Industrial sewing machine questions for Light to Medium weight leather

[Doc Reaper]

I have read through the responses and I saw Singer 111, CB 3200, consew 206rb, cb227r, and a cb341

i too am looking for a sewing machine to make wallets. I need a straight answer, most of what I read would confuse a beginner looking for help!

[Wizcrafts]

7 minutes ago, Doc Reaper said:

I have read through the responses and I saw Singer 111, CB 3200, consew 206rb, cb227r, and a cb341

i too am looking for a sewing machine to make wallets. I need a straight answer, most of what I read would confuse a beginner looking for help!

From your list, all except the CB3200 are great for wallets. The 3200 is more of a holster and double leather belt sewing machines. It uses thread sizes from 138 through 346. While you can use #138 thread to sew the combined wallets together, it is too thick for the interiors unless they are at least 6 to 7 ounces thick.

The Singer 111 and Consew 206 are flatbed machines and the 227 and 341 are cylinder arm machines. All have compound feed walking feet and handle up to #138 thread, top and bottom. Wallets are mostly flat, so I sew mine on flatbed machines. Unless it is subclass 156, the Singer 111 has no reverse, which may be a problem for wallet backs.

[Kcstott]

On 1/7/2019 at 4:54 PM, Vikefan said:

Thank you everyone... Wow... I guess I will hold off and have to investigate further.  Since I don't have a machine I hand-stitch my holsters and Knife sheaths I make. 

Thanks again for all the good information.

 

Vikefan

Figure out what you do the most of and buy the machine that will do that first. Then buy the second machine down the road when you have the funds. 
but yeah it seems that everyone wants a machine that will do it all and no such machine exists. 
belts and wallets you want light thread and fast stitching. 
holsters and sheaths big thread and a slow machine with lots of torque and big needles. 

[ljk]

If I had to make a choice for just one machine it would be a singer 144w with reverse. (or adler equivelant)

25years ago my 206's would not sew certain parts on our mc chaps. We bought a 144w103 We called it T Rex  

pressure feet adjustment is easy, which makes different thickness material easy.  Stitch length

is more difficult (screw adustment} in top of the head. Parts are available.   Another choice would

be a singer 45k with the walking foot.  These machines have a front stitch length lever making locking a

stitch if you slide to zero or close.  Thats how embroidery machines lock stitches between jumps.

Both machines are available down to #20 needles.  I'm currently modifing a $50 45k to sew shoes soles.