Advice on buying a leather sewing machine, and looking at three machines, two budget and one premium, to see how they differ and what might be suitable for your needs.
I so appreciate your honesty and clearly articulated information with none of the ego associated with so many others out there! Thank you! I learn so much from your videos!
As others have said, a very positive and uplifting discussion that you have given us as to the advantages of the various machines. Someone wanting to do a bit of craft work for sale on a market presumably could start off with a 66 doing key fobs and the like, eventually reinvesting to get something to tackle the larger jobs ? Your more expensive cylinder machine sounds great for doing bags, perhaps something always in demand at craft sales ? Not something that I currently have time to get involved with myself, but as always an excellent discussion that you have given us, that will give prospective machinists the confidence to go out and pick a machine ! Thank you !
Just found your channel as a retired coach trimmer / upholsterer with two stored heavy machines. But you reminded me get my leather sewing gear out I need to alter my bike leathers. Thanks for this ps subbed for more stuff
👍👍 for some reason I haven’t been receiving notification when you publish new video. I am a subscriber and I do have the notification bell activated. Thanks for the information.
Have a 29K Singer patcher 1940 Great Britain, put new parts in it an enjoy using it, also, enjoy your informative posts, big help Harry, thanks, Donnie
Thanks Harry great advice, my self it's just sheaths and a few pouches just for family and friends . As you said I do love the Saddle stitch abd when I'm done Damn it looks good even for an old 76 year fart . Happy Trails
I hear ya Mike! But then again I also really like the perfect stitch from a machine for those designer look items - of which my wife has been eyeing! With them running $600 and way up, makes getting a machine cost effective.
Great post Harry am the proud owner of a Pearson #6 harness machine, A Seiko 8BLD and my precious Sinker 29K4 between the 3 of them get all my work done just wish that the 29K4 had a bigger shuttle. Keep up the great videos and best wishes from NZ.
Great video again Harry. I've looking into your recommendations and it looks like I need the 29k but the price of them £400 to £1500 unless I get one that's been sitting outside for £50. I think I'll be going down the clone route.
My wife has a Sailrite and a Juki. They both work great for me. The Sailrite sews from light weight to heavy weight and the Juki does all the heavy weight I need. The only thing I'd love to have is a cylinder arm machine.
Thanks so much for what you do Harry, I’ve noticed in a few of your more recent videos that something is creating a very high pitched ringing which perhaps many of the older viewers may not be able to hear. Likely a power supply or something. I don’t know how much time you put into editing the videos but it would be nice if you were able to run the audio through a filter to cut out some of the higher frequencies. Keep up the great work!
Harry. you are spot on people need to find what might be suitable for your needs. I find the singer 66 will do good on 2-4 oz leather singer 29-4 will do 5-7 oz leather and anything above that I use the BIG sewing machine . I say start out buying a used machine to start and work your way up from there.
Thank you so much for clearing up the world of leather sewing machines. I think the second Singer you showed is what I'm after! ~ And for anyone wondering DO NOT BUY THE CHINESE COBBLER MACHINE, I know it's cheap, but it's even cheaper in person. You will curse many times, and risk damaging your leather project basically half the time (and that's only after you've actually gotten the thing to work it took more work than a 80 year old car.).
Harry thanks to you i bought a roller foot. I took a punt and bought one for a singer but the punt was my 201 wasnt mentioned on the list. The feed dog and plate didnt fit but it works just fine eventhough only one side of the feed dog is driving the leather through. I had to strip the roller foot, work out how it worked and then i bent it in acouple of places in a vice to set it up. The oiling felt for the presser foot popped out and cant go back when i set the presser foot height but so what. As you demonstrated in one of your videos i can write my name in neat running writing. I can see exactly where needle is and can thus go close to the edge now. Note i also bought one of the variable speed 500Watt motors with needle positioning that you slso demonstrated. I can thus do one stitch at a time and stop the needle in down or up position. So heaps of control all on an old black cast iron singer. Next i will try a thick thread on the top to test limits viz for decorative effect . So thanks for your stimulation.
thank you lots of good information I am having problems with a singer patcher that belongs to a friend I get the tension set and it is sewing good then the next time I ask her about it. its not working right again so I start over any input you might have would be greatly appreciated thanks Jay
Thanks for the sewing machine videos! i do leatherwork as a hobby, I plan to sell some belts (with help from your videos 🙄) and other things for my niche market. Saw someone in the family selling an old singer (33k model i think) that i will pick up tomorrow. Spending about 60 USD but i think i may get a better deal. Just going to try to see if it works. Sorry for the bad grammar. Wish You well.
Hey, I’m looking for a machine which can handle very thick material, i’m working with 10-12mm thick material but my current machine just can’t handle the thickness. I see you mention a machine which can take 1/4 inch, do you know of one which could take a 1/2 inch? Or could you suggest any european suppliers I could talk with?
I've just invested in a cylinder arm sewing machine that looks identical to yours (made by Protex but branded Wimsew W246). Haven't been able to find a manual for it - any pointers? Good job I did too as the industrial clutch motor I had on my Singer 201K suddenly started smoking and blew up - good job I have my Pinnock Sewqueen for flat bed stitching but definitely going to make a wooden table for my cylinder arm machine.
