Sewing Machine Questions

[JustWakinUp]

Hey everyone,

I'm wondering when it comes to sewing leather what the best method would be. I have a brothers sewing machine that I would like to run into the ground. I wanted to put it to the task to see what it could and couldn't sew. I've found some folks around here that have 120/20 needles so my question is this.

What size thread is the "general" sewing thread? Is it 12?

I want to get a few needles and thread and begin playing, Please pass along some suggestions

[Art]

Hi _____, (your name here)

The "normal" thread size for the hole the 120 needle makes is 69 or 92 and even 138 with a tight wound poly. Now the question will be how the Brother will like that big thread. Size 69 should definately be doable and I have run Coats 138 through a Singer 201 without any complaints. However, remember that the 40s-50s era Singers were made to be general purpose household machines that would end up sewing everything from lingerie to drapery, jeans, towels, and canvas. That's why you occasionally see old 66's and 201s sewing light leather. Today's machines are much tighter and less capable of sewing heavy materials due to plastic parts and multiple stitch control. You'll have to judge where your brother falls in the scheme of things.

Art

Hey everyone,

I'm wondering when it comes to sewing leather what the best method would be. I have a brothers sewing machine that I would like to run into the ground. I wanted to put it to the task to see what it could and couldn't sew. I've found some folks around here that have 120/20 needles so my question is this.

What size thread is the "general" sewing thread? Is it 12?

I want to get a few needles and thread and begin playing, Please pass along some suggestions

[Regis]

Are you aware of "any" home style portable sewing maching that is fairly reliable for the occasional sewing of 4-5 oz (total) of leather? Perhaps a walking foot one like pfaff?

Using suitable leather needle.

Thanks,

Regis

[esantoro]

Are you aware of "any" home style portable sewing maching that is fairly reliable for the occasional sewing of 4-5 oz (total) of leather? Perhaps a walking foot one like pfaff?

Using suitable leather needle.

Thanks,

Regis

I've been wanting to as a similar question. What is the best portable walking foot homestyle machine? I've been reading up on the Pfaff 130. Are there others?

Ed

[Art]

Hi Regis,

Given those constraints, the Sailrite LS-1 Ultrafeed at about $550 is the best bet. For an extra $250 you can get the LSZ-1 which has a zigzag capability also. These machines are on-the-go machines and spend a lot of time in canvas and upholstery trucks. Sailright's other machines are based on the Singer 111 (you probably can't name a company that hasn't knocked that one off) which is not quite portable.

Art

Are you aware of "any" home style portable sewing maching that is fairly reliable for the occasional sewing of 4-5 oz (total) of leather? Perhaps a walking foot one like pfaff?

Using suitable leather needle.

Thanks,

Regis

[Luke Hatley]

Are you aware of "any" home style portable sewing maching that is fairly reliable for the occasional sewing of 4-5 oz (total) of leather? Perhaps a walking foot one like pfaff?

Using suitable leather needle.

Thanks,

Regis

Regis, there are a lot of old SINGER SEWING MACHINE around that will sew leather

if you are in a larger city to find them.

you can check E-Bay out for Machines. Hopefully you get an Honest seller.

THE BEST OLD SEWING MACHINE TO GET WILL BE A SINGER 31-15.

THEY ARE GREAT AND WILL SEW #69 & 138 THREAD.

[Regis]

Thanks. I do have an Artisan 3000 that isn't convenient for some of the light work. And I have a cheap singer portable with walking foot attached that technically works but, skips, coughs, chokes, and won't last. So, I'm looking to buy something I can pick up, put in the trunk. and take when I visit family and want to do some items there. Tabletop use is important.

Thanks again,

Regis

[Art]

Hi again Regis,

The Singer 31 was a tailor's machine and is a great machine, however no walking foot. You should be able to get a 31, or a 201 (no walking foot either) with a bazillion accessories and feet (that is the way they were sold as a general purpost machine that would do most anything around the house) for no more than $150, that would be in very, very good condition, top condition. On eBay there are a few guys who ghost bid these things up and I have seen them go for $600 or even more, so be careful. With the 201s they have direct drive motors, so burning one up will cause a little bit of a headache, not that bad though. The model 66 was around at this time also and can do light leather work. If you are getting into the $500+ range for a machine it should be a good solid Pfaff 545 or the like or a new Sailrite if you want a portable.

Art

Regis, there are a lot of old SINGER SEWING MACHINE around that will sew leather

if you are in a larger city to find them.

you can check E-Bay out for Machines. Hopefully you get an Honest seller.

THE BEST OLD SEWING MACHINE TO GET WILL BE A SINGER 31-15.

THEY ARE GREAT AND WILL SEW #69 & 138 THREAD.

[Art]

Hi Regis,

The 15 will be a good choice too.

The Singer 31-15, 7-33, 111-150 thru 155 and the Consew 99R(-3) (zigzag) were standard equipment in Navy survival equipment shops (parachutes and harnesses etc). There was also the 211 which was a newer version of the 111. You could have all of those machines in perfect order for under the cost of a new big stitcher and sew darned near anything (including sheet metal with the 7-33 if you had to). Air Force used some of the same stuff but tended toward newer models. This is circa late 60's, I don't know what they use today.

Art

[JustWakinUp]

ANy links to retailers for these threads?