Overwhelmed by leather Sewing machines

[brmax]

Its always a benefit these days checking some youtube videos. I would suggest popcorn and searching: machine sewing leather wallets. 

Then filtering so to see some using 92 size threads. As typical dress wallets are likely using 69 threads, or some even less or thinner thread. 

I had mentioned it before and consider it important, thats using different color thread if one needs to highlight the thread. Versus using bigger thread, when strength is not needed. 

 

Good day

Floyd

[Starwind0]

2 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

The OP isn't aware of how lockstitches are formed yet. Here is an animation showing how the top thread picks up the bottom thread as it goes around the bobbin and draws the tow threads up between the layers.

The way lockstitches are formed requires enough material over and under the knots to conceal them (aka: bury the knots). First, the needle must be wide enough to open a hole large enough for the overlapped threads. That may be 2 to 3 times the diameter of the biggest thread. Then the thickness of the material has to fully bury those overlapped knots. That is often 4 times the size of the knots. So, a 1mm diameter thread requires a needle about 3mm diameter and the material/leather would have to be at least 6mm thick.

By comparison, when hand sewing an over/under saddle stitch, a 1mm thick thread will look beautiful on  both sides in 4 to 6 ounces of leather. That's because there are no overlapping knots to deal with.

Yeah I didn't realize that part. Thanks for the information. Yes I am thinking way too big because I do hand sewing mostly. But like my expencive Helm boots, they have smaller thread, and they do the job of holding the boot together, so that will really suite my needs to have a thinner thread. 


Photos would be good of what I make too.

Here are examples of what I've made lately (site is really bad about max file size!)

https://imgur.com/a/fPSjjaL

With the goal of making 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rS5vbJydQ0&t=441s

[Starwind0]

I'm considering the tech sew 2700 pro I saw last night. Though the guy is pretty firm with 2k. Looks lightly used and had the speed reducer. Looks like it does what I need. But I think he's over factoring his shipping cost as machine value. You can buy that new with warranty for like 2500. But more so it's 500 over my budget. What do you all think? Im considering just driving to Dallas and going to sunny at this point. For 2k I'd get a vacation and a machine. 

[kgg]

13 minutes ago, Starwind0 said:

Im considering just driving to Dallas and going to sunny at this point.

That is what I would do and bring some of what you want to sew along. They may have other machines (new /used) that may serve your present / future needs better once you test sew on them. Buy Once, Cry Once.

kgg

[brmax]

If your considering leather work, the machine and you will require a speed reducer unit on a sew machine, no matter if a servo is used. There are discussions on many ways to accomplish this “requirement” but just kindly accept the tip. 

I am seriously promoting  your traveling to a few places with machines. I think everyone here would guide you to standing in front of a few machines, especially setup for leather, which is a bit heavier and focused on projects requiring slow operations at times. 

Maybe pre travel, we can all better help select between a flat bed or a cylinder type machine as your last postings.  In any case some how getting your hands on some thread will surely help determine needs. But projects discussed in some other forums may help decide a direction when viewing others project photos. 

 

Good day

Floyd

[Starwind0]

12 hours ago, brmax said:

 

I am seriously promoting  your traveling to a few places with machines. I think everyone here would guide you to standing in front of a few machines, especially setup for leather, which is a bit heavier and focused on projects requiring slow operations at times. 

Yeah playing with it. I think a cylinder with a flat bed addition can really just do everything. Frankly, after playing with the machine I really don't get why people think I need 1 machine per task. I clearly was able to sew thick straps, thin lamb skin. Multiple layers. Long stitches, short lengths. Easily do wallets, bags, and straps like I said I want to do. He even showed me canvas he did. Granted some people will think I am including thick projects, like holsters. So either I am missing something major, but I got a bag full of samples for a wide array of tasks. I'm an engineer, the limiting factors I see with a sewing machine is, horse power, needle size, range for the presser feet, shape of the work area. 

That said the sell fell apart. Wasn't willing to even consider negotiation, and thinks its worth almost its full cost. I rather buy a cowboy in dallas for the same price. 

We will see what I do next. The shop hours are a real pain for us out of towners.

[brmax]

Surely you can take off during the week.

I have found through the years more professional business are in fact closed on weekends, and I agreed as a technical tradesman. Really I could careless about overtime, because life is more important. Although I did work a bit of ot in my day, but thats another book Im not writing. 

Another machine will turn up in your hunt, I say theres just getting all the elements particular to it. Have a good day

 

Floyd

[Wizcrafts]

On 7/31/2019 at 12:16 PM, Starwind0 said:

Im considering just driving to Dallas

Then look up Solar Leather Machines in Arlington, Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth. They probably have or can get what you need.

[mikesc]

I think Solar is the one he was referring to..which is shut on weekends.
Shut Sunday I can understand, ( everyone could do with a day off per week, even if they are not religious ) but to shut Saturday too..unless the business owners ( not thinking only of Solar there, but in general it seems weird to me for any business to be shut all week-end ) are orthodox..?
Here lots of places are shut Sunday, and from 12.00hrs 'til 14.00hrs on all the other days..which, as I always think when they tell me , means they are only catering to the unemployed or the retirees, because every body else is working ( and would need to take time off, or close their own business to go shopping ) when they are open..
Then again, I haven't been "open to the public, or any type customers" on any day of the week, since 2003..still in business(es), but no "face to face" on my turf.

Starwind0 , I hope that you find someone who is willing to stretch their opening times or days to accommodate you, and exchange your money, at a fair price to you both, for a machine that you'll be happy with.

Edited August 1, 2019 by mikesc

[SolarLeatherMachines]

1 hour ago, mikesc said:

I think Solar is the one he was referring to..which is shut on weekends.
Shut Sunday I can understand, ( everyone could do with a day off per week, even if they are not religious ) but to shut Saturday too..unless the business owners ( not thinking only of Solar there, but in general it seems weird to me for any business to be shut all week-end ) are orthodox..?
Here lots of places are shut Sunday, and from 12.00hrs 'til 14.00hrs on all the other days..which, as I always think when they tell me , means they are only catering to the unemployed or the retirees, because every body else is working ( and would need to take time off, or close their own business to go shopping ) when they are open..
Then again, I haven't been "open to the public, or any type customers" on any day of the week, since 2003..still in business(es), but no "face to face" on my turf.

Starwind0 , I hope that you find someone who is willing to stretch their opening times or days to accommodate you, and exchange your money, at a fair price to you both, for a machine that you'll be happy with.

I AM Solar Leather Machines.  I'm 47 yo, and I work from 7 am to about 6:30 pm Monday through Friday.  I NEED SLEEP.  And to spend time with my Wife and Family.  And so do my employees.  So, Yah, we're closed on weekends.