PatternReview.com online sewing community
Join our community of 579,259 sewists!
SIGNUP Membership is free and includes 1 free lesson
Login |
Join our community of 579,259 sewists!
Signup | Login
To participate in the PatternReview.com forums please Login or Join PatternReview
Member since 10/19/13
Posts: 1
Send Message
2 Replies
Posted on: 10/19/13 3:51 PM ET
Hello everyone!
I'm new here, spent the majority of my morning combing the beginner thread finding links and threads with advice and information to investigate, but I figured I might aswell make my own thread specifically covering my situations, to see if anyone had any particular advice for me!!!

I am a Professional Sneaker Customizer and Restoration expert, refurbishing vintage Basketball/Track/Running shoes from multiple decades, as well as making my own creations out of modern releases.
Currently I am confined to paint and basic hand tools, and I would like to graduate to making my own shoes, piece by piece, using fine materials like Leather, SnakeSkin, Eel Skin, Ostrich Skin, Denims, Canvas material and more.

Basically I'm wondering -
-What machine would you recomend for this?
-Is there an industrial machine specifically made for Shoes I haven't discovered yet?
-What features would you suggest I look for?
-Do you have any suggestions of good reads/videos to educate me on what needles/threads/processes would be best for the fabrics?

I'm sorry if these kind of questions have been answered before, as I said I am digging through the forums, I just wanted to throw this out there and see if I could save myself some time.

Thanks again everyone!!!
  
Member since 12/2/09
Posts: 1977
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 10/19/13 5:43 PM ET
I'm pretty sure you'll need an industrial post bed machine, possibly a long post bed machine. I really don't know anything about them, but that will at least get you searching for info in the right direction.
  
Member since 2/23/09
Posts: 617
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 10/20/13 8:28 AM ET
I have heard that treadle machines will sew leather, but not sure it will sew shoes.
------
Nancy B.
I sew with 4 Brothers and a Featherweight
Babylock Serger

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS



Don't mess with Texas

  
Member since 12/16/12
Posts: 179
Send Message
1 Replies
thumbsup 2 likes
Posted on: 10/20/13 8:55 AM ET
You need at least one industerial machine, you may need more than one to do some of the work on shoes.

You need a heavy one preferabebly with a walking foot for your leather and heavy skins.

You can expect to spend $1,500-$4,000 for a machine like that new with table and motor. If you get lucky and find one used locally you may be able to pick one up for a few hundred.
------
1968 Kenmore 158. (AKA The Hulk)
Bernina 230
Janome 6600 (for sale)
Janome 7700
Juki 600
Elna serger
Kenmore serger
Janome 1000 CoverStitch
Juki 8500 Industerial
  
Member since 9/9/03
Posts: 1406
Send Message
thumbsup 1 like
Posted on: 10/20/13 9:54 AM ET
In reply to mgmsrk1
Quote:
You need a heavy one preferabebly with a walking foot for your leather and heavy skins.


In a handbag sewing class, we learned that for the best results we would need two industrial walking foot machines -- a flatbed and cylinder (which is like a free arm). The students are told that a home machine will quickly wear out if you attempt to sew leather with it many hours a day.

Have you visited a shoe repair shop? -- Most of those shops will have an industrial post machine, which is the only way you can reach certain parts of a shoe or boot, in order to sew it. I have visited two shops that make/repair leather saddles, boots, etc and the owners were more than happy to show me their machines, which was fascinating.

There are also machines that sew sideways -- the name escapes me right now -- again, which are great for stitching tall boots and other hard to reach areas.

Is there a local industrial sewing machine store near you ? Some people are really good at choosing and maintaining their own machines, but I am not one of them! Industrial machines are very heavy, need special motors, and are bolted down to their tables, which makes it difficult to take into a shop -- I am lucky that a qualified repairman can make house calls. Fortunately, it hasn't been necessary very often.

There are a number of great USED industrial walking foot machines out there. If you can find an appropriate used machine (I wouldn't use eBay) from a qualified dealer, it won't cost as much as a new machine and might actually work better.

Good luck!



------
aka Joanne. (Penelope was the cat. RIP.)
"What mother nature gives, father time takes away."
Yahoo group: Sewing-with-Industrial-Machines
  
Member since 1/25/04
Posts: 507
Send Message
thumbsup 2 likes
Posted on: 10/20/13 10:32 AM ET
For shoes there is a special sewing machine that allows room to go into tight spaces. Get friendly with a old shoe repair to find out how to find one. They are very simple machines and with shoe repair being a dying art, I would think you can find a used one.

For a home machine that does cool tricks, my Bernina 1630 has directional sewing and can elongate stitches , has a free arm and sews everything fine or heavy I have tried. You might be able to do something with one. I love mine and got right of 9 machines for I don't need so many with my 1630 around.
When they make shoes, they are sewn together before they go on the last to join the sole to the top which is easier then repairing them with soles on.
Good luck on yor venture.

-- Edited on 10/20/13 10:35 AM --
  
Member since 9/7/10
Posts: 2833
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 10/20/13 10:42 AM ET
In reply to RaucePowers
My brother has a business making leather products for Ford Mustangs...they use a ConSew machine and love it.
You might want to talk to people in the shoe/repair business. They can probably give you some valuable info about machines.
Good luck with your business.
------
Stash: 188 yds. @ 11.25.18
Bernina 560
Babylock Imagine
Babylock Coverstitch
  
Member since 1/1/07
Posts: 171
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 10/20/13 11:01 PM ET
In reply to RaucePowers
If you are near LA, there are shops that sell industrial machines. They might be worth talking to. I concour with everybody else; you seem to need an industrial machine or 2. An industrial machine that can sew leather or canvas all day, day after day for a business is different than a home sewing machine that can sew a leather garment once in a while.
  
Member since 11/7/09
Posts: 635
Send Message
Posted on: 10/21/13 11:07 PM ET
I purchased a Singer 29K71 (aka shoe patcher) on Craigslist. It's treadle-powered. I've never made a shoe before, but plan to repair some, plus holsters, purses, etc. The head can be turned to sew in any direction and it's a post machine. You could look at some Youtube videos of different patchers. Several companies make them; Techsew, Singer, Adler, Pfaff.

For sewing heavy vinyl, some leathers, canvas, etc. I use a Singer 591 industrial flatbed, bought used. It's simple, but fast and strong, straight-stitch only. There are a lot of industrials out there at good prices.
-- Edited on 10/21/13 11:18 PM --
  
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns