Tippmann Boss

[esantoro]

When I bought my first machine, I was thinking about the boss but wondered why anyone would want to pay $1500 for a hand powered machine when they could get a good enough powered machine for $900 that can do pretty much the same.

I did buy a Taiwanese machine, called in various parts a Ferdco Baby Bull, Neel's Model 5, Mach 1, etc., but it's a damn fine machine. I'm sure the Boss, stitch per stitch puts down a nicer stitch, soething coparable with the most expensive machines, but my Tai machine is nothing to sneeze at. It, like the Boss , feeds the leather only with the feed dog and does not have a reverse.

Recently, because i saw the real need for a compound feed machine, I bought a machine very similar to the Artisan Pro 4000 and the Ferdco Superbull, but i still prefer working with my Baby Bull, which taught me a lot about reading stitches and tension. it's a machine a feel comfortable experimenting with.

I bet you can get one of these machine's raw for about $600, polished up and modified a bit for $800.

Ed

[Patrice]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but here's what my mom's got:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...DME:B:WNA:US:12

She own's the same exact sewing machine. I was wondering if a qualified sewing machine tech could modified my mom's Necchi to sew the same material as the seller on ebay?

I would like to know what you think about such modification :biggrin:

[pella]

I buy the boss because it the less expensive machine that can sew heavy harness traces 3/4" material...

[Hoyden]

I've been searching for the right machine for what I need to do for awhile. I've been testing out several machines to see if it can sew together 2 pieces of each of the following leathers; 9 - 11 oz. latigo, 13 - 15 oz. stirrup leathers, 10/12 oz. harness leather and 11/12 oz. sole leather.

So far, I've found that the Consew 206RB-5 and the TacSew 111W-155 Compound walking foot have been able to sew through with no problem. I haven't found a place where I can test out the Artisan or the Toro yet. There is a Pfaff place a couple hours away that I plan on visiting.

I DID try the Tipman Boss machine and let me tell you, that bloody machine would tick off a Saint. I am patient and very machanically inclined and it was all I could do to keep from taking a dead blow hammer to it. My friend uses it to sew all kinds of leather goods that he sells at Renaissance Faires from clothing to pouches and belts, so he is familiar with it, but it's not for me. I'd rather hand sew that use that beast.

I am going to look at some older singers in the new couple of weeks.

These are the first ones I did and they were done by hand, but this is what I would be sewing together

[esantoro]

I've been searching for the right machine for what I need to do for awhile. I've been testing out several machines to see if it can sew together 2 pieces of each of the following leathers; 9 - 11 oz. latigo, 13 - 15 oz. stirrup leathers, 10/12 oz. harness leather and 11/12 oz. sole leather.

So far, I've found that the Consew 206RB-5 and the TacSew 111W-155 Compound walking foot have been able to sew through with no problem. I haven't found a place where I can test out the Artisan or the Toro yet. There is a Pfaff place a couple hours away that I plan on visiting.

I DID try the Tipman Boss machine and let me tell you, that bloody machine would tick off a Saint. I am patient and very machanically inclined and it was all I could do to keep from taking a dead blow hammer to it. My friend uses it to sew all kinds of leather goods that he sells at Renaissance Faires from clothing to pouches and belts, so he is familiar with it, but it's not for me. I'd rather hand sew that use that beast.

I am going to look at some older singers in the new couple of weeks.

These are the first ones I did and they were done by hand, but this is what I would be sewing together

Hoyden,

On Ebay right now there are a Highlead (similar to the Artisan 4000 and Pro 2000) compound feed and a barely used Juki 471 that should go for a bit under $2000.

Ed

[AKRob]

I have used a Boss for about 28 monthes. Tippmann's service is excellent. There is a learning curve and both of my machines have their own "personality" so to speak. Tippmann created a lot of bad blood recently when they eliminated a whole pile of small dealers. It took me a bit to nrealize that the rack and gear are designed to break BEFORE the more expensive parts do. They have replaced parts free out of warrenty and been informative on the phone. We use our machines hard and often. I would like to find an Aero Stich one of these days or get into a good electric machine for doing heavy belt stiching, etc.

But we will keep the boss machines for doing our general holster work as they do it so well.

Rob

[whinewine]

I have used a Boss for about 28 monthes. Tippmann's service is excellent. There is a learning curve and both of my machines have their own "personality" so to speak. Tippmann created a lot of bad blood recently when they eliminated a whole pile of small dealers. It took me a bit to realize that the rack and gear are designed to break BEFORE the more expensive parts do. They have replaced parts free out of warrenty and been informative on the phone. We use our machines hard and often. I would like to find an Aero Stich one of these days or get into a good electric machine for doing heavy belt stiching, etc.

But we will keep the boss machines for doing our general holster work as they do it so well.

Rob

Several months ago (when I first joined the forum), I had started a whole other post about the fact that certain dealers would no longer sell the Boss & I wondered why & asked why. . Some refused to tell me & others gave me some song & dance about reliability & service, etc. Bottom line is that I purchased a new (but out of warranty) machine from Ron Ross in St Joe, Indiana & I love it. I've had no problems with it so far. It's a great machine to operate, Ron has been extremely accomodating & helpful & someone from Tippmann has even contacted me... The only downside I can see from this is in its inability to sew backwards (easily) to lock the stitches ( it needs to be done manually). At this point, though, I can't complain...Now, I haven't had to make many adjustments yet, but I still don't forsee any major problems. I'm getting ready to sew two 3oz pieces of upholstery leather together without the use of a sewing table/platform (an optional piece of equipment) & we'll see where this goes. At this point, I do not want electric; I just want to control everything & place every stitch where I want it. I'm also considering buying an edge guide and possibly an optional sewing table for it.

BTW: if anyone who hates the Tippmann Boss has any of these items for sale, I might be interested... (this is not a solicitation to buy, but if you have this stuff around & want to get rid of it, quote me a price... thank you.)

[K-Man]

Tippmann's Boss was my first, second, and third machine. I broke the first two and sold the third off in frustration. The first machine was their old model; the second and third machines were their current model. The third machine I tried to work with for about eight months. Tippmann's customer service was/is exceptional and I certainly have no complaints about their willingness to help. I was just one of those people who could not get along with the machine. In fact, after I broke the second one, I told Jim Miller at Tippmann that before they came out with a new model of it to send it to me and let me try it out first. If I couldn't break it, then they knew they had a good machine. :biggrin:

With respect to availability of a BOSS, there is a gentleman I know who may be getting rid of his. I'll check with him and see if he's still considering doing that. If he is, I'll send you a pm/email with respect to the details.

[whinewine]

K-man: my machine is an aluminam one & I love it at this point, as I've said before. BTW, I'm NOT looking to buy a 2nd machine, JUST some of the accessories (i.e., the edge guide, and/or the sewing table, and perhaps the stirrup sewing option. Nothing more. Thanks. Russ

[wolvenstien]

K-Man, if it is for sale, hit me with the info.... I may/may not be in the market, but it wont hurt to get the info.

Thanks