- Tue Jun 07, 2022 4:55 pm
#15216
I have a Cowboy CB4500, same as the Techsew 5100 which are clones of the Juki TSC441. I use V138 as the minimum size thread on this machine, I have heard it's possible to get it to sew with V92, check out the procedure on leatherworker.net. I have found V138 close enough to V92 that I always have V138 in the bobbin and use much heavier threads for topstitching, having a 16" arm length is great for doing that work. For construction seams V138 is fine. I have the table attachment and that is helpful for sewing diamonds in seats, but have just worked with the cylinder arm as well. There are a lot of different style feed for this machine, mostly for sewing leather but there are "blanket feed" for heavy cloth. KHsew of Hong Kong sells a vibrating binding kit that I'm using now, nicely made but a little expensive, it is able to use very heavy webbing for binding and that's why I have it. For upholstery work it's overkill and a medium size machine would be sufficient, but some of my work making bags and cases makes this machine a good choice for me. Get someone to help you assemble it as it weighs a lot! One last note, I bought a replacement feed dog and needle plate to better sew with V138, the stock ones are huge and fabrics have a tough time with this machine as it's really designed for very heavy leather, this is a "harness sewing machine" and is designed for hard veg tanned leather and thick thread, V277-V400 or so. The accessory feed dog was made by "Wild Harry" of Australia, find him on leatherworker.net. For upholstery and light weigh canvas the smaller machines are a better buy, but if you want a monster of a sewing machine this is it. You have to get system 7x3 or 794, not a lot of variety as they are mostly for leather, as they are much longer than 135x17 needles the thinner ones deflect in material so I stick to V138 and #24 needles, the thinner ones will have trouble if they deflect in the work.