recommendation Recommendation for first sewing machine in central FL

[anotherghost]

I've been lurking for a month or two now, and have had the realization that buying a sewing machine for leather is... complicated.

Right now I hand stitch wallets, bags, backpacks, purses. I am just a hobbyist and make them for friends and family. I might eventually sell on etsy or something once I get good enough. When it comes to machines, I am a complete beginner.

I've been using mostly 7-9oz leather and carriage hand sewing thread and size 0 medium harness needles. I'm planning to continue working at more or less that thickness of leather, and am looking for a machine that can do between 2 and 4 layers-- so, I think that is probably up to about 1/2". I'm not particularly attached to the thread size or needle size, that is just what I happen to be using at the moment.

I've been looking at a couple machines in my area on Craigslist, and the options seem to be a Juki DNU 1541S, an Adler 67 GK373, a Techsew 2700, a Consew 226R1, a Juki 1541S, or a Singer 111W155. Do any of these look like they would do what I'm looking for? Do any seem like a good deal?

In absence of a yes to any of the above, does anyone know of a good sewing machine shop, or a dealer that knows things about leather, within reasonable distance of the Gainesville FL area?

[shoepatcher]

Most of those machines will sew up to about 3/8" leather.  Depends how hard the leather is.  I might have recommended Miami Sewing machine but not anymore.   I would call Bob Kovar at Toledo Sewing and pick his brain.  He has a number of machines he can recommend.

glenn

[Wizcrafts]

It has been my experience that unless a dealer is used to dealing with leather workers and super heavy duty machines, like the Juki TSC-441, Adler 205 and newer, or clones of these, they won't have a clue about what type of machine you will really need. Serious leather sewing machines are a different animal entirely and most are beyond the scope of the upholstery machines that you listed.

Tell any prospective dealer that you need to sew 1/2 inch of hard leather with #346 thread.