Leather Sewing Machine Best Practices - Video #1 

Thank you Don This is a great video

Great video! I wish I could watch this guy in person. Thanks !

I just purchased my cobra class 4. Thank you so much for your videos!

Thanks for the great video - looking forward to part 2.

I've had mine 4 yrs now , never a problem , only my mistakes and I love being able to call Steve or his crew , they always answere my questions and can talk me through any problems no matter hoe big or small !

Great video, Don. So many machine videos out there just show people sewing scrap. Thanks for giving practical instructions for real world applications. Love your channel.

FANTASTIC VIDEO DON! Just started to learn to sew with a CB4500, and you have helped me solve many of the mysteries of my machine. It's about time someone had a video like this. Looking forward to seeing your next video. Well done.

I‘m in the process of restoring an old harness stitcher and this video helped me a lot understanding some fundamentals. Thank you very much.

very good video . I wish I had had this video you produced when i first got the Cobra class 4 .THe machine seems bullet proof. You are so thoughtful to share all this information and taking the time out of our days to make these video's is so much appreciatted. Thankyou.

greay vid! looking forward to the next.

Great Video Don, i have another one for you over 12 years ago i purchased a Chinese Clone Walking Foot Sewing machine off Ebay ironically it was my very first Ebay purchase and i was quite Skeptical of spending that much money over the Internet now i got what i was promised and the machine worked quite well out of the box and has been fine since. I really purchased the machine to do my own Marine Canvas and Vinyl for projects on my own boat i wanted more quality control and cost savings instead of paying the high rates of my local Upolstery shops it turned out that i really enjoyed the new hobby and even did some Vintage Auto interior work using the same machine although i have not upgraded to the Servo motor I’m thinking more about it as time goes on and i hear more reccomendations from guys like you and there are some RU-vid Videoes teaching how to do so At the moment I’m at if it ain’t broke dont fix it mentality and the motor that came with the machine is working to do what i need it to do the seller did not reccomend using it for leather although I’m quite sure it would without forcing or overworking it despite it being a Chinese made product it works just fine and is almost a copy of The Sailrite and The Reliable Barracuda Walking Foot machines But at a way less price Thanks again for the video your tips are helpful as i am all self taught on the sewing minus YouTune and some books Ive read or questions ive asked at my local Fabric Stores which i used to think was kind of funny because i was in Construction for over 20 years and my local store was on my way home from work so the old ladies would look at me with jeans and work boots on and give me a strange look as to why was i in their store i used to play with them since the store personell knew me i would tell the customers yes mam i sew. But my machine will sew Denim to a wooden yard stick if i so needed it to do because i sew Manly things like Boat Covers and Car Interiors not cute little dresses or other clothes although in reality i have sewn a heavy duty Apron for my Woodworking

Thanks! I just got a Class 26 I'm watching everything so I make fewer mistakes when I sew. I got so many great tips in this one. I appreciate you sharing your expertise.

Thank you very much for this!

Just got a Cowboy 4500, same machine basically. This helped me out a ton. Thanks!

GREAT video helpful . I have a GA5-1 I sew using 277 thread on most of my custom and repair's.

These are all so awesome of tips you are sharing with us ! Certainly helped me out a lot. Thank You Don.

Great video, you have given me some great tips. Thank you for sharing. Keep up the good work.

I have the Class 20. I really wanted the Class 4 when I bought the 20, but I got talked out of it because I don't do alot of heavy stitching. Great video and tons of information! Thanks man!

great information helpful for any machine thank you

Great video! On the fence still for a machine! Thanks for the info!

I got mine in 2015 and love it

great video, tons of information!

Thanks so much, SUPER HELPFUL!

Awesome tips!

Awesome video. Very very helpful. Thank you.

