klutes Report post Posted February 8, 2019 What flatbed walking foot machine would you guys recommend for sewing up to 1/2 inch vegtan leather. thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikermutt07 Report post Posted February 8, 2019 For the price I would look towards a cowboy 3200. It is a cylinder arm, but I think a flatbed with that much capacity is going to get expensive. I'm no expert by any means, but I know you can get either a flat bed attachment from cowboy or a more exact flat bed attachment from Uwe. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted February 9, 2019 7 hours ago, klutes said: What flatbed walking foot machine would you guys recommend for sewing up to 1/2 inch vegtan leather. thanks I saw this machine in the Cowboy showroom at Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines. It is called the CB243. It has the same capacities as the cylinder arm CB4500, but is a flatbed machine on a 20" x 48" table with a servo motor and speed reducer under the table. It definitely sews 1/2 inch and then some with thread sizes up to #415. Adler used to make an extra heavy duty flatbed walking foot machine called the 204-374. I had one for a short time in 2011. It sewed a solid half inch of leather with #277 thread and a #25 needle. But that was about all it could penetrate despite lifting high enough to sew 3/4. If equipped with a 3:1 speed reducer this machine would be suitable for flat holsters, heavy straps and other items 1/2 inch thick. Singer used to make an extra heavy spring foot walking foot machine called the 132k6. It maxes out at 1/2 inch and can handle #346 thread. But, that's pushing it. It is best limited to #277 thread with a #25 needle. All of the above are extra heavy duty machines that use huge needles that move extra thick thread. But, if you can get by with #207 bonded thread, a Juki LU-1508NH can sew just about 1/2 inch using system 190 needles (Requires dealer to set it up for this needle system). It wasn't made to sew holsters, just extra thick things that aren't necessarily dense. A photo of the machine on the Juki product page shows it sewing a moccasin type padded slipper. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
klutes Report post Posted February 9, 2019 Thanks Wiz that is the information I was looking for. Are you familiar with the a Cobra 20. Like I said up to 1/2 would be all I need . Most stuff would be /14 to 3/8. And yes 207 would be ok. If you had the Juki set up for 190 needle can it be used with smaller threads and needles. Of al the machines which would be your choice. Thanks I value your input and recommendations Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted February 9, 2019 1 hour ago, klutes said: If you had the Juki set up for 190 needle can it be used with smaller threads and needles? I modified a National walking foot machine to use system 190 needles and found that when I used #18 needles (sewing leather and suede rifle slings) they were very easily deflected and bent/broken. I went back to using the default system 135x16 needles and the deflection was all but eliminated. If you buy a machine setup for system 190 needles, try to stick with needles above #19/120 which calls for #92 thread. You can use #18 needles and #69 thread as long as the layers don't move or have anything in or on them that might deflect the long needle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garranaga Report post Posted February 11, 2019 (edited) Hello Wizcrafts I read your comment on the Juki 1508nh, I just bought it with the intention to sew concealed gun holsters. Did I make an expensive mistake? Edited February 11, 2019 by garranaga Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted February 11, 2019 10 hours ago, garranaga said: Hello Wizcrafts I read your comment on the Juki 1508nh, I just bought it with the intention to sew concealed gun holsters. Did I make an expensive mistake? The LU-1508NH is rated to handle #207 thread with up to a #24 needle. Load it with #207 thread, top and bottom, and a #23 leather point needle to start. If it skips stitches on test pieces add more foot pressure. If knots are showing on the bottom add more top thread tension. If it won't sew with that combination, try a #24 leather point needle. If that doesn't work you made a mistake. Try to exchange it for a heavy duty leather sewing machine that can handle at least #277 thread. If they won't take the machine back, sew your holsters with two parallel rows of #138 thread, 1/8 inch apart. Start on the lower outside then work your way around the inside and join the lower outside stitch line, over lapping about 4 or 5 stitches. Try to hit the same holes as you overlap. Alternately, double stitch #138 into the same holes with a #23 needle. Start about 1/2 inch from the bottom, sewing down in reverse, then sew forward to the top, then reverse all the way to the bottom. This should give the strength of #207, or even #277 thread as long as you hit the same holes all the way. You may need more thread pressure as you double stitch. This assumes that the machine has been properly setup to match the stitch length in forward and reverse. FYI: #138 bonded nylon thread is rated at no more than 22 pounds breaking strength (too marginal for serious holsters). #207 increases it to about 32 pounds (marginal). #277, the recommended size for 1/4" to 3/8" pancake holsters, is rated at 44 or 45 pounds test. Once I hit 1/2 inch I use #346 thread (53 pounds test). Note: Sewing with a larger thread on top and a size smaller in the bobbin reduces the breaking strength of the stitches to that of the smaller thread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garranaga Report post Posted February 12, 2019 I appreciate your input. Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
