A little change to make a BIG differance on Cowboy sewing machines

[Wizcrafts]

55 minutes ago, alpha2 said:

I do a lot of holsters, but not one yet with the holster plate, because I can't figure out how it's supposed to be used.

The holster plate serves one purpose. It raises the leather above the end of the machine and the shuttle cover so that lower shapes can pass by close to the stitch line. Some holsters are sewn pre-shaped, or have belt loops on the back, or other hardware that would get hung up on the standard low throat plate.

The holster plate is also useful for sewing dog collars and horse tack so that hardware can slide by close to the left side of the feet. I usually use a right toe foot in these instances.

[JollyDodgerCanvas]

On 5/18/2022 at 9:28 PM, Spyros said:

Well oiling so frequently is great for the machine but not so great for the leather, if you overdo it even a little bit it will absolutely spew oil on your work (and your shoes, don't ask me how I know)

I have a terry cloth rag and wipe up under the head before loading material, drips are annoying, but it takes a while for oil to migrate down through the bushings.

[Spyros]

On 5/19/2022 at 7:38 PM, RockyAussie said:

Good thing is generally most sewing machine oil does not leave any marks on leather after it dries out absorbs or whatever.

Mine did dammit, I'm just using a no-name bottle that came with the machine.  Any brand recommendations?

[RockyAussie]

5 hours ago, Spyros said:

Mine did dammit, I'm just using a no-name bottle that came with the machine.  Any brand recommendations?

I think I have been using the same oil and not have had any problems like that yet. I will have to do some testing on it now. What type of leather did it leave a mark on? Brand wise I have used the Singer oil you can get on line and never had any issue but may depend on the leather as well. I generally keep a cloth under the feet when not in use and I also wipe the feet down before I start a job and that may help but on the other hand I also often put a felt somewhere in the sewing thread line to oil the thread which helps to stop the glue from sticking to the needle. Doing that sometimes leaves a little hint of oil around the needle hole but that has always disappeared by the next day.

[RockyAussie]

15 hours ago, alpha2 said:

I do a lot of holsters, but not one yet with the holster plate, because I can't figure out how it's supposed to be used. I'd love to see a short video of someone using it.

On 5/19/2022 at 9:50 PM, Doc Reaper said:

I’m still trying to figure out how to use the holster plate

I had looked previously on how some have gone about setting these holster plates up and using them and I think that may have left me thinking that it was all too much trouble to bother with. After doing a trial for myself I think that I was WRONG. 2 minutes if it was that and I was sewing. I was on the understanding that the feed dog had to come out and maybe it does on the standard feed dog but I can say that it does not with the narrow needle plate dog foot set. I just switched the needle plates over (remove 2 screws and put back 2 screws) and reduced the foot pressure down and that was that, I was stitching. Reverse on mine also worked fine but that may be just mine who knows? Now there may be some confusion as to what is a holster needle plate and what is a stirrup plate. The smaller one is the stirrup plate and that does have to have the feed dog removed to use it and the bigger one is the holster plate which in my experience does not. I do have to point out that you need to check that the holster plate can go back in far enough for the needle to be in the centre of the needle plate slot. I had a check on 2 machines and it showed that I had to grind the needle plate back edge about 1mm (about 2.5 oz) to get it right. Anyway ...I found a video that shows a holster plate being used to stitch some stirrups and in that part it is good to see.  I would take not much notice of the set up procedure. It is great that at least he made the video and shared it which is more than can be said for many other that could have. https://youtu.be/WCoamFAgxng

 

[Spyros]

2 hours ago, RockyAussie said:

I think I have been using the same oil and not have had any problems like that yet. I will have to do some testing on it now. What type of leather did it leave a mark on? Brand wise I have used the Singer oil you can get on line and never had any issue but may depend on the leather as well. I generally keep a cloth under the feet when not in use and I also wipe the feet down before I start a job and that may help but on the other hand I also often put a felt somewhere in the sewing thread line to oil the thread which helps to stop the glue from sticking to the needle. Doing that sometimes leaves a little hint of oil around the needle hole but that has always disappeared by the next day.

Just some very light coloured nappa leather, it's a bag interior and it definitely stained grrrrrrr

Maybe because the presser foot squeezed the oil into the leather

I'll try the Singer brand

Edited May 27, 2022 by Spyros

[alpha2]

On 5/27/2022 at 12:43 AM, RockyAussie said:

I had looked previously on how some have gone about setting these holster plates up and using them and I think that may have left me thinking that it was all too much trouble to bother with. After doing a trial for myself I think that I was WRONG. 2 minutes if it was that and I was sewing. I was on the understanding that the feed dog had to come out and maybe it does on the standard feed dog but I can say that it does not with the narrow needle plate dog foot set. I just switched the needle plates over (remove 2 screws and put back 2 screws) and reduced the foot pressure down and that was that, I was stitching. Reverse on mine also worked fine but that may be just mine who knows? Now there may be some confusion as to what is a holster needle plate and what is a stirrup plate. The smaller one is the stirrup plate and that does have to have the feed dog removed to use it and the bigger one is the holster plate which in my experience does not. I do have to point out that you need to check that the holster plate can go back in far enough for the needle to be in the centre of the needle plate slot. I had a check on 2 machines and it showed that I had to grind the needle plate back edge about 1mm (about 2.5 oz) to get it right. Anyway ...I found a video that shows a holster plate being used to stitch some stirrups and in that part it is good to see.  I would take not much notice of the set up procedure. It is great that at least he made the video and shared it which is more than can be said for many other that could have. https://youtu.be/WCoamFAgxng

 

Thanks for the link. I can see where if I sewed the holster "upside down", that holster plate would work like his stirrup plate did, where you run the stitch line against the formed side of the holster. I do the 80/20 style of holster, where the entire raised side of the holster protrudes from the flat, or mostly flat back. Using the holster plate like that would put the back side of the stitching on the front of the holster. I'm not sure I'd like that. With the 80/20 holster, I haven't needed a holster plate, just thought I  might be missing something. 

I noticed where Don mentioned that his Cobra parts worked without any grinding being needed. That was NOT my experience with the Cowboy. Considerable bending and grinding had to be done before things fit properly. Also, he used 3 in 1 oil on his machine! I can't imagine it's as non-staining as sewing machine oil. 

[dikman]

Don't get yourself wound up over oils. The commonly used Lilly-White sewing machine oil is basically hydraulic oil, around ISO 32. I'm using ISO 68, which is probably a bit on the thick side but it was all the auto store had at the time. It works fine for my needs.

[voidsurfer]

This looks like it could solve my problem with my cb4500. I’m so impressed! How can I get hold of a set - I’m in the UK?

[suzelle]

On 5/28/2022 at 4:12 PM, dikman said:

Don't get yourself wound up over oils. The commonly used Lilly-White sewing machine oil is basically hydraulic oil, around ISO 32. I'm using ISO 68, which is probably a bit on the thick side but it was all the auto store had at the time. It works fine for my needs.

Good to know Dikman! (That Lily-White sewing oil is basically hydraulic oil ISO 32). I have two huge bottles of it at the moment, but 2 months ago, I had none! I was wondering what I would look for if I were to find it at an Auto Supply store. Now I know! Thanks!