Thank you sir I will check it out
Horsewright
for advice, His work is exceptional and he shares his knowledge of leather crafting freely....Great guy!!
Horsewright
has sewn so much leather that he wore out his first industrial sewing machine
Thank you sir for the kind words.Truth is the cheaper models on amazon are for very thin materials, and would be a waste of money for trying to sew thick sheath leather. The better quality (also higher priced) machines like Cobra or Cowboy are designed specifically for sewing heavier stacked leather goods. I purchased the Cobra 4 and never looked back. Check out the "Sheaths and Such" section and ask
ETA: I believe Dave
My Gawd Your work is beautiful. I agree I am pricing out a cobra 4 right now. I will also fill out my profile stuff mabe someone has one they might want to trade for ///Stuff???? and cash LOLThank you sir for the kind words.
If you are wanting to sew sheaths definitely the Cobra 4. Many lighter machines will say they will sew say 7/16" or 1/2" thick and will use heavier thread but they won't, not well. I have never heard of anyone buying a Cobra 4 and wishing they hadn't. The after sale service is legendary and deservedly so. We have a Cobra 4 which I use on heavier items, sheaths, rifle scabbards, horse tack etc. We have a Cobra 18 for lighter work: wallets, belts, bags, chaps etc We also have a Cobra Np 4 Skiving machine which my wife uses often on her bags. Wants on our outfit? Cobra 26, a smaller cylinder arm machine. Sews about the same weights as the Cobra 18 but is a cylinder arm machine not a flatbed like the 18. Comes certain times on certain projects ya need a flatbed and other times a cylinder arm. Also on the want list but kinda on the back burner is a Cobra Class 14 splitter. We get around needing that for the most part by buying different weights of leather. Ya wanna look up Leather Machine Co.
Interesting story to relate about their legendary service. Resharpening the skiving machine is kinda complicated and they tell ya just call Vince when ya need too. I've done it enough now I don't need to call Vince anymore but awhile back it was time. I called and told Heather the gal that answers the phone I needed to talk to Vince. She says let me let ya talk to Dave (one of the owners) as Vince isn't in. Dave picks up and says Oh ya need to sharpen, yeah ya want Vince, he's home sick (with the rona), here's his personal cellphone number. What I'm not gonna call him at home if he's home sick! Oh go ahead, he'd probably enjoy the call. You don't pay him enough. Yeah I do. So I called Vince. Dang if he didn't talk me through it and we ended up talking for bout an hour, I think he might of been bored. Anyhoo fixed me up literally from his sickbed at home. If you gonna buy a leather machine get the Cobra and if you want to make sheaths, holsters, scabbards etc get the 4. They come in the Premium and Base packages and I got the base package myself. Haven't seen the need, at least how I work for a lot of the other do dads in the Premium package.
A few Cobra 4 projects:
Both Machines:
On this Rangeflap holster the water buffalo leather lining is sewn in using the 18 and then holster is sewn together using the 4.
Same on this Tote Bag. All stitching is done on the 18 except the final top stitch at the top of the bag, which is done on the 4:
Cobra 18:
Anyhoo , ya get the idea.
Ya bet! So since you are in San Diego it would be worth the drive up to the Sewing Machine Co to pick up your Cobra, They're in Ontario. First obviously you're gonna save on shipping, Second they will have it all put together for you and purring like a kitten. Third they will spend quite a bit of time with you making sure ya know how to use it. Fourth they will load it in your pick up truck for ya and strap er down. Just have a couple friends at home to help ya unload it. BTW I run 207 size thread top and bottom. I never change size of thread I will occasionally change colors for special projects but not size. Pink 207 for this project:
Thanks for the kind words Ken!Dave's work is of such high quality that even with a Cobra 4 I'd never even come close. I did purchase a one of the "cheap" Chinese Shoepatcher "walking foot"manual machines. I've spent a LOT of hours fooling with it, even mounted a servo motor to make it electric - BIG improvement. I've smoothed things up some, cleaned up so it will actually take a #25 needle and #277 thread, but doesn't really sew good at that level. Not at all. I've done a good bit using #207 thread which it works most of time. Best by far is #137 thread.
It works really good with 2 layers of 8 oz leather and pretty good with 3 layers of "soft" 8 oz leather. I've sewed a test stack 3/8" thick of "soft" leather with success, but sure wouldn't wish to try a lot of it. After playing with this machine a good bit, and learning LOTS in the process the Shoepatcher isn't a machine I'd recommend to folks for holsters and sheaths, unless you enjoy "tinkering" to make things work - AND understanding you'll need to use lighter than normal leather for some mulit-layer projects. Perhaps decide to use soft 6 oz lather also? I don't regret purchasing the machine, I enjoy tinkering
Thank you sir! Should give a proper shoutout to the wife. She does most of the belts, all the bags (well except those buffalo saddlebags) and that notebook and Horseshoe drink coasters.
Thank you sir! I have already shared this with her. She is pretty handy. Cuts out blades:You're right Dave - we're always complimenting you on the knives and leather. From all the photos and your words it obvious your wife is very involved and skilful with both knives and leather. I suspect since you're the one who posts, we tend to overlook your wife and that's not fair to her.
So, GREAT WORK Dave's wife
