Hello KS LAM, I'm hoping you can provide some insight and help me out. I purchased this Chinese leather patching machine about 3 weeks ago and have not been able to get it to work this far. I am extremely frustrated at this point and ready to smash it on a concrete floor! My dilemma is, no matter what type of thread I use, it keeps popping! I thought it might be the thread thickness (or thin-ness if you will) so I have adjusted the tension to almost nothing and still popping. I went out and purchased thicker thread to no avail. I noticed that the thread seemed to be getting frayed and cut when the needle submerged into the bobbin compartment. I did notice that on my machine, the bobbin holder seems very tight and the bobbin holder barely fits into the hole. I find that I have to force it into the spot and have the hardest time trying to take it out! I opened the bobbin cover and cranked the arm to see if I could see what is cutting the thread down there but could not see anything obvious. Granted my eyes are not what they used to be! I removed the bobbin holder and replaced it with the spare one that comes with the machine, and that one seemed even worse, in terms of fitting into the hole! PLEASE, if you can provide any help or insight as to what I am doing wrong or missing, I would be immensely greatfull. I have 5 leather jackets laying around waiting to be sewn with patches. Thanks in advance!

@kslam5733

6 жыл бұрын

This is a raw machine when you bought it. It has its functions tested before coming out from the factory. You will find a piece of leather sewn with several lines of stitches attached under the needle arm. This tells you the machine has been tested and worked fine. It is a useful machine once you are familiar with the structure and work flow. It WILL NOT FAIL. It is us FAIL to use it. I have spent quite a long time to master it when I bought it one year ago in 2016 although I have an old version bought in 1987 from Shanghai, China. Because the machine has been disassembled for shipping and so several areas needed to be re-adjusted before it works fine as in the factory: 1. Make sure the path of the thread from the thread spool to the needle arm is correct. Anything wrong here will create unnecessary tension and will lead to the breakage of the thread. Use a small thread spool if it is placed on the post on the machine top right. This is because a large thread spool will create difficulty for the thread to pull through and will cause strong tension to the thread and the stitches formed. The thread must pass through the tension knob (need pass only one) to create the necessary tension. 2. Smooth out all the bobbin holder (shuttle) edges inside out with a file as it will cut the thread. There is a violent movement of thread inside the shuttle bed as shuttle (bobbin holder) moves back and forth and the edges will weaken the thread. (check my other video on this; learn how bobbin holder works with the needle and you will know how to live with the machine) 3. There are two holes on the side of the bobbin holder. Smooth out these two as they will easily cut the thread when tension is great. The flap edge is another area needed to be polished. It will cut the thread if friction is too tight. When sewing, the flap created little friction if it is down and strong if up. Try first put the flap down if thread easily break or the tension of the top stitches is too strong. 4. Checking the matching of thread, bobbin and bobbin holder : if you can draw the thread out from the bobbin holder with the feeling of little friction and the bobbin holder being held in the air. When sewing the thread will break if it is difficult to draw out. 5. Needle check : check whether the thread can be contained in the needle groove before use. The thread MUST NOT BE TOO THICK as it will jam the needle groove and will break. Try a thinner one first. 6. The bobbin holder is just fit into the shuttle bed and it is a bit difficult to take it out. Use a magnet and moving the handle a bit will help. 7. When you place back the bobbin holder onto the shuttle bed, it must be in a prescribed position. Otherwise, it completely fails to form any stitches. Search for this from the internet. If you don’t know, tell me. This machine is very suitable for the retired people as it takes time to make lots of adjustments. However, failures will give you chances to perfect yourself. So don’t lose heart. If I have time, I’ll make a video on everything I know about this machine.

@trackfactory7078

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the timely response! The machine did have a sample stitched leather patch included. I googled and viewed as many videos as I could find on this machine to help setup, adjust and use this machine. I'm just now coming across your videos. I have tried normal, thinner thread at first, and then tried the ticker thread. Oddly enough, there were several video that showed you how to adjust the bobbin holder position properly. Those videos differ from yours in terms of where the position of the crank handle should be. I have attached a link to a video that shows how I have my machine threaded and what issue I'm having. I hope it can shed some light on the problem. kzread.info/dash/bejne/nK2fuNd8m7DYc5s.html

@kslam5733

6 жыл бұрын

1. Obviously you use a very thick thread, use a thinner one. 2. the needle must be big enough to hold the thread in its front groove; if not when the thread goes into the shuttle bed it will break as your case because the needle and the thread will jam inside the shuttle bed. If the thread can go into the long groove of the needle, it will smoothly pierce into the fabric and the shuttle bed. Now, the thread is too thick and your needle cannot contain it in its groove. Change your thread to a thinner one and make sure the needle is big enough. if you want to take the bobbin holder out , use a magnet or pliers, and at the same time move the crank handle a little bit, the holder will pop up.

