Combining hobbies with husband
 

My husband wants to get into knifemaking. We have been setting up a room in the back of the shop for this purpose. Everything got put on hold when he broke his arm.
My part in this endeavor is leatherwork, sheath making specifically. I have been looking into a leather sewing machine. My heavy duty Janome can do light leatherwork so making flat sheath isn't a problem.
But, here is a dilemma I have stumbled onto. I do a lot of repairs on my husband and sons odd shaped items. Such as knee pads for work, gloves, tool bags. A lot of these things can't fit under the needle of my Janome. So I have been looking into a machine something like this...https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ref_=pd_gw_unk

But not as expensive, finding one on CL in our area is like finding a hen with teeth.......lol
I see a lot of these type of machines on Amazon for less than 200 bucks but the reviews are less than 30 and are usually bad ones. I do realize that a lot of reviews are from people who don't know how these machines work or they thought that they could magically get something spectacular made the first try. I have ben around a few heavy duty sewing machines (my first love Phaff 545) to know what such a machine is capable of. But I haven't had any experience with a machine with such a small sewing bed and foot plate.

As an added idea we were thinking of mounting in such a way I can use it with a treadle stand and use my feet to control the machine. Or possibly attaching a motor to it and use a foot pedal.

So if any of the great people here has any experience with this type of machine and has any ideas on a good brand. Add your thoughts to this thread.

I saw a machine made for repairing sails for a boat and for keeping on the boat. I think the name was Reliable. Not very big and it may work.

Look for an old industrial machine for leather and heavy work.

I bet if you start making some queries, before long, a connection will be made.
Maybe that will prove out via someone on this thread!

How's Operation Puppy Watch going? :)

Operation Puppy Watch is still ongoing......
Layla has started the nesting stage, she has gotten a bit wider as the puppies start moving around getting ready for labor.
We are in "anyday and anytime mode" right now. This week is the expected delivery week.

Thanks for the update, Chasing Hawk!
Always loved having batches of puppies to enjoy.
Though ours, were always in the barn,
not in such upscale accommodations as Layla and the kids will have.

Anyday and Anytime ..... then let the FUN and games begin. :)

this is a shoe patch machine- there are stands for them-i have used a for 35 years on a treadle stand

singer 29 boot patcher, but they have tiny bobbins and tend to leave presser foot tracks

Wowee, the puppies will be here soon! How exciting. I don’t have anything to add about the leather sewing. You are such an interesting person!

I purchased a Sailrite Industrial machine approximately 3 years ago and have been very happy with it. Their customer service is awesome. The machine goes thru everything i have asked it to do - Heavy canvas, heavy denim, strapping material, seat belt strapping to name a few. It's worth going to their website to check it out. Lots of information and how to videos and you can actually talk to a representative. They have been in business since 1969 and actually cater to sailboats enthusiasts but have branched out to all kinds of DIYers. Very well priced and I'm glad I made the purchase.

I'm not sure if it would sew leather, but my mom used to repair my heavy canvas horse blankets with grandma's old treadle. She could even sew thru the strapping, canvas and lining to re-attach the straps.

I have a Consew that I'm currently sewing leather on. It's pretty heavy duty and can sew through several layers of thick leather, with the right needle. It's a rough, no frills machine, but it does get through the leather. My problem is that I have no permanent place to keep it, so I'll probably sell it next year.

I had a Phaff 545 that could sew through several layers of leather. That isn't the problem, items like say shoes which have tight spaces one can not get under the presser foot and needle to sew. Or handbags, my husband's saddlebags on his Harley, knee pads and the like. They are hard to sew properly on a machine with a flat bed and little room under the presser foot.
Therefore I am looking for a machine with either a round "bed" or a flat narrow one to get around tight curves and spaces like folds on a handbag.

Do you have a shoe repair shop in your town? Maybe you could talk to the repair man & see if he knows anyone who is looking to sell their machine because of various reasons (upgrading to a newer machine, going out of business, death in family, etc.). Or maybe your repair man could find you a good deal on one that he knows about or could get you a good discount by going through him for the purchase. He could be a wealth of knowledge for you as you begin to talk with him.

Chasing hawk check out Singer 20 shoe patchers.

or if you want to go to England a Bradbury, like mine. I haven't used either.

That is what I am looking for Leon. Something that is built to last.