Bought a Boss stitcher? You'll want to watch this. In this tutorial, I show tips & tricks for the Tippmann Boss leather sewing machine. Watch me sew together a cowboy holster.
Thanks so much! I’ve wanted a Tippmann for years. I’m going to an auction tomorrow where there’s one for sale. Really glad I saw your video because it gives me a good picture of what I’m getting. 👍
Thanks for the video. It's good to see such care go into a product made in America. I'm referring to both the Tippmann Boss as well as your own hand worked products.
I empathize. I started making tobacco pipes without knowing how to drill a hole in a piece of wood. Never thought I’d work with my hands. Lots of frustrating days. But eventually came out the other side- me, not the drill. Always something new to learn. My life was changed by a little Oneway 1018 Lathe. What a gorgeous machine. Dabbled in leather a little but may come back to it. Thanks for the vid. Nice leather work.
Thanks for the video .. my cobra 4 is great ! However my first try doing a holster I bent the needle and finished the welt on my tipman Boss . It's a great back up and slow tight places . Be Safe Stay Well
Thanks for the video,thinking about getting one and love having All the knowledge I can get on anything I buy ,especially any trouble shooting I may need.I’ve been hand stitching for a while now and still can’t get my back stitching anywhere near that nice,it seems I can only get one side or the other to look good but never both.i just need more practice I guess but this may help and be quicker.I’ve never really got the negative comment thing,like your making instructional videos for a living or something.I for one appreciate it,thanks !
Hi, Great video. I bought a Boss last year and I also have had issues trying to get the stitching right. I have experimented a LOT and never seem happy with the way the stitching looks. I was thinking on selling it or using it as an expensive punch to make the holes, so I can hand stitch...I like your idea on how to lock stitch the ends...that's were I am having my issues now...never thought of making the tag ends long so I could hand stitch a lock stitch at the ends of the main seem....I wish Tippman would do more to offer some useful tips... Thanks for the video!
Hey Ed. That's so funny: I was thinking the exact same thing at first! I would just use it as a REALLY expensive punch. But I wanted this thing to work, so I kept messing with it and trying different settings, threads, and needles. It works great now. That's why I made this video. My hope is that at least a few people could benefit from my experience. And I didn't see any other videos addressing these particular points. Now I only punch holes and hand stitch if I absolutely have to.
I totally agree. Wrap twice around the primary tension. I put a eye on the thumb tension rod and it pull my thread into the tension plates deeper. All good on my machine and it’s definitely a learning curve. They said they would install a needle and ship the machine threaded. Yep the needle was in backwards and the thread was the wrong size for the eye. But I really like the machine and made a few adjustments to it.
I love mine! I have several industrial machines costing $5000-$20,000 but the TIPPMANN is my guilty pleasure! ...but you’re right they are a bit fiddly!
when I was young and hand stitching for hours, I dreamt of a sewing machine, leatherwork just being a hobby, it took me 40+ years to find one I could afford. I bought one for less then one cost in the 70's when I started leatherwork
Thanks for the video. I love to see how people get a tool and figure out how to make the most of it. Great job for that. If you're taking requests, I'd love a video on how you tooled the leather for that holster. That looks like it took some skill....Thanks again, KB.
I bought mine new in 2003 and had issues at first. Tippmann sent me a DVD on how to trouble shoot it (before it was on there website). I set it up the way they said in the video. Now it works like a champ! I also live in Houston Tx. I say this because after hurricane Ike hit us, we had no power for two weeks (the longest power outage I’ve had) in my area. My Tippmann Boss kept my shop productive and I got all my orders out on time while my Artisan sewing machine sat idle while we didn’t have power. So say what you want, but mine has saved my ass more than once!
Agreed. The hand operated nature of the Boss also allows you to place each stitch EXACTLY where you want. I've never felt I could do that on a powered machine.
That material guide shim was a very good idea, I think all leather machines are sold with a table top. It such a pain if you never built anything in your life and need to find someone to build it. Just more convenient to have in the first place.
