Anyone going to Wikenburg leather show?

Excalibur · March 11, 2009, 01:03:44 PM

A friend and myself are first timers going to wikenburg.
We would like to hear tips, places to go and even meet up with anyone else here on the forum.

Marshal Tac · March 11, 2009, 01:14:51 PM

I am going.... It'll be my first show also. Been to Wickenburg hundreds of times, but never for the leather show.
-Tac

santee · March 11, 2009, 07:37:43 PM

When you get back, let us know how it was. Would love to hear about it.

Marshal Tac · March 13, 2009, 01:30:36 AM

Santee... In a word... "Expensive"!

I had bearly walked in the door when I ended up spending $1600 on a sewing machine! (That about half of what I expected to spend, and the main reason for me going to the show to begin with.)

The venue isn't all that big, but they crammed a bunch of vendors in there and if there was a leather working tool you needed, I have no doubt that it could be found there. Several vendors selling high quality hand made puches and stamps. All kinds of saddle making supplies too... Herrmann Oak and Wicket & Craig leather both had a booth set up showing off thier fantastic leather hides.

Not quite big enought to spend a weekend at, but it would knock a whole in the middle of a saturday.
-Tac (who's going back on saturday to pick up his new sewing machine!)

santee · March 13, 2009, 06:17:23 AM

Good info, Marshal. Some of their classes looked interesting. I saw a holster making class with John Bianchi in the list, but boy was it pricey.

Enjoy your machine!

JD Alan · March 13, 2009, 09:16:33 AM

Just curious, what would a holster class from John have cost? I understand he has a video out about holster making.

My first (and only) leather show was in Pendleton last November. Tandy and Portland leather were the only ones with leather for sale, and there was only one class available, on saddle making. The show was sponsored by Ferdco sewing machines, and they had quite a few on display. Some friends said pervious shows there had a lot more vendors and classes than this one I attended. It could have been the economy I guess.

On the positive side, there were lots of tools for sale: Barry King was there, very friendly and helpful. I bought a half dozen of his tools, and wished I'd had more money to spend $:-\$

A tool maker from Elko, Nevada, Wayne Jueschke, was there, and he had some nice looking tools as well. And finally Bob Douglas was there, with a whole bunch of tools, new and used. He and his wife were great to talk with, very friendly and helpful, especially to a newbie like me. Later I ordered an Awl from him, and it's fantastic.

If it wasn't so far away I would love to go to Wikenburg, and I hope everyone attending the show has a great time. JD

Marshal Will Wingam · March 13, 2009, 09:45:55 AM

What kind of machine did you get, Tac? The price sounds good, no matter what it is.

Marshal Tac · March 14, 2009, 02:18:05 PM

JD I am not sure what the cost of the class was for Mr. Bianchi, but I did see a couple of the rigs that were made during his class and they were stunning! I am sure that the cost would be worth it if you were going to go into business making those rigs for a profit. Mr. Bianchi is a master at his trade.

Marshal, I bought a Artisan Toro-3000. I have zero hours of experience with sewing machines of any variety, and I played around with this one long enought that I felt comfortable with it, and the nice salesman answered about 1500 questions from me while continuously feeding me leather scraps to sew on and SHOW me the answers to my questions, not just tell me. I think I got a pretty good deal on the machine and since I am picking it up I am saving the shipping costs and it will be fully assembled and set up when I pick it up.

They had a couple of other brands of machines there (I had never heard of them before), but none of them were even close to the price of the Artisan. With todays economy I could not afford to spend much more than I did, and I have heard that the Artisan machines have a decent reputation. (and they are build in the U.S.).

I'll let you know how I like it... if I don't sew my fingers together!

-Tac

cowboywc · March 14, 2009, 03:50:52 PM

Howdy Tac
I don't know who told you they were made in the U.S., they are made in China.
WC

Marshal Will Wingam · March 14, 2009, 05:40:07 PM

Thanks for the information, Tac. Now we'll be looking forward to seeing some cool stuff you can make. I dislike cartridge loops because of the time to do them. A machine would sure make short work of them.

Marshal Tac · March 15, 2009, 08:00:13 PM

WC.. the one I purchased is stamped on the back in the casting "Made in the U.S.A, Commerce Ca.". The information I was provided at the show was that they were designed in Japan and built in California. I have no doubt that the majority of the parts are manufactured over seas... just like a Ford car or truck, but I am confident that they are paying American workers to assemble the machine.
-Tac

ronkaroo · April 17, 2009, 02:48:26 AM

Has anyone tried the Ferdco Pro 1010 machine? It handles thread sizes from 69 to 415, but I'm wondering if it can handle the heavyweights okay on 8-10 oz leather?

Marshal, what size thread(s) are you using on the Artisan 3000?

Thanks for any info anyone can supply. I'm new on this site so I hope I'm not messing up too much.

Ten Wolves Fiveshooter · April 17, 2009, 07:47:23 AM

Welcome to the forum Ronkaroo

Outrider is the Pard you want to talk to on this, and I'm sure there are others that will chime in, below is the link to Outrider, you will find at the bottom of his page , where to PM him. Then again he might just jump in here any moment.

tEN wOLVES

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?action=profile;u=1903

Marshal Will Wingam · April 17, 2009, 12:20:06 PM

Howdy, Ronkaroo. Welcome to the forum. Looking forward to seeing more of your posts. I'm sure one of the pards with a machine can help you on that.

outrider · April 18, 2009, 09:34:23 AM

Howdy Ronkaroo,

I have not had any experience with the new Ferdco 1010 machine, however from the tech data it appears to be just under the Pro-2000 (which is the machine I have). The 1010 is a walking foot bottom feed with a foot lift of 3/4"..and will accomodate up to 415 thread size. The Pro-2000 is slightly larger with a foot lift of 7/8" and is a needle feed walking foot. It will go up to thread size of 554.

Unless you are going to make heavy harness this machine would probably do you . Most of the work I do is with 8-9 oz. or 9-10 oz. leather and I use 277 thread on the top and 207 in the bobbin. Find out from Ron at Ferdco what accessories are availoable for this machine. When I bought my 2000 I also got the "saddlers package" which includes alot of different plates (holster plate and stirrup plate) and presser feet.

I suggest you ask Ron at Ferdco what he recommends...he will steer you in the right direction. Just for information: The Pro-2000 and the Artisan 4000R machines are all copies and upgrades of the Juki 441 harness stitcher. Ferdco, has made several patented re-designs of some of the internals of the Juki, which has improved the overall performance of their machines.