Leathercraft - Is There A Good Beginner's Sewing Machine?

[Rose Maybud]

I'm trying to research sewing machines which are man enough to cope with leather.

My daughter has taken up leathercraft as a hobby and her domestic sewing machine has given up the unequal struggle. We are after either a really heavy-duty domestic machine or a semi-industrial model.

Juki is a name that keeps cropping up at just under £1000. Seems a lot. I know you get what you pay for, but is it necessary to go to that?

Any recommendations? Manufacturers? Models? Suppliers?

Thank you!

[vulcan42]

There seems to be a great range of prices from £70 to over a £1000. If you google leather sewing machine, you can see the range available.

[gness]

Can't help with a make, Rose.....but I live in Northants so we have lots of leather factories here and I know they often...or did....sell second hand industrial sewing machines....
You could google that if it's of any interest.....x

[RATTER15]

Some of the old semi industrial singers will sew leather but it really depends on the thickness of the leather you want to sew.

[Rose Maybud]

Thanks, guys!

The tricky bit is to sort out the models which say they can do leather and those that really can do leather. I looked at those which gness suggested but they seem to come on their own table etc which my daughter declared too big for the space she has, plus you never really know how much remaining life is left in a second-hand machine.

Good news is that she has sorted it herself - for the record, she decided on a portable sold by Sailrite in Portsmouth. As it name suggests, it claims to be man enough to cope with sails and other heavy-duty materials, so fingers crossed it will do what she wants. It is pricey and I have volunteered to go halves. Sailrite also sells a 'beef-it-up' unit for similar machines from other makers. Hope the information is helpful to anybody else coming across this in years to come.

Cheers, everyone, thanks again!