😃 Thanks for the video, don! I run JUKI 5500 series machines (with servos) for my clothing alterations business but I'm considering a machine for my leather work because hand stitching takes SO LONG!! The servo motor, if left on does no harm or damage as far as I know. However, my remedy for this was to hard wire the lamp into the power switch. Then, when you flip the power switch, both the motor and the lamp are synchronized whether on or off. ALSO, your lamp can be replaced with a longer necked lamp, and remounted on a 5/8" plywood backboard (any size you need) attached to the back edge of your table. This maximizes its usefulness because it increases the scope of its variable positioning while keeping it out of the way of your work piece.

Great Video, very informational thank you.

Great video Don.

Great Video! Cant wait for the next one. I have been saving up for a new machine for a few years because the work I do at home has increased. Finally got a Class 4 last month and sold my Tippmann Boss. It was like trading in my 97 F150 for a 2018 F250. Now the guys at the work complain that I have a better machine at home than the ones we use in shop

Sure would like to see how you splice two blanks together to make a longer belt. Thanks, really enjoy your expertise, and craftsmanship.

Awesome video. I just bought a uaed one(amazing because I'm in Hawaii). Lots of good information. My Reliable MSK146 wasn't quite enough for my needs. Thanks Don!

Awesome cap!

Another thing that I ran into when I first got my machine is that there is a space big enough under the gas pedal to get my toe under when my foot is resting on the floor. A couple of times I moved my foot up enough to operate the gas pedal and got 5 or 6 stiches totally unexpectedly. It didn't take long to learn to watch where my big feet were.

Good stuff. I've been thinking about replacing my Ferdinand 900 Bull with a Cobra... Saw them at the Finals in Amarillo and was impressed. Thanks for the review, now I want to sell my Bull and order one, my wife may be mad at you !

Hello Don. Appreciate the video. Good stuff. I see this video is about a year old, maybe you've figured out a solution to a problem that you mentioned. You said a long piece of leather made its way under the foot pedal and the machine would not stop. Just watched another video by Springfield leather on a full build of a class 26. In it, the assembler makes a point of leaving a gap between the pedal and the floor of the cart when he's assembling the two control rods together. In the video, it's mentioned about twenty minutes in. Hope this helps. Thanks again. God bless.

Like your hat. That my town.

Thanks, Don, your Vlog and these videos with choice bits of your experience, knowledge, and practices are priceless. Thanks also for allowing me to see you in your shop making saddles. I was introduced to leather work in Harlingen, TX in the early sixties, worked in a leather shop in Chicago in 1965, and for a leather company in Detroit in 1970 but just picked it up again last year (2017) here in Austin, TX. I was surprised, after all those years, how quickly I was able to pick it back up. I was also surprised at how many things I managed to forget. You, sir, are an inspiration.

Don my new cobra 3 was delivered set for "more than 20oz" so more heavier than I need. My work is between 6 and 20 oz, so my first issue is prepping the machine for lighter work.

Was wondering when your video about using the stirrup plate was coming

Awesome video buddy ! I really like how to sew on different things ,and thicknesses. Really thinking about getting one and giving my old needle and awl machine a break !

Thank you for a great informative video. Excellent tip for beginners. Any suggestions on correcting mis feeds or mistakes? I’m still leaning and little mistakes are very costly.

That's the same machine that I've been using for about 3 yrs. I'm planning on being buried with mine! 😂 I run 180 thread mostly but for heavy work I do jump up to 346 thread. About the only change I make is the tension on the bottom thread.

Fantastic Video, Don! Thank you very much...it was very helpful. I just got my Cobra 4 about 3 weeks ago and your video cleared up a few things for me that I was struggling with! Bill

Hi Don! I found your channel about a month or so ago (Subscribed) and have been watching lots of your videos. I am trying to get into leatherworking. Carving, tooling, painting, etc. I'm really wanting to make my own headstalls, breast collar, bit guards, etc. Mainly adding patterned leather and hides to the leather blanks. Could I ask what machine you would recommend for that? I did get a hand stitching leather sewing kit, that I have used a few times already, but a machine would make it so much easier, especially since I have a shoulder issue that gets aggravated when I overdo it. Thank you so much for posting videos like these, they are very helpful and there's not a lot of tack makers out there that will give advice or show how to do things. -Megan

Great video thank you! Quick question, what brand of thread do you recommend?

