk6 khmm I think and Consew 733. Only issue may be height under presser foot but 7 class can be converted to high lift.

Good luck.

[R8R]

On 10/17/2018 at 2:53 PM, YanceyCravat said:

Let me clarify what kind of saddles I am referring to. Most of our saddles are decker style saddles see example below. I didn't really plan on working on the riding saddles. I bring this up because I think the decker style might be easier to work on and require a less powerful machine.

https://www.ebay.com/i/392139265528?chn=ps

I am not sure how thick the canvases are. I never really paid much attention to that. I just know they are thick enough to take a beating and not rip.

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/for/d/juki-industrial-sewing-machine/6735668627.html

I just bought some equipment and materials from this gentleman in Woodland and this Juki machine is still for sale from him. I've seen the machine in person it's in excellent shape and will sew through thin leather and canvas no problem. It's a heavy upholstery class machine.