Need some serious helps on buying a leather sewing machine

[shantiandd]

17 hours ago, arz said:

 

If you get the ECO, I would make sure you buy it with a Servo motor. It is a very good motor and will help greatly. I think for your use the ECO with servo would be a good machine.

The price for me in the EU, for the basic 669 ECO with servo motor, and edge guide and LED light is about $4700 (4050 Euro), including VAT.

 

Hi Adam,

Wonderful! Those are great to know!

I have reached out to a couple different dealers.

Here,

1.669 Eco with a China-made servo motor and LED light costs about 29000 RMB/4200 USD. 

2.669 Eco with a pneumatic food lift + servo motor +LED  costs about 31000RMB/4500 USD

3.669 Eco with a computer features plus all above is about 37000RMB/5300USD

4.669 GOLDLINE computer feature + auto system is about 43000 RMB/ 6200USD

669Goldline is certainly out of my options. If going for the alder 669, I am leaning toward 1st and 2nd options, which will allow me to save some to invest in the next machine.  Right now, It is still a struggle for me to decide which machine I should go for. Personally, I consider myself to hold a high standard on the preciseness of the works. I have seen the stitches line alder 669 could do, even and beautiful, but maybe it only depends on who is using it. haha

I will visit several sewing machines factories outside my city next week. If they allow me to try some of the machines, that will help me to make the final decision.  Thank you for helping! and BTW, I had the chance to check out the works! You guys make beautiful projects.

 

 

 

[shantiandd]

8 hours ago, Lobo said:

43 years in the leather business, of which I spent nearly 30 years hand-stitching. I started with a very basic machine, which I soon learned would not hold up to production work for my products. I then purchased another machine, which did a pretty good job, but was under strain at times with heavier work. I ended up purchasing a couple of very heavy duty machines of the type commonly used by saddle makers.

Best advice I can offer is to purchase more machine than you think you will need. That way you will never strain the machine in use, each task will be handled with less time and effort, and you will probably never wear your machine out in use.

2

Good point! Thank you for the advice!  Will take it into my consideration. 

[dikman]

I think 1 or 2 would be the best options (do you really need a pneumatic lift?), while a computer unit might be good in a factory environment for home use it will be great - until something goes wrong! You could be without a machine for a while and it could cost $$$ to repair. For what most of us do a simple mechanical machine makes more sense.

[shantiandd]

2 hours ago, dikman said:

I think 1 or 2 would be the best options (do you really need a pneumatic lift?), while a computer unit might be good in a factory environment for home use it will be great - until something goes wrong! You could be without a machine for a while and it could cost $$$ to repair. For what most of us do a simple mechanical machine makes more sense.

You are right! If I decide to get an alder 669, I won't add the computer feature. It is not necessary and also too delicate to have. 

Edited December 22, 2018 by shantiandd

[R8R]

21 hours ago, dikman said:

The newer 335's should handle 8mm (probably up to 10mm, maybe a bit more), the older models are limited to about 6mm (although if tweaked a bit it's possible to fit about 9mm under the foot).

Nope. I mean, maybe? Occasionally? It doesn't climb well. It doesn't climb at all really. 

It's great for small items. Purses, slippers, makeup bags, wallets, small cylindrical items, etc. It doesn't like thick assemblies.

[arz]

7 minutes ago, R8R said:

Nope. I mean, maybe? Occasionally? It doesn't climb well. It doesn't climb at all really. 

It's great for small items. Purses, slippers, makeup bags, wallets, small cylindrical items, etc. It doesn't like thick assemblies.

You are correct about the climbing. That is the one thing we do not like about the Adler 69. It struggles when we reach a thick seam that you have to cross over. You have to "help" it along  It is like it does not have traction. I assume a 4-motion feed dog would really help here... -Adam

[arz]

6 hours ago, shantiandd said:

I will visit several sewing machines factories outside my city next week. If they allow me to try some of the machines, that will help me to make the final decision.  Thank you for helping! and BTW, I had the chance to check out the works! You guys make beautiful projects.

 

 

 

Glad to help and thank you for the kind words! Good luck on choosing a machine. Whatever you buy, please let us know how it works out for you. It's always nice to see how a machine performs for someone!

[dikman]

3 hours ago, R8R said:

Nope. I mean, maybe? Occasionally? It doesn't climb well. It doesn't climb at all really. 

It's great for small items. Purses, slippers, makeup bags, wallets, small cylindrical items, etc. It doesn't like thick assemblies.

You could be right as I've never tried climbing seams with mine (old model), I've only sewn flat leather. I got mine to sew 10mm (3/8") -  just - by re-adjusting the feet height but I also had to disable the automatic tension release as lifting the feet higher than standard releases thread tension on the upstroke! While I proved it can be done, I put things back to standard as my other machines will handle 3/8" (plus a bit) so I don't need it to do it.

Edited December 22, 2018 by dikman

[shantiandd]

5 hours ago, arz said:

Glad to help and thank you for the kind words! Good luck on choosing a machine. Whatever you buy, please let us know how it works out for you. It's always nice to see how an performs for someone!

2

Not a problem. I don't know well enough to give a comprehensive review but will do a simple video to show how well the machine functions. :-)

I also have an edge skiving machine and an electric creaser on the way. Will share some thoughts on those machines as well.