Sewing Machine for Sewing Custom Sneakers

[JohnG305]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all of the responses.

[Techsew Ron]

6 hours ago, JohnG305 said:

Guys, look at the 2nd shoe in the photo and the detail. It looks great to me. It is made completely by hand by Japanese cobbler.  I don't think he made these with the Singer Patcher. 

The second shoe was constructed piece by piece, it looks like a double needle post bed machine was used on most of it. The first shoe was most likely modified with a patcher.

[JohnG305]

Ron thanks so much. I am learning alot here. With a double needle machine, you still have the single needle option?

[Techsew Ron]

10 hours ago, JohnG305 said:

Ron thanks so much. I am learning alot here. With a double needle machine, you still have the single needle option?

Yes you can simply remove one of the needles.

[Wizcrafts]

12 hours ago, JohnG305 said:

Ron thanks so much. I am learning alot here. With a double needle machine, you still have the single needle option?

Here is the machine Ron was referring to that produces the close double row stitches on shoe uppers.

[JohnG305]

Thanks so much Wizcrafts.  On thread size, the machine can handle thread sizes #23 to #92. Do you that #92 is thick enough to assemble shoe uppers like the Air Jordans in my photo. 2-3 layers of leather. Thanks alot!

[Wizcrafts]

5 hours ago, JohnG305 said:

Thanks so much Wizcrafts.  On thread size, the machine can handle thread sizes #23 to #92. Do you that #92 is thick enough to assemble shoe uppers like the Air Jordans in my photo. 2-3 layers of leather. Thanks alot!

If you are going to sew sidewalls, #92/15 pound test thread is marginal, but acceptable if sewn in a double row, with 1/8 inch spacing at no closer than 5 stitches per inch.. You really should use 22 pound test #138 bonded nylon/polyester thread for higher stress areas in the toe box.

[JohnG305]

Thanks again. I was referring to creating/sewing the uppers together and you send me the link from Ron to the awesome TechSew 830-2-R Post Bed Roller Feed- it handles #23 to #92 for stitching shoe uppers, I think #92 is strong enough and they the stitches are visible enough. For my sidewall patching jobs I will use a Singer Cobbler machine.  This Techsew has everything I want. Of course I want it all for less than $2700

 

6 hours ago, JohnG305 said:

Thanks so much Wizcrafts.  On thread size, the machine can handle thread sizes #23 to #92. Do you that #92 is thick enough to assemble shoe uppers like the Air Jordans in my photo. 2-3 layers of leather. Thanks alot!

 

[Wizcrafts]

9 hours ago, JohnG305 said:

SNIP

For my sidewall patching jobs I will use a Singer Cobbler machine.

Do you already have a shoe patcher? Do you realize how tiny their small bobbins are?  If not, if you want to sew sidewalls on, get a large bobbin patcher. They are capable of running #138 thread and won't run out sewing one pair of sneakers like the small bobbin model would.

Singer patchers are actually series 29 machines. They originally were made with only a very small bobbin and a fixed gearbox. These itsy bitsy bobbins are best threaded with no more than T70 bonded, or 3 ply cotton thread. Later on in the 20th Century, Singer extended the arm out to 17.5 inches and made a detachable gearbox that came in small and large shuttle models. The larger bobbin holds enough #138 bonded thread to sew around 5 or 6 belts, guitar straps or rifle slings (I know from doing this for years).

The last and best big bobbin Singer patchers were the 29K72 (1960s) and 29K172 or 29U172 (1970s, made in JP).

[JohnG305]

15 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

If you are going to sew sidewalls, #92/15 pound test thread is marginal, but acceptable if sewn in a double row, with 1/8 inch spacing at no closer than 5 stitches per inch.. You really should use 22 pound test #138 bonded nylon/polyester thread for higher stress areas in the toe box.

Thank you so much. I read your buying guide and I am glad I waited to do the research because thread size does matter. Some of the post bed with top and bottom roller feed have #138 as their largest thread like this Cowboy 8810

http://www.solar-leather.com/cb8810