Great Video! I just purchased mine on 1/10/2018. I am loving it. I am only a hobbyist at this point...sometimes I think because I hated hand stitching and my sailrite lsz-1 would only handle 2-3 oz soft supple kinds of leather I never got into larger leather projects for that reason. Next month I am going in for back surgery from a workman's comp injury and started looking into "mechanical sewing" My shop is really too small for a 4 foot long table for the industrial machines and honestly...didn't have 2k to justify for a baseline model (got a quote from Toledo sewing to ship me a Cowboy CB3200 was $300). If I start selling my work I might change my mind in the future for faster speed for belts etc. I did read for helping the thread come out more evenly to put a plastic funnel on the top of the spool of thread and the thread goes through the funnel hole up to the metal loop the thread goes through. I had to call Tippmann because my bobbin tension was too tight and the secondary tensioner was cranked almost all the way turned down to get the knot to be buried inside the leather and not on the bottom side...so he had me do a complete loop around secondary tension and a whole wrap around the primary tension wheel (and loosened the bobbin tension as well.) I made a belt bag yesterday to carry my e-cig and some juice and a spare battery...I heard how the Boss was great for only thick leather. I made the bag out of Tandy's Nomad oil tanned hide a 2-3 oz leather. Did a great job, stitching looks nice with a 207 sized thread and a 180 needle size. When I was done out of curiosity i had some 12 oz latigo scraps and ran some test stitches on 2 layers of it with no changes to the thread tension. Did a great job. I am real happy with the Boss. Oh I added a pair of lock washer's and 1/4"-20 wing nuts to the thread tensioners to stop the settings from changing from machine vibration. I laughed during the video when you said something fell off your work bench... happened to me yesterday and I think that can be a reason the machine falls out of it's setting. I like your flat top addition...I am thinking of making something similar. I don't have a router but was considering getting a old stop sign or something similar for the top. I can see it coming in handy working with floppy projects. It is good to see a Positive video about the Boss cause I think a lot of people run into a problem and don't realize they can call Tippmann, talk to an english speaking American and they will stay on the phone for as long as it takes to get your machine up and running. Hope to see more video's
Thanks Deryk. It's really a great machine once you figure out it's quirks. I've used it for both super-thick veg-tan (almost 1/2") and light-weight suede. Just need to adjust the tensioner and the pressor foot a turn or so.
After hearing what a piece of junk the machine is it seems like the only thing that you needed to do to make it work beautifully was double wrap the thread around the primary tensioner. Hmmm. It also looks like the primary tensioner has a lot more room to be tightened with the nut. I guess I would have tried to turn down the tensioner nut more. But I liked the video because it brought a lot of things to life. Your work looks extraordinary. Thank you.
Was thinking a zip tie attached to the top of the thread feed with the tag end pointing up might resolve that loop from developing and hanging up. Dunno.
Your videos on the Tippmann Boss has helped, but I'm still having problems with it having a lot of extra hanging thread on the bottom and jamming it up
Is there an adjustment to make to have the back stiches sit in the leather groove a bit more? Mine always seem to sit a shallow or sometimes the knot sits on the outside. BTW, you make freaking amazing work and I love the detail and comments you provide. I have learned much from you and I appreciate the uploads. Thank you!!
Just watched it video, i recently purchased s Tippmann boss, to start learning /doing leather work, the stiching on that holster looks fenomenal!, What size needle and thread do you use, looks like needle it's a 160, not sure on the thread type and size, if you can help me out with that information, I surely appreciate it. Thanks
I sold my Tippmann BOSS machine long ago as a broken machine after braking it 3 times, I purchased a Cowboy OUTLAW, since 4 weeks ago I've been using it, it sews 19mm to 20mm of leather using 250LR needle without braking a sweat, I'm going to regrind a spare presser foot so I can try 23mm. I am just trying to find out what are the limits on this machine.
Thank you for this video, I'm about to buy this machine but only doubts hold if I can apart from large projects (gun holsters, ax and knife sheaths) use this machine for sewing smaller things like wallets because the stitch pitch does not change? And does the machine have a weak parts for change after months? Sorry for silly questions but I am really don't know where to get answers, at Tandy store they don't know 🙂
Those "loops" are happening because the thread is coming straight off of the end of the spool. It creates a twist in the thread that could accumulate at some point as it guides through the the tensioners. If you arrange your spool to roll out (kind of like a garden hose caddy that spins), you won't have that looping problem.
Good point. The spool holder is designed to sit on top of the machine like that. Never really questioned it. I would locate it horizontal off-machine like you mention, but the Boss gets moved around a lot in my shop. Easier to keep it all together.
The idea of a hand operated stitcher is awesome but, I hear so much bad stuff about them and of course the price of one of these hand stitchers VS a decent walking foot machine is crazy. I see a handful of decent used unison feed machines on C-list and eBay for quite a bit cheaper than this thing and heck even some new ones are around the same price(Consew 206rb-5 about 1500 shipped to your door just one example Cowboy 3200 about 1700) as this hand stitcher. Just my thoughts. I do appreciate the video, even though these are way overpriced I'm still interested in them but, will never pay what the asking price is. BTW, that's some nice tooling you did!
Thanks for sharing your information about your Tippmann Boss. I plan on going to Tandy and picking one up this weekend. Are you still happy with your machine?
I really want one of these because it is little and non electric but I’m nervyabout buying it because it’s aluminum....would you still buy one after owning it this long...or should I get the cowboy?
I would recommend buying a Cowboy CB4500 or Cobra equivalent. Worth every penny and would breeze through the thickness of leather you use like butter :)
Hey Steve. Not sure. I've only ever used it with 277 thread. But here's a link to the Needle and Thread Guide on Tippman's web site: tippmannindustrial.com/content/Needle-and-Thread-Guide.pdf
@@funnyriverred2501 I used mine successfully for years. You can see it in many of my videos. Apparently the price on them has actually come DOWN in the years since I purchased mine. I did eventually upgrade to an electric machine and sold it.
