Leather sewing machines

daddyeaux · June 09, 2011, 09:14:33 PM

Well it is a done deal..Steve called and said the Cobra is shipping tomorrow......By next week I should have holes in my fingers..

daddyeaux · June 27, 2011, 09:16:14 PM

First lesson is don't believe everything you hear. My last post was on the 9th..........today is the 27th.....my Frikken machine just arrived today.............ordered this thing in February....guess I can get down to business now.....just want to say thanks to Steve for getting this thing I sure am looking forward to a lot of play time.

outrider · June 28, 2011, 07:13:15 AM

great news Daddy...now you can begin your learning curve....it will take a little time but you will have fun and it is well worth it...

daddyeaux · July 01, 2011, 07:47:50 PM

OK guys here it is......just finished putting it together under the carport........Cobra CM 4........
Waited since February for this machine........

daddyeaux · July 01, 2011, 07:54:59 PM

Here are some more pics I hope

daddyeaux · July 01, 2011, 07:57:04 PM

And one more since I can't figure out how to get more than one pic per post......

daddyeaux · July 01, 2011, 07:58:40 PM

ok 5.........

daddyeaux · July 01, 2011, 08:00:19 PM

ok,,,,,,

Marshal Will Wingam · July 02, 2011, 01:07:46 AM

Fine pics, Daddyeaux. Looks like a good one. Thanks.

Slowhand Bob · July 02, 2011, 08:04:18 AM

Be sure and get a close up of the machine front. If your4 memory is anything like mine it would be handy to have a better, more complete, reference of how the thread runs than what was in my manual.

daddyeaux · July 02, 2011, 09:57:46 AM

I agree with you SB, the instruction manual leaves a lot to be desired. It is a good thing I am mechanically inclined.

Cliff Fendley · July 02, 2011, 08:43:35 PM

A agree about the manual. My Cobra 4 is the first sewing machine I ever operated and if I wasn't very mechanically inclined it may have been difficult.

TN Mongo · July 03, 2011, 08:35:37 AM

I own this same machine. I went to the Artisan website and down loaded some of their instructions and pictures because it is almost the identical machine. Steve worked for them before he opened his own company.

The best thing about a Cobra machine is Steve. He is very patient and helpful.

daddyeaux · July 03, 2011, 09:10:55 AM

Thanks Mongo, I will try that. Also I am going to take pics of the thread path so I will have that saved. Then I will be ready to put my first holster together. Just a little side carry for my 45.

Cliff Fendley · July 03, 2011, 09:23:11 AM

I'll try that also, the Cobra instructions assume you already know a lot about sewing machines and working on them. I'd bet Steve would save himself a ton of phone calls if he had some better instructions. The operators manual was about the only disappointing thing about the Cobra, otherwise it is a great machine.

outrider · July 03, 2011, 09:47:51 AM

Well...Mongo beat me too it. Also if you can find a downloadable manual for the Juki 441...as all of these machines are copies of the 441. But the Artisan manual is good and gives much more info than the mfg....even my Ferdco manual leaves a little bit to be desired....

TN Mongo · July 04, 2011, 05:37:28 PM

I should also mention that I bought a cool little magnetic LED light from Artisan that I have attached very close to the needle. I had to have one after I saw Outrider's. I have also bought thread from Ferdco when I was using a Tippman Boss (boat anchor) that works very well in my Cobra. Ferdco carries Poly thread. Steve recommends, and carries, nylon thread, but the poly thread works just fine.

If you choose to use the nylon thread that Steve recommends, you may want to consider picking up a wood burner. It works well to seal the last thread. With poly I just tucked the thread back into the hole and it never came out, with nylon thread the tucking method has not worked as well.

One other trick that no one bothered to tell me until I was talking to Outrider. Run one size smaller thread in your bobbin. If you are using 277 on top, use 207 for the bobbin thread. This method will save you tension adjustment headaches.

Cliff Fendley · July 04, 2011, 06:24:51 PM

I always had the understanding it is fairly common practice to run one size smaller thread on the bobbin. That said I have bumped up to running 277 most of the time on top and bottom. I just don't care for the small thread on the back side of my work. With a machine the front and back doesn't look exactly alike but it's much closer with the same thread.

TN Mongo · July 05, 2011, 12:01:44 PM

Steve recommends 277 top and bottom. I just have had problems with tension adjustments doing it that way. I might need to go to a slightly bigger needle if I want to run 277 on both. Because I almost always make lined holsters with a thick welt, I still hand stitch the welt seam with heavy thread.

daddyeaux · July 05, 2011, 05:59:26 PM

Hey guys, I notice you are talking about a different size thread for the bobbin and the needle. What size do you use mainly for the thick leather such as holsters? And what size do you use mainly for light weight jobs? How many of you run the same thread on the bobbin and needle?
Just pickin your brains before I start, gotta go load some bobbins now.