Sewing machine question

[Phillip Patton]

Hey all,
A few years ago I acquired a Pilgrim 200-3 boot and shoe machine. (See picture) I paid about $450 for it at an estate sale. (The elderly gentleman I bought it from was a shoemaker.) I've not done anything with it yet. Can you guys tell me if it is appropriate for sheath work? The manual tells me it will handle material up to 5/8" thick, but some of my sheaths can end up thicker than that, depending on blade thickness. Also, the foot leaves marks on veg tan leather.

If this is not a good machine for sheaths, can y'all recommend one that is?

Thanks,

 

[sheathmaker]

That appears in the photo to be a variation of a patch machine. If so, the fact that it will handle 5/8" is a little surprising. Anything is possible, so I guess you could do sheaths with it…..maybe. It certainly would not be my first choice for sheath work.

I use two machines for all my sheath work. A Cobra 4 (441 clone) for the edge seams and other heavier work up to 3/4" and a Cobra 18 flat bed for the lighter work like inlays and belt loop stitching etc. You can take a look at them on the Leather Machine Company web site.

These type machines have served me well for over ten years of making just sheaths.

Your sig line statements rings so true in the case.

Paul

 

[Phillip Patton]

That appears in the photo to be a variation of a patch machine. If so, the fact that it will handle 5/8" is a little surprising. Anything is possible, so I guess you could do sheaths with it…..maybe. It certainly would not be my first choice for sheath work.

I use two machines for all my sheath work. A Cobra 4 (441 clone) for the edge seams and other heavier work up to 3/4" and a Cobra 18 flat bed for the lighter work like inlays and belt loop stitching etc. You can take a look at them on the Leather Machine Company web site.

These type machines have served me well for over ten years of making just sheaths.

Your sig line statements rings so true in the case.

Paul

Hello sir,
Thanks for the response. I was hoping you'd speak up. I just bought and watched your "Advanced Sheath Making" DVD. It was good! I was wondering what machines you were using, now I know.


I wonder if I could use this one for thinner stuff like inlays (in the little bit of testing I did, it had no trouble sewing together two pieces of 8 oz. leather) and get something heavier like your Cobra for heavier stuff. There's still the problem of the foot leaving marks though...

 

[sheathmaker]

The foot pressure can be adjusted on most machines, and that could be part of your problem…to much pressure on the presser foot. I just don't know enough about the older machines to be of much more help, however you might be able to get a copy of the manual for your machine from Pilgrim.

Thanks for supporting the DVD with your purchase.

Paul

 

[Phillip Patton]

The foot pressure can be adjusted on most machines, and that could be part of your problem…to much pressure on the presser foot. I just don't know enough about the older machines to be of much more help, however you might be able to get a copy of the manual for your machine from Pilgrim.

Thanks for supporting the DVD with your purchase.

Paul

I actually have a copy of the manual. Maybe I should read it. "If all else fails, read the manual"

What size thread and needles do you use for your inlay work? Sorry for asking so many questions, but I'm new to this stuff (sewing machines) so it's like learning to speak Outer Mongolian....

From what I've seen in my Google searches, it looks like what I have is very similar to a Singer 29-4, which, it would seem, is great for patching shoe uppers, but not for knife sheaths. I guess I'll try to sell this machine and save up for something else. Sigh.

 

[sheathmaker]

The thread and needle question. I use #69 thread top and bottom with a #18 needle on the flat bed machine for all my light weight work, but it also functions very nicely with #138 thread and a #20 needle for slightly heavier work like say chaps or chinks which I no longer make.

The heavy stitcher, I use #207 both top and bottom with a #24 needle. This is for the edge stitching on the sheaths and when I used to do Saddles and tack up to #346 and $416 thread through much larger needles #25,26 etc.

I Thought that your machine looked very much like the Singer 29 series which is a lighter duty machine that stitches 360 degrees on much lighter leathers like shoe and boot uppers doing "patch" work, hence the name Patch Machine.

Paul

 

[Horsewright]

Phillip definitly check the presser foot adjustment. Another thought, I had the bottom of one of my presser feet get chewed up one time somehow and I was getting marks on my leather and couldn't figure out why. Pulled the presser foot off and looked at it. Saw the gouges (no idea how they got there). Polished it up and no more marks. Might be worth a look. I too run 207 top and bottom on my larger machine and 138 top and bottom on my Class 18. I do use the flatbed mostly for leggings (chaps and chinks), belt linings etc. I don't really do any inlay work but 69 would be better for that as Paul mentioned. The wife uses it exclusively on her purses. If you're looking at a machine for sheaths really, really look at the Cobra Class 4. Steve and Dave there have a tremendous reputation for service and its no lie.

 

[Rmplstlskn]

Oh, how I wish I had a heavy-duty true leatherworking machine...

I bought a used Consew 206RB-2 walking-foot straight lockstitch from Craigslist and added some upgrades, like a servo motor and smaller pulleys. It does my cordura and webbing beautifully. I have yet to try it on leather, but I know people do use them for light to medium work. I am getting motivated to try a sheath project and see how it works out. I know this machine could do some of the factory knife sheaths I have seen around, as they are much thinner than some of the THICK custom sheathes I see in this forum...

On the OP old machine, I would also assume that there must be a presser foot adjustment somewhere... Also, make sure your foot is smooth, not textured. It does not look like a walking foot, so you will have to get the presser foot tension just right to keep a good stitch length yet not mar the leather...

I am new here, so just wanted to chime in as a fellow stitcher...

Rmpl

 

[Phillip Patton]

Thanks again for your input, everybody. I sold my Pilgrim yesterday, so now I'm in the market for a machine or two. After researching for hours online, I have a better grasp of what I need and how much they cost, so at least I have a clear goal to work towards. I'll post again when I have any news.

Rmpl, that's a nice machine, and it's something along those lines that I want for thinner stuff.

 

[sheathmaker]

Be sure to check out Leather Machine Company. Take a look at the Cobra 4 for heavier work and the Cobra 17 or 18 flat bed for the lighter work. Great machines, but the customer support is even better.

Paul