@Harry Rogers, Short but Good video! What about 31K15 singer, you shortly mentioned in video vs singer 331. Is 31k15 suitable for leather from practice point, because its positioned like taylors machine for cloths
Continued. It's just there is so much uncertainty out there at the moment, with Brexit and other stuff, many people might be finding things financially tight and it would be nice to be able to pull people & families together by them making something towards Christmas on a low budget. Maybe a table centre piece or anything. Please have a think about it.
If I'm looking to make a smaller version of a leather US mail bag (that has the stitching seams inside the bag) is this best done on a machine or by hand saddle stitching? I'm assuming the method used by both will require turning the bag inside out then stitched and then turn the bag inside out again?
Another great video Harry. I was thinking, just a suggestion. Perhaps YOU COULD DO A CHRISTMAS related video this year? Perhaps make something that many of your followers could make that would be part of Christmas!
Thanks Harry I’m going to throw a Monkey wrench at you sir nearly 20 years ago I bought a Industrial Strength Walking Foot Sewing machine fromEbay yes it’s a Chinese knockoff of a Thompson that the patent ran out on its suspiciously looks like a Sailrite although Sailrite claims they own and use their own castings and parts designed exclusely for their machines I have found all Sailrite parts and accessories work well on mine ? It is not a lather machine per se but I’ve found it does quite well for my hobby needs BTW I primarily purchased the machine to do my own marine canvas and cushions and Vintage Sportscars interiors in which it works great and way better than a old Singer I bought at a yard sale that really is a tailoring home machine not anything special btw my machine looks like the Reliable brand Home Depot sells now except mine didn’t come with the metal handle that I drilled and tapped for a 7 dollar handle I bought and installed of course it’s branded differently ?
I cannot find a functional 29 for less than $650 anywhere in the states! LOL found an old rusted one that’s been in a garage for 25 years for $325 but it needs restoration. :-)
I am looking for sewing machine for leather/canvas 2-3 OZ Veg tan sewing. I would like it to be easy and fast. Is Janome 1000 HD recommended? any other suggestions?
Oddly a review online of this machine mentions it's not suitable for canvas...Although it is made to work on heavy fabrics as well, still there are some like rubber, canvas, reptile skin, etc. on which it does not work. This must be kept in mind that one must not try this machine out on the fabrics on which it clearlydoesn’t work.
Hello Kim, You may be best sewing by hand if it's tough leather. If you are using a domestic machine then you ideally use a size 100 leather point needle and some upholstery thread such as Gutterman polyester heavy thread.
Thanks...I don't think you could put through thick enough thread with a 201k, it's really a domestic machine but can take light upholstery thread. Rgds Harry
@@stavroschatzi3082 Hi I am not a shoe maker...I know some people use the Singer 31k for sewing upper parts together. For attaching the uppers to the welts or soles I am guessing needs a more powerful machine...I know of one person who uses a Junkers Rhur...I think you need to ask some shoemakers and not me on this one!
Is it possible to use the tysew to make holes for later hand sewing by removing the bottom bobbin and top thread feeds and just using it like stitching chisels or would this damage the machine in some way.?
You can certainly run the machine without thread...when I had a heavy harness machine I used to do just what you are saying. Bear in mind leather holes tend to close up and with a lighter machine the holes left would not be very easy to stitch. Also the holes will not be quite the same shape as those left by an awl or stitching chisels. In short I would try this on a sample before purchasing a machine as you may not be happy with the result.
@@harryrogers Thank you for such a prompt reply. I suppose I already knew it . I can expand the holes with an awl if necessary. What is the heaviest thread and needle the Tysew will take. I am hoping to get the same model as you. Saving up hard!
Hello Harry, I hope you can help me, I am going to buy a sewing machine, my doubts are more than it is common for machines to require adjustments, in these cases what do you do, do you adjust them? Do you call a company that maintains your machines? Where I live, the professionals who carry out repairs to machines are not always very honest and charge a lot for repairs that in some cases are usually very simple to repair, the lack of knowledge makes many of us fall into these frauds
Provided your machine has been properly set up by a reputable dealer you will avoid a lot of problems. But I do think it is a good idea to learn a bit about how your machine works, a bit like understanding how a car works. I have not had to send my machines in for repair.
May I recommend changing the video's title if it is still possible? Perhaps, "What sewing machine is best for your leatherwork?" or the like? Already owning an old singer, that title didn't indicate I'd find value here. Since I generally enjoy your videos, I am now watching and see a lot of value for me still. I worry others like me may not have been able to tell what the general point of the video was going to be when just looking at the title. Best
@@donjuandemarco9 Ah sorry Don Juan it's a Tysew cylinder arm machine from Tysew UK, Its like a Pfaff 335, and is a very useful machine...it will be on their website and they ship all over the place.
Fine as an introduction if using upholstery leather. Obviously you can't beat an industrial machine, but to get a taste and decide if it's for you a cheap 201 is not a bad place to start. You will be limited by thread size, no compound feed and limited penetration, but it's fine for things like tool rolls and tool covers in thin leather.
@@harryrogers ah! Yes you see I'm a fashion design student, so I won't always be using leather , so just need somthing that every once in a while can sew some leather. What do you think of the 91-15? Tj
@@harryrogersWhat a shame. Thank you for letting me know. I am in my 60's and new to leather work. I love it. The forums are great for help but what I would really love is to find a mentor - someone who knows their stuff and can teach me . If you know of anyone please let me know. Thank you
