KMPG Report post Posted January 20, 2020 Hello, I have started to make tote bags and hobo bags using antique grain sack fabric and antique upholstery homespun hemp. I currently own a Singer 4452 machine. It does a pretty good job with sewing the antique fabric but struggles with curves. I have not tried it with leather and I think I want a separate machine for making leather handles and buckles for the bags and when add some leather accents. I bought a beautiful, soft, cognac bison hide to get started. The only thing is I have never worked with leather and I don’t own a leather sewing machine. What is the most efficient sewing machine for bag making and leather handle making? My husband thinks I will need something that will go through about 6 mm of leather. All the websites I searched on google say the Janome 3000 is best for leather but I found a sheet from Janome that explained using leather on the machine and it said no more than 4 mm. Also, I read here that you all think the Janome is not an appropriate machine for leather sewing. So these are my questions: 1. Do I need an industrial compound machine? If yes, what is a good machine for what I want to do? 2. Are their machines around $500 that can be used for bag making and leather handles that is not a compound machine? 3. What are the brand and models from least expensive to mid size and most expensive? 4. What machines are good for a beginner? 5. What beginning tools would be good to purchase for making leather handles? 6. Is it a good idea to purchase a used machine? What are places or forums to see ads for used machines (e.g., when people upgrade to new model and what to get rid of their existing model)? 7. What kinds of questions should be asked regarding a used machine? Any guidance you can provide to this leather newbie is much appreciated! Thank you! KMPG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Northmount Report post Posted January 21, 2020 Have you read through the thread It will answer many of your questions. Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KMPG Report post Posted January 26, 2020 Hi Tom, I did read through it. I was hoping for suggestions of current models on the market that I should consider. It is a lot of money to purchase an industrial machine and there are quite a few to consider. I will relook over the post and see if I can borrow my search myself. Thank you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJN Report post Posted January 26, 2020 (edited) On 1/20/2020 at 12:07 PM, KMPG said: 1. Do I need an industrial compound machine? If yes, what is a good machine for what I want to do? 2. Are their machines around $500 that can be used for bag making and leather handles that is not a compound machine? 3. What are the brand and models from least expensive to mid size and most expensive? 4. What machines are good for a beginner? 5. What beginning tools would be good to purchase for making leather handles? 6. Is it a good idea to purchase a used machine? What are places or forums to see ads for used machines (e.g., when people upgrade to new model and what to get rid of their existing model)? 7. What kinds of questions should be asked regarding a used machine? 1. In my opinion, yes. To help you find a good machine for your purposes, it is necessary to see some photos of what you are making. What your style of bag and method of assembly is. 2. You will most likely want to get an upholstery class industrial sewing machine. The big question is, can you make your bags and handles with a flat bed machine or will you need a cylinder bed machine. From my experience and observation, if you are patient, you can find a pretty nice Consew 206RB (flatbed) for around $500. I have 2 of them (like new) that I bought for that price. But I had to upgrade both with servo motors ($100-$150 each) and one needed a new table ($200). If you need a cylinder bed machine to sew your bags, I expect you will spend closer to $1200 to $2000. 3. Here are some of my suggestions for flat bed machines: Juki LU-562, LU-563, LU-1508, DNU-241, DNU-1541 Consew 226R, 206RB, 255RB Singer 111, 211 Pfaff 145, 545, 1245 Nakagima 280L I would need to know more about your bag construction and thread size requirements to suggest a cylinder bed machine. 5. You need to show some examples of your handles. 6. A new machine will probably cost you $1500 to $2500. Your budget sounds like you are looking for a used machine. Watch Craigslist, FB Marketplace and any other local classified sites. Be patient, don't impulse buy the first machine you see without gaining more knowledge. READ READ READ the many posts on this forum to learn more about these machines and capabilities. I like Juki and Consew. Parts are available and reasonably priced. Used machines at bargain prices will usually need some maintenance or repairs. Hopefully you or your husband is mechanically minded and able to make adjustments and repairs and do periodic maintenance. 7. Like buying a car, wear and tear on a sewing machine is usually visible. Paint wear, rust and dirt can be signs of heavy use or even abuse. Hopefully you can bring your materials with you to check out a used machine and you can try sewing them. I always look to see if the owner has an oil bottle with the machine. I remember going to look at a couple of Juki 241's that were bone dry. The oil reservoirs were totally empty. I don't think the owner knew that these machines need to be oiled every day they are in use. I passed on those machines. It is a good idea to show your location in your profile so others can recommend sources or machines in your area. I hope this helps. Good Luck. John Edited January 26, 2020 by JJN Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
