Colt Report post Posted December 15, 2021 For the last 3 years or so I’ve been hand stitching all of the gun holsters and knife sheaths I make. This is no doubt the most time consuming process of this hobby for me and my hands are constantly cramping from the repetitive motion and from gripping the small needles. A few months ago I decided to try one of the Chinese shoe patchers on eBay and I was not expecting much but for 100$ I figured it wouldn’t hurt too much to try. After two weeks of watching every video I could find on the thing I finally got irritated enough to throw it into my trash pit out in the woods on my property, this being said I am currently looking at vintage singer machines (electric) to fill this hole in my leather shop. there are so many options I do not know where to start. I would not mind overhauling the machine myself or taking it to a shop to make run perfect. My budget is 400$. Also the goods I make are usually made from 10oz veg tan and are at most 2 pieces thick with a chrome tan liner on the inside. Any help is appreciated as I have never owned a sewing machine and no one in my family knows much about sewing or are crafty people whatsoever. Also this is my first post so hello everyone! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kgg Report post Posted December 15, 2021 5 hours ago, Colt said: Also the goods I make are usually made from 10oz veg tan and are at most 2 pieces thick with a chrome tan liner on the inside. Hi Colt, welcome to the forum. If my math is right the thickness of what you sew is going to be somewhere be the 7/16" to 1/2 " thickness. This would put you above the upholstery case machines so you would be looking at machines probably in the 441 class. Since the Juki's in that class of machine are very expensive so the clone machines provide much more affordable options. I think in a motorized machine you would be looking at something like a Cowboy cb3500 new for about $2800 US. Another more affordable option that could work would be the one arm bandits like your Tippmann Boss new for about $1000 US or the Cowboy Outlaw new for about $1400 US. I know you said you had a budget of $400 so you are going to be in the used market but maybe this will give you an idea of what type of machine you will be needing. If you find a machine and are not sure of it's capabilities just ask as I'm sure someone would be able to help. kgg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrmCa Report post Posted December 15, 2021 Ditto. $400 will not buy you a holster machine unless your luck is such that you stumble across a barn find or estate sale in which there are not too many bidders. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted December 15, 2021 There are a couple of options you can consider for a sewing machine for holsters and knife sheathes. None are anywhere close to your $400 budget. I am listing them with the cheapest first and most expensive last. There will be tradeoffs with the first one. Read the descriptions so you know the capabilities of each type of machine. These machines can sew at least 7/16 inch, using at least a maximum of #346 thread. You can sew holsters with #277 thread, but that is the minimum I would recommend. All these machines can tension #277 top and bottom. It has 44 pounds breaking strength. Here is a needle and thread chart showing the diameters and strengths of various sizes of bonded sewing thread used in modern industrial sewing machines. As a hand sewer, you probably use at least 4 cord linen thread, which is the same diameter as #277 bonded nylon thread. You cannot use waxed lined or any hand sewing thread in a modern lockstitch machine. Cowboy CB2500 (with or without reverse). Sews up to 7/16 inch. Bottom feed only. Up to #346 thread. 10.5 inch arm. Cowboy CB3200. Sews up to 1/2 inch with triple feed. Up to #346 thread 10.5 inch arm. Cowboy CB3500 or the Cobra Class 3. Sews up to 7/8 inch. Has triple feed. Up to #415 thread. 9 inch arm. Cowboy CB4500 or the Cobra Class 4.Sews up to 7/8 inch, has triple feed, up to #415 thread, 16.5 inch arm. I hope this helps without confusing you too much. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samalan Report post Posted December 15, 2021 The very first machine I got was a Cobra class 4 and the very first thing I did was sew 7/8" veg tan leather wow that's a sewing machine also Steve has been very good with me for years now . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hags Report post Posted December 15, 2021 Good luck. I have a cobra class 3 and have had no problems that weren't traceable to the operator. Wish I would've got the class 4. That little extra would be handy sometimes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samalan Report post Posted December 16, 2021 12 hours ago, Hags said: Good luck. I have a cobra class 3 and have had no problems that weren't traceable to the operator. Wish I would've got the class 4. That little extra would be handy sometimes. If you do get a class 4 get it with the needle positioning system it's incredible ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frodo Report post Posted December 20, 2021 Let me stick my 2 cents ion here. I bought a Chinese patcher. and like every one else I watched every video a certain person on you tube took the time and effort to make. a year later and my frustration at its in. I sat back and started at that machine for hours. thinking and thinking. FINALLY I decided that every thing on those videos must be wrong. After 2 straight days with very little sleep. I came to the conclusion that My Machine was not timed correctly. I set the machine up using common sense and the devil with what others thought. I WAS RIGHT. The timing on my machine was off and common sense told me to set the hand crank at the 12 o-clock position instead of the 2 o-clock position i was being told. My machine is running just fine now here is what you must know set the hand crank at the 12 o-clock position set the machine like it shows, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kgg Report post Posted December 21, 2021 2 hours ago, Frodo said: a year later and my frustration at its in. Like I've always said they are a true tinkers delight that gives endless hours of entertainment. kgg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frodo Report post Posted December 21, 2021 24 minutes ago, kgg said: Like I've always said they are a true tinkers delight that gives endless hours of entertainment. kgg Here is what is so devious about the machine. Each machine is assembled without being assembled the same. the bobbin shuttle sits on the pitman rod differently in each unit. So when i tell you that if you do ABC to your machine because I did ABC to mine. That does not mean ABC will work for you. My best advice to a new owner is to understand how the bobbin shuttle works and adjust your machine around how the bobbin picks up the thread Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kgg Report post Posted December 21, 2021 26 minutes ago, Frodo said: Each machine is assembled without being assembled the same. I'm not sure it's about each individual machine but more to do with the number of various manufacturers even through they all look pretty much the same expect for the coat of paint so who knows what other differences are lurking. 29 minutes ago, Frodo said: My best advice to a new owner is to understand how the bobbin shuttle works and adjust your machine around how the bobbin picks up the thread Excellent advice. kgg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frodo Report post Posted December 22, 2021 (edited) machining running smooth http:// https://youtu.be/BULNEHtCi2s https://youtu.be/BULNEHtCi2s Edited December 22, 2021 by Frodo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
