Hello all, first post Bob here. I used to have an old hand pumped Singer that was very good for sewing leather. It got lost in a house move. I would like another but was thinking, the main reason it was so good for me to use, was that it could be used very slowly.
Is there a heavy duty electric machine that will run very slow that anyone could recommend?. Old or new don't mind as long as it will sew 1/8 thick leather for tool bags motorcycle seats saddlebags etc.
Thanks Bob
If you aren't interested in another treadle, I wonder if a Sailrite machine would work? They are built for people to use to repair sails and are pretty heavy-duty, more so than a standard home machine.
Welcome to alt.sewing, Bob. Don't give up on finding another old Singer leather machine. At the rate cobblers are disappearing from the face of the earth, the machines are turning up in such places as eBay and Craigslist in addition to local ads, estate and garage sales, etc. A treadle (or handcrank) machine will sew at the speed you set. Industrial machines operated by motor tend to run very fast. They were for production.
Some people report getting good results from an old Singer Model 15 or a Japanese clone of the 15 with a larger needle (like a jeans needle) on thinner leather. If it's a treadle machine, again you set the speed with your feet. But the 15 isn't designed for leather, it's a domestic machine. It's just a very sturdy solid iron machine.
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