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

[Spyros]

Thanks Mr JollyDodgerCanvas

One thing that annoys me with those machines is that I have to hold the ends of the threads with my hand to start a stitch.  Problem is that when I start a stitch is when I want my hands free more than any other time.  So I decided to just hold the threads with a magnet.  I had some aspirin-sized magnets in the shed.  I bored a piece of wood with a drill and popped them in there, and then epoxy glued a piece of coarse sandpaper on top to keep the magnets in.

Of course I could've just used a bigger magnet off ebay or something, but that's what I had on hand.  Either way it works great:  

I wonder why I haven't seen other people doing this, is there a reason that I shouldn't either?

[DrmCa]

A large paperclip that hangs behind the machine works the same.

[MtlBiker]

1 hour ago, Spyros said:

Thanks Mr JollyDodgerCanvas

One thing that annoys me with those machines is that I have to hold the ends of the threads with my hand to start a stitch.  Problem is that when I start a stitch is when I want my hands free more than any other time.  So I decided to just hold the threads with a magnet.  I had some aspirin-sized magnets in the shed.  I bored a piece of wood with a drill and popped them in there, and then epoxy glued a piece of coarse sandpaper on top to keep the magnets in.

 

Of course I could've just used a bigger magnet off ebay or something, but that's what I had on hand.  Either way it works great:  

 

I wonder why I haven't seen other people doing this, is there a reason that I shouldn't either?

Believe it or not, I as a relative newbie, have been doing this with my Techsew 2750 since I got it.  With a cylinder arm machine I too needed both hands to hold my fabric assembly in the proper position, especially when starting my stitch and that's harder to do than with a flatbed machine.  I have a 3/4" diameter rare earth magnet that I just place on top of my two threads when starting.  Works like a charm.  I wasn't as ambitious as you however, as I just have the raw magnet without any wood "handle" on it.  I will admit though that yours looks a lot easier to both place in position and to remove than my puny little smaller-than-a-dime magnet does.

I also have a small 3/8" x 2 1/4 magnet on each of my machines to hold my tweezers and thread snips.

 

[kgg]

1 hour ago, Spyros said:

I wonder why I haven't seen other people doing this, is there a reason that I shouldn't either?

Good idea. I have used a similar method on both my flatbeds and cylinder machines where I have used a rare earth magnetic on the flatbeds and a simple tight slit or seam in my table top attachment. The only drawback is that it can be a fine line between the thread holder holding the threads at the right tension. If the threads aren't held tight enough then the initial stitches will not be proper. If the threads are held too tight and if you are not careful enough to make sure they slip out of the holder it will drag the material towards and / or downward to where the holding point is. Most times it works perfectly and frees up your hand to help guide the material so you can get those first couple of stitches in.

kgg

[Spyros]

45 minutes ago, kgg said:

If the threads are held too tight and if you are not careful enough to make sure they slip out of the holder it will drag the material towards and / or downward to where the holding point is.

Yeah true, they don't slip out (I think I might've put too many magnets in there), but after the first few stitches I have the habit of stopping a sec and snipping them off anyway.  Because if I go around the piece and I finish a stitch where I started, and I have a couple of giant threads hanging loose right there, I'm scared they might get sucked into the bobbin and all hell breaks loose.

I'm definitely adding another magnet to hang my snips like MtlBiker

Thanks gents

Edited February 13, 2022 by Spyros

[RockyAussie]

Good idea there @Spyros I always have handy some scraps by my machines and I also like to have some handy to check my tensions before I start the job. What I do is run a few stitches in the scrap and that gives me something easy to hold most of the time to start off the main job. The scrap stays there generally until I am finishing off. At about 40 seconds in on this video you can see my tension checker scrap piece - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdloxyjeB1w&t=436s

 

Edited February 13, 2022 by RockyAussie

[Spyros]

13 minutes ago, RockyAussie said:

Good idea there @Spyros I always have handy some scraps by my machines and I also like to have some handy to check my tensions before I start the job. What I do is run a few stitches in the scrap and that gives me something easy to hold most of the time to start off the main job. The scrap stays there generally until I am finishing off.

Yeah I've noticed that on your videos!  However, I need my right hand on the wheel to control exactly where the needle first enters the leather

[RockyAussie]

14 minutes ago, Spyros said:

Yeah I've noticed that on your videos!  However, I need my right hand on the wheel to control exactly where the needle first enters the leather

Yes I do as well. Check at 5 min 40 seconds in on that video and you will see with the scrap in I don't hold it when I put the needle in.

[Thescandall]

rockyaussie, i spammed the techsew forum im a member of with your narrow needle plate and dog. hope your email blows up. 

im going to put it to work this weekend at the ranch. starting a new gunbelt and im gunna sew it with your stuff.  

[Spyros]

On 2/14/2022 at 9:59 AM, RockyAussie said:

Yes I do as well. Check at 5 min 40 seconds in on that video and you will see with the scrap in I don't hold it when I put the needle in.

you sure you don't have a third arm somewhere? LOL