@kslam5733

6 жыл бұрын

You bought the same brand machine as mine from China. I also got the problem as yours when first used it. Thread always easily broke in the beginning. So, please use the methods suggested in previous comment to solve it. The bobbin holder position as shown in your video is correct. When the handle is in vertical position i.e. at the top position, the half moon shape winder where the bobbin holder based on should be in horizontal position. if you can draw the bobbin thread out by pulling the upper thread after turning the crank a cycle, the bobbin holder position is correct. The thread spool shown in your video is too difficult for the machine to draw out thread and the thread will break if it is too tight; so put it down onto the table so that the thread will be raised up rather than pulling out from the spool. When I used the original bobbin holder supplied there was no problem of any breakage of thread. However when I changed some bobbins I purchased from other factories, the thread problem appeared. Thread jammed inside the bobbin holder. I solved the problem by smoothing out all the edges of the bobbin holder, the two holes and the flap. The problem was solved after that smoothing out. Your case is definitely a jamming problem happened inside the bobbin holder. So do try : 1. use bigger needle thinner thread, small needle thicker thread will jam; 2. smooth out bobbin holder edges, holes and flap; 3. make sure the spool is light enough for the machine to draw out thread. 4. make sure the thread can be drawn smoothly from the bobbin holder too. If not, it will grab the upper thread until it breaks. Check the flap position and the screw tightness to release the friction. MUST try and learn from failures. Many people also faced problems of different kinds when use the machine for the first time but finally got it tamed.

@trackfactory7078

6 жыл бұрын

OK thank you! I will go back to the thinner thread, as I was doing before I tried the thicker thread.However, the thinner thread was breaking as well, hence the reason I went for the thicker one. I'll let you know how it works out.

KS Lam, thank you for the video. I too recently bought this machine and like the fact that it is a mechanical marvel. I have been practicing on cardboard so as to not waste leather until I am comfortable. The machine is fun to use and a real bargain. I can understand though why people with no mechanical abilities are intimidated... we live in a world of instant gratification and no one wants to invest time to learn something that requires a little skill and innovation...but I find that aspect rewarding. Thanks again.

This model of sewing machine can not sew the shoe's sole, can you do a video doing such task or is there a different design of this machine that shoe the sole? thanks

Thank you for the video.... What size needle and thread does the machine require?

@kslam5733

6 жыл бұрын

The machine can use different sizes of needle and thread depending on the types of materials to be sewn. The earphone pouch as shown in the video uses needle size 14 (American system) / 90 (European system) and the thread Tex 40. An easy tip to have a successful match of needle and thread is the thread must be slim enough to pass through the needle eye and the needle front long groove (Search for what the long groove is in the internet). If not, when the needle pierces into the fabrics, the thread will be unable to pass through the groove and the thread will break. Even if the thread can pass through the needle groove to form a stitch, the stitches will become too tight because of the tension created in the jammed groove. Normally, using needle 14-16 is quite good for soft leather and greater than 16 for more thicker leather. I often use 16 for my daily repair works - shoes, belt, bags.

What type and size of thread and needle size do you use please

@kslam5733

Жыл бұрын

Normally, using needle 14-16 is quite good for soft leather and greater than 16 for more thicker leather. I often use 16 for my daily repair works - shoes, belt, bags. The thread is usually TEX 40. Thread and needle need to be paired: thread should be slim enough to fit the needle groove. If not, it will break when it jams with the needle going through the hole on the metal plate. Even if it can go through the hole, it will not form a loop for the bobbin hoke to catch and wrap around the bobbin case due to thight friction.

You do realize that the cylinder rotated which is why those tabs are there so you don’t have to rotate what you are sewing. This is a cobblers sewing machine, the cylinder rotation allows you to makes repairs and patches deep in a shoe where a regular sewing machine can’t. Have you ever seen it used by a person for real? Like a person who knows to glue backing first then cut once.

@kslam5733

5 жыл бұрын

I do know very well how the machine works. When sewing such a small object, it is quite easy to move the object itself rather then pausing for a rotary turn of the cylinder. For a bigger object such as patching a shoe, the rotary turn must be employed. By the way, I first bought the machine (the 1st version) in 1987 in Shanghai, China. About