Sewing Machine Questions

[Regis]

Art,

Well said and thanks for the help. That's about how I bought my 3000. Searched and searched, procrastinated, and then just bought the best I could. You convinced me to save my pennies for the LSZ. In the mean time, I'll take my brother up on the offer of a "like-new" 15-91 for 20 bucks shipping.

Thanks,

Regis

[Art]

Hi Ed,

The Sailrite is not going to want to sew half inch stuff too often. The 441 will sew 32oz all day every day. The Sailrite is a light duty chap machine, it ain't the Baby Bull and the motor is much smaller than the 1/2 horse that most shop machines have. Get the biggest flywheel (might be extra cost) to get more power. There is a Sailrite store in Ft. Lauderdale if you are close, I would take some leather over and see how it performs.

Art

Art,

Your cents are their weight in gold and platinum. I hate to fawn, but I am in your debt (and many others here) who have offered such great advice.

My set up:

Jukki 441 Clone

Baby Bull/Mach 1

I love both of these machines. The 441 is reserved for all the leather stitching because of its compound feed mechanism. The Baby Bull is reserved for all the lighter stuff, which is a bit too industrial for.

I may be having to move in the next six months, and I was thinking of selling the Baby Bull and getting a portable, which could do the work I'm asking the Baby Bull to do and save a lot of space.

I may just go with the Sailrite. I need to call them and ask what the presser foot lift is on it. I'd love to have .5" if possible. The used CP206r is .25". I think a new one is .5" but am not sure.

Ed

[sheathmaker]

Hey Art, I read your posts with great interest, particularly about the Artisan aquisition. You obviously know WAY more about sewing machines and various models than I do, but I do know how to run them and make a little money. That brings me up to the Artisan story. I had a well used Pfaff (I don't even remember the model) and I was limping along making chaps and chinks. I went to the Boot and Saddle Maker's Round Up in Brownwood, Texas one year (it's a very mini version of Sheridan). I met Jerry Zonis and came home with the Artisan 797AB and the following year at the same venue I bought the Artisan Toro 4000 with the fancy table. I've lost track of how many times those two machines have paid for themselves and they have been absolutely trouble free. Regardless of how you finally made your choice decision to get Artisan, I believe you made the very BEST choice. Jerry's new Toro 3000 costs about half what we paid for the 4000 and it is even a slightly improved machine. It has less throat depth which I don't use all of any way and has the newer servo motor. Other than that it's the same as the 4000. I use the 797AB with 69 and up to 138 for stuff up to 3/8" and all the fine tune stuff and the 4000 with 207, 277, and 346 for the tougher stuff up to nearly 7/8". I have been totally satisfied with both machines and I don't think I'll be around when they do wear out.

Paul