Canvas and Leather Sewing Machine

[YanceyCravat]

Greetings,

I would like to start by thanking the forum for approving my account. This December I would like to invest in a sewing machine for leather and canvas. I know nothing of sewing but I would like to learn. I currently have over 15 saddles and lots of canvas goods. From saddle bags to bedrolls to tarps. The problem is that I really have no way to repair them and the local fabric shop is no longer in business and the person who made most of my saddles retired a few years back. 

In short I need a sewing machine for canvas and leather to repair all my stuff. According to other threads on this forum I need to get a walking foot sewing machine. I was hoping I could get some assistance on picking one out. I am not sure what separates a 2000 dollars sewing machine to a 500 dollar sewing machine and it is pretty hard to find much information online. I am not sure what is a good sewing machine for leather and canvas, ideally I can get one that can do both. In addition I would like to get a machine that is complete, some threads talk about getting pieces in an la carte fashion, but I would like to get a complete unit. It doesn't need to be new just complete and ideally durable. 

 

Here are so examples I found in my area for sale. 

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/hsh/d/seiko-tf-cylinder-arm-walking/6724085130.html

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/hsh/d/juki-heavy-duty-upholstery/6723422764.html

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/art/d/new-upholstery-machine-with/6723654920.html

Edit: 

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/for/d/consew-sewing-machine-205rb-1/6723129685.html

Edited October 17, 2018 by YanceyCravat

[R8R]

Unfortunately if you need to repair saddles AND canvas, you will likely need more than one machine. Where in CA are you? From the link you posted somewhere between the bay area and Sac?

[YanceyCravat]

I live an hour from Sacramento, the canvas I am referring to is pretty heavy stuff so I was hoping there would be something out there that would work.

[R8R]

I would thoroughly comb these forums there is a huge wealth of information here.

You will need a heavy stitching machine for saddles. It may be too heavy for canvas work. Industrial machines generally have a narrow range of capability, light medium and heavy. There is no single do-all machine. The materials and thickness of a specific assembly dictate the specific machine.

Check out all the vendor links above, they generally offer machines for heavy saddlery and some lighter stuff.

[davemac2]

there are some other machines around in the area.

this one below is an Artisan Toro 3000 that would likely meet the saddle repair criteria.  It's been listed for more than 8 months though at $1200:

https://offerup.com/item/detail/418162317/

There are a few LUx Juki's and a Consew 206rb5 (medium duty) around in the Bay area too for canvas/light leather work with about a 1/2" foot lift clearance:

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=juki+lu*&srchType=T&min_price=500

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/tls/d/consew-sewing-machine/6722035616.html

 

[YanceyCravat]

Do you think the Consew 206rb5 (medium duty) is worth 1200 dollars? 

[dikman]

Welcome to the forum. It's good that you've given yourself some time to work out what you need. Unfortunately (for you) R8R is right and you'll likely be looking at two machines, given the probable range of materials you want to cover. Saddles are the killer, as, like holsters, you'll probably need something like a 441-type machine. As Wiz has pointed out elsewhere, they can be "dumbed down" to handle lighter stuff but then you'll be spending time readjusting settings when you change material. For the "lighter" stuff probably a medium weight upholstery-type machine - Consew 206 or the newer Consew 1206, for example.

Is learning to handstitch the saddles an option? Might be slower but handstitching will give a stronger finish and save buying one machine?

Just saw your post, no, you can buy a new 1206 cheaper.

Edited October 17, 2018 by dikman

[R8R]

3 minutes ago, YanceyCravat said:

Do you think the Consew 206rb5 (medium duty) is worth 1200 dollars? 

Nope. That machines has been off and on Craigslist for months. It's a little over priced considering it does not have a servo motor.

How thick of canvas are we talking here?

[davemac2]

here is what appears to be a cobra 5110 post machine for $1000

https://us.letgo.com/en/i/brand-new-industrial-sewing-machine_8924627d-7274-4763-a17a-f4868385fb2c

 

[YanceyCravat]

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.

[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.