Is there a second Video? you do a nice job an your teaching videos

Great information - thanks for sharing. Where do you buy your thread?

Great video Don, very helpful! I appreciate all of your videos. Can you tell me what size and brand of thread you are using?

I have seen people recommend a stainless steel band glued inside two pieces of belt leather. Where can a person buy the steel belt liners? I do so much appreciate all the videos that you make. Thank You.

I regretfully bought the Cowboy CB4500 from the Bobsie Twins in Ohio... I swear to God that I have never done business with bigger dorks than Bob & Bob in Toledo, Ohio...

It’s DC, if you don’t hear it, it isn’t spinning, so it is powered at the power circuit but no draw it is off til you hit the pedal.

SOLD!!!🤗

👍😉.

Hey...You know it's on by looking at the red illuminated on/off switch, if your motor comes with one.

Is there enough room between the presser foot and the gas pedal to install a perpendicular piece of wood or metal (whatever works) at the top/distal 1/3 or less of the pedals so that your toes from those EE's will have a clear barrier you'll be able to feel so you don't accidentally run a needle through a finger cause your foot?

I love my Cobra 4, unfortunately I'm selling it in 6 months. She still purrs and so easy to maintain. I'm moving into a tiny house on wheels going west USA.

What made you choose cobra over cowboy? I am about to purchase one or the other any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Would you do video on a walking foot table model if you have one...thanks ..john

have you used a cowboy cb4500? ive heard theyre pretty similar to the class 4 and trying to decide which one to buy

👍

For some reason when I end my stitching on my class 4 The thread always pull out of the hole even after I have pulled the knot to the center. Do you have any why this happens? Is it possibly that I am using to big of needle for the size thread I am using. Also if I turn my work the top thread for some reason will get pulled down into the bobbin & when I go to cut the thread off I will have 4 pieces of thread instead of just 2. Crazy ain't it?

The thread problem you were mentioning is probably because it was the wrong twist there is such a thing as a left twist and right twist thread, maybe using the wrong one

I have been unable to find the 180 needles you said you use. Who do you get them from?

with the servo motor if you leave it on it will not use any electricity

is it really running when you leave it on or is it just the light thats on it thats on?

What is the right machine for wallets and straps belts leather🙏🏻

What is your thought about using a creaser instead of a stitch groover for your stitch line? Instead of cutting out the leather for the stitch, just creasing it down. I wonder if it leaves the leather a little stronger since you are not cutting out the leather. Just a thought.

You don’t have a problem with the bobbin spring falling out ?

Hi, Don can you please send me a link for Leather Sewing Machine Best Practices - Video #2 and 3.

Did you get the next videos in the series made i cant seem to find them. Whats the names?

The motor isnt running the electricity only goes to the motor when you hit the peddle are the button to activate the machine. Having the power on all the time want hurt the motor.

I'm thinking about buying an entry level leather sewing machine? Doubly wallets phone cases Things of that nature. Any suggestions

Wow can barely hear you. Is it something with youtube or me?

É boa mais é muito cara

Thanks for your knowledge and the time you spent making this video. I urge you to put similar research into verbal communication. Helpful areas include, but are not limited to: redundancy, superfluous modifiers, clichés and mindless repetition. Redundancy and mindless repetition are the same, but extra work in that department would be helpful. You are using about twenty words when one would be adequate. Please do not take offense at my critique. The human stream of consciousness is imprecise, and all of us need to constantly edit our thoughts before opening our mouths. With better editing skills, your future videos can be accomplished in a fraction of the time. I appreciate your good work.

You talk too much! Move dude!!!!!

Not sure if anyone has already addressed this but my handwheel won't rotate by hand because of the type of servo motor it has. Apparently some lock the handwheel (becomes super stiff or almost impossible to move) until you disengage with the feed pedal. That's just slightly pressed before engaging the motor, then you can hand rotate the wheel. I don't know if this is clear. I guess better servo motors don't have this issue? The one that came with my CB4500 does. I thought there was something wrong with the machine initially.