Hi sorry (I can be a little slow) You are using #277 natural thread and 794 H #160 23?are you sewing 3/8 of veg tan leather for the holster? ( beautiful work you're doing!) Thank you😮 Christian
Thanks for the subscription! I actually sold this machine once I bought my Cobra 26 (even though the new machine can't sew as thick as the Boss can.) I hand sew or rivet thicker material.
Why did you not go all the way around the first tensioner? You just went around 180 degrees of it and not 360. You didn't actually WRAP all the way around. Had you done that you would get the additional tension that you are compensating for by going around the second one twice.
Tried that. Had no effect for me. Not saying this setup will work for everyone; but for the projects I'm working on, with the leather I'm working with, this works for me.
Cool. I just last week got my Boss and am having some difficulties. I'm actually driving BACK to Tippman Industrial tomorrow to spend some time with one of the techs. I hope I have as good of luck as you.
lol so if you make holsters and other leather goods why did you spend 1.300 to 1.400 one a machine like that ? for the same money you could got a cowboy 3500 or one that you don't have to run by hand . If you are making holsters get that table off there . sir you NEED a good cylinder arm machine so you can use two hands to work. TIME IS MONEY
Sure, you can find list prices around the same, but I've never seen a Cowboy machine for under $2,000 once you include accessories and shipping. Unless you're digging around the used market. I also do this more as a hobby. I can easily toss the Boss under the table when I'm not using it (which is most of the time).
Good video. But I have noticed something here again that I keep running into. And that "thing" is............ Men having trouble with the common idiosyncrasies of machines. 40-50 years ago, guys would just work their way through getting a SIMPLE sewing machine like this up and running, without even thinking about it. (Even a tampon sewing machine is MUCH more complicated. And it only sews a STRING) Much less thinking that they would need to make a video about it to explain all the problems and fixes to others. Why do I have this funny feeling that, if I live to more than 80 years old that, I will get to watch the entire world come to a screeching halt? All because there won't be a single man left that can operate even a simple screwdriver. Come on people! Quit making your boys play with dolls and buy them some damn tools when they are kids. Because SOMEBODY will need to fix your crap. And it isn't going to be me anymore. I'm retired. BTW, I'm already giggling at all of you beginning to have problems figuring things out. Soon, I will be laughing hysterically when you all finally realize you are in SERIOUS TROUBLE. If you have no clue what I'm rambling on about, look up the made for TV movie, or better yet the actual book, Atlas Shrugged because, YOU are living that movie right now. Spoiler........ everyone worth a shit is GETTING OUT.
Note: when you come to the end of your stitch, then use three or four shorter stitches so that you don't have that long stitch at the end. Just make it come out even. Not hard to figure out. Maye practice on scrap.
If they made the gears out of steel and the needle holder out of steel and did better with their tolerances in machining and fit and finish then it would be a "Good Machine" but as you get it your going to have more problems than you should for a machine of this cost. Can you eventually be happy with it ??? Perhaps but your going to have to go through some issues before that day comes....just as long as your expectations are inline with the product your getting from the start then it might be a decent choice for you to make. If you expect this thing to come out of the box and work for years sewing thick leather for a business and your not really mechanically inclined then you might not be so happy in the long run. In their favor is that they have really good technical support of the product with some guys that really know how to get them up and running over the phone. It's not a yes or no product....more of a "maybe" yes...maybe no..... Just my opinion
No untoward offense, but I think I need to smoke a doobie to get on the same wavelength you are on. Perhaps then all will be clear. And if not it will at least be more amusing. Nice tooling btw.
Nah…..this thing is a boat anchor. Tensioning constantly slips despite double nutting the primary and secondary tensioning posts. Timing is an issue and is temperamental. The user manual is pretty useless when it comes to identifying problems and troubleshooting. Also in describing mechanical adjustments,poorly calling out parts and describing processes to adjust and refine dialing the machine in. Little disappointed in the rack and pinion metal used to make up the actual mechanical actions. And there is a minimum leather thickness that can be sewn. Save your money and jump into a sailright, cobra or Juki.
lol. Yeah, even I still have issues with it from time to time. Each time I start to sew on it I cross my fingers. But I still like the concept of the machine: small, lightweight, hand-operated, sews really thick leather. I've been waiting to see how the Cowboy Outlaw gets received. Outwardly it looks like a knockoff of the Boss with a little bigger throat, but is there any substantial difference functionally?
Not from what l can see by watching just one YT vid. The one thing l don't like about both machines is that they aren't needle feed machines, so that the stitch length can vary due to the material possibly slipping when the needle is up.
Please, please don't run your 3D printer while attempting to make a video, while you may have a perpetual "buzz" going, your viewers don't and I find it beyond distracting! Other than that, thanks for the video.
I'm sorry but I can't watch you another minute. You lost me at 11:46 sec when you couldn't get the thread through that hole. You have horrendous public speaking skills but thanks your effort.
