Leather Sewing Machines. How many use them?

[outrider]

Howdy Pards:

Seems to be alot of Q&A about available sewing machines.  Here is a link that will enlighten our knowledge somewhat.  Marshal, you may want to add this to the FAQ section.  It also includes some of the needle and awl machines like the Campbell, the Randall, Singer machines, and Union Lockstitch, etc.

www.a1sew.com/saddle.htm

Another good site is:  campbell-bosworth.com        All kinds of tools, stamps, supplies, etc.

Hope this helps

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Good idea, Outrider. I merged this with the thread we already had going on sewing machines with a FAQ link to it. Thanks for the link. Good information.

Yer good, Pard.

[Ace Lungger]

I just went to ebay, and there are a few machines on there, at $100.00-$200.00, then they also got $999.00 and up!
I have no clue about them, but if the old old singer was close to me, i would go look at it!!

I hope this might help.
ACE

[pa.bluesman]

I have a Boss and an Artisan Toro 3000. Both are great. I started with the Boss and enjoyed it a lot. It made sewing projects that previously took about an hour now require just a few minutes. When my business increased a bit, and I came up with ideas for new products that were going to require a lot of stitching, I checked out Artisan after learning about them here. I can't begin to describe how enthusiastic and helpful, not to mention patient, Steve is. After a few weeks and a couple of question filled phone calls, I ordered the Toro 300. WOW! What a machine. It's everything I could have ever hoped for, and even a novice with no machine sewing experience like myself can get beautiful consistant results easily. For my liitle business, it was pricey.  I added the flat work surface, and shipping alone of this heavy unit was $200., but for what you get I think it's very fairly priced ~~~ The servo-controlled motor allows accurate speed control, even at  v e r y  slow speeds, it can handle up to size #415 thread, adjustable pedestal design on heavy casters ~ I recommend highly 

[randyc]

I've had an Artisan Toro 3000 for the past 2 years. I use it in my custom gun leather business. It's a great machine and IMHO Artisan has the best customer service in the business. Prior to purchasing the Toro 3000, I was using a Tippmann Boss. After switching to the Toro 3000, I've never looked back.

Randy

[pa.bluesman]

I have now had the Toro for several months. I like it more and more every time I use it. I actually look forward to sewing on it. It has enabled me to add some new designs to my product line and has performed flawlessly. The people at Artisan I have spoken with are really helpful and friendly and excited about their machines.

[Dalton Masterson]

Dang PA, that looks great!

I might have to get one of my machines up and running sometime, and make a lined belt.

DM

[Marshal Will Wingam]

What a beautiful guitar strap, pard. Nice work. That machine is sure doing a fine job.

[Johnny Dingus]

Wow that strap is georgous.

How long have you been doing leather work?


Johnny Dingus

[Rayban]

I just picked this one up yesterday...it's a knock-off of a Singer K45....I haven't mastered it yet by a long stretch...it seems to have this run-away foot pedal...kinda has a mind of it's own.....when I can control it I'll be in bidness.

[JD Alan]

Hey Bluesman, nice hearing from you.

I doubt that machine does your dying jobs. That's about as slick as I've ever seen for coloring. I don't know what you are doing to achieve that color and smoothness, but it sure looks great.

BTW I'm a big fan of blues guitarists. Besides the normal list, Clapton, Stevie Ray, etc, I love Warren Haynes, Walter Trout, and Buddy Whittington. Mick Taylor on slide, and of course the late great Duane Allman. Oh yeah, Derek Trucks is pretty good too.   

I play, but not much other than acoustic worship leading these days. I do have three different electirc guys who rotate into our band week by week, all blues guys.

Thanks for sharing your work, it looks really great, JD

[Slowhand Bob]

Well, quite by accident, I sold my old three digit BOSS last weekend.  I had told a couple of shooting pards that came by the shop at least a year ago that I was considering selling my Tippmann Aero.  Well they told an out of town shooter that I had one of the Boss machines fer sale!!  Since he absolutely would not take the Aero I let him talk me out of my little BOSS but now that it has been gone almost a week I am still detouring around its space to get to the Toro. 

For those who do not think the little BOSS can handle its rated limit, as a demo for the pard, I spot glued four thicknesses of old dried out 11oz leather together and sewed through all 44oz without a hitch.  BothTippmanns whined and squalled in the aged scrap bin leather but kept feeding the 277 thread into the leather like champs. I will now hang on to the Aero for awhile but consider the fact that it is tied to a small air compressor to be a huge disadvantage when compared to the handiness of the BOSS.  The BOSS was a good little machine fer what it was and I will miss it. 

[TexasToby]

Tippman Boss on sale until the end of Nov for $1195.00.

[alien883]

Cowboy...

Please stay away from all hand operated machines, untill u like to spend some money on Dr. bills for sore hands...haha...but seriously....a Tippman is to expensive to be manual...and unfortunatly not well build anymore...Aluminum....the new Stitchers are expensive...so you need to find a good used one...please do NOT go to Creglist...go to a dealer and ask for a good used one...like an Adler 105-64...or a good Pfaff 145...there are much good ol Singers...but most of them Flat bed...look for 111s and for 211...some have reverse...some not...these are medium machines...not much for Holsters....Adler 105 is fine for Holsters but not walking foot...nice to have,,,Call Bob in Toledo...he is a Wiz in used machines...he will do u right!!! And yes, hand stitched will always be stronger and much more pretty!!!,,,,But hey, we all not getting younger either...haha
Oh....and log into leatherworker.net....tons of sewing machine guys and info!!!

Greetings

Jimbob

[outrider]

Alien,

Thanks for your input on the sewing machines....always like to hear different opinions...I am a little confused as to why you are commenting on a thread that was put on here over three years ago???

[dbrown3]

I have a chance to buy a Singer 153W103 for $275
I want to sew liners on gun belts and holsters.  I will sew the ?? thick part of the holster ?? by hand.
Will this do the job?  Is it a good price?  It comes with a table and the motor has a speed reducer on it.
Is it a simple machine?  My wife is a sewing expert, will any of her knowledge cross over to this machine?
What all is this machine good for?
Lots of questions....thanks for any answers you can provide.

[outrider]

dbrown,

First of all my advice is to go to the Singer website and do research on what that model machine was made for.  If you plan on doing holster and belt linings this unit may not be strong enough.  My medium weight machine has a 190 needle system as opposed to the standard 135 needle system.  The needles are larger and will take thread sizes from 69 up to size 207 thread.  The 135 needles are mcuh smaller and althoguh they will sew light suede they are not quite heavy enough to do say a pair of chaps or what your planning to do...linings.  Again...do the research..don't get caught up in that rut   it's "cheap" because you may end up buying something that will not do the job for you.

[outrider]

I looked up the 153w103.  It is an open arm (cylinder arm) machine..but does not appear to have a reverse.  If in fact it does not reverse you will have to turn your project 180 dgrees to lock the stitches at the end of the run.  Otherwise it looks sturdy enoung to do your lining projects.  See if you can do a test run on the unit...

[dbrown3]

Thanks for the insight.  I think the test run is a great idea.

[Beauregard Hooligan]

I have a Tippman Boss HS in the 36XX serial range, but end up doing most work by hand. The Boss seems to go out of adjustment every 10th stitch. There is the shallow throat, which as mentioned earlier, makes stitching loops on a heavy belt very difficult.