JSLeathers Report post Posted February 7, 2021 Well I have been looking for a sewing machine to do leather on for some time now. After much reading I decided financially to convert an older machine for my first go-round. I have a budget that has increased. When I first started out I wanted to spend roughly $500. Go ahead and laugh lol. I learned quickly that was NOT going to happen. So after a few months I decided $1,000 MAX! I looked really hard at the Tippmann Boss and still think that would have been a great purchase. Still may end up with one? Their customer service seems to be outstanding. I’m a tightwad and enjoy building stuff so I kept looking on marketplace and Craigslist for an auto machine. I read a lot and watched a lot of YouTube. And with a little guidance I finally found what I think is what I want. I purchased a Consew 225. Guy wanted $450. Said it worked and has a newer clutch motor. Which I new was going to be replaced right from the get-go.... I went and looked at it and saw it was not all it was cracked up to be and needed more work than anticipated. The timing belt was loose and needed replaced. The timing was WAY off but everything looked to be operational. I walked away with it for $300. Had a few boxes of extras I have no clue what they are but I’m sure will come in handy some day. I want thru the machine and cleaned it up, it was rather dirty! I oiled it pretty heavy to allow it to soak for a while till I got it all fixed up. Obviously I had to tinker with my new toy. The timing belt was SO loose that it had jumped time so I fixed the timing best I could and ordered a timing belt. Called every place around and they wanted $60+ and nobody had them in stock. Amazon had them from $12-$28 with 2-4 weeks shipping. I ordered one for $30 with shipping from sewingmachinepartsonline so it should be here this week. I also plan on putting on a servo motor so I decided on a Consew CSM-1001 cause I want the needle position sensor. I found one “missing the power cord” on Amazon for $95 with 2-day shipping. I’m pretty electrically inclined so I ordered it. Hopefully it’s really just the power cord, I can figure that out pretty easy. I probably have one in my box is 200 cords lol. A couple days and we shall see! I also plan to build a speed reducer. I have some shaft in the garage. I got to dig it out and see what size I got so I know what pulleys and bearing to get. I do a little blacksmithing and fab work so I hope that’s not too much of a PITA. again, time will tell. I’ve found some info on this machine but not a lot. I do know it’s the same as the Singer 111W155. The timing belt number is Singer 224195 and there are a lot of helpful videos on YouTube for basic help. I was going to have a professional go thru the machine but as I was cleaning it up I convinced myself it looks relatively easy to do myself. I found enough videos I believe I can tackle this and save myself the $150 the shop wants to go over it. so hang out with me on my journey over the next few weeks and Maybe, just MAYBE, you’ll see me get this thing running. Regardless, you’ll see what works or what doesn’t. Here’s a pic of it when I picked it up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JSLeathers Report post Posted February 13, 2021 So last night I got my timing belt in. I don’t want to say it was a pain in the butt; but it wasn’t fun. It took a little persuasion to get the belt pulley off the machine. After I got it off the install was fairly easy. I watched a YouTube video of how to go they the machine and time it. I made some tweaks but for the most part it was good to go. Took me about 5 hours from the time I sat down till I attempted my first line of sewing. I ran into a lot of issues! Thread breaking, thread balling up, and I had NO clue what I was doing! So I had to call Mom and start asking about basics of sewing lol. By talking to her I figured out it was all tension issues. Another hour or so I was able to sew my first line at approximately 900 mile per hour! I put it all aside and called it a night. Today I got up and started sewing up a bunch of scrap just to start learning. I keep having issues with the thread balling up on the bottom side when I first start off. I’m accounting that to user error? I feel it’s in the needle position when I start off? Could be wrong. I’m pulling both threads pretty taught when I start and about 1/2 the time it happens. I’ve gotten a few good runs out of it. I even got it to sew 6 pieces of 3/4 ounce leather with absolutely no issues whatsoever. But I’ll keep practicing to figure this crap out..... I ordered an LED light to put under the machine to light up my bed but within 48 hours I lost it somewhere in the house. I got tired of looking for it and ordered another one. My Consew servo motor just showed up so I’ll probably start putting it on later today? As for the speed reduction pulley; I’m still debating buying vs. building. I can seem to find the parts I thought I had stashed away in my garage so I may just get lazy and buy one! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kgg Report post Posted February 13, 2021 Could you post a couple of photos of the thread path from the spool of thread to the needle through the tensioners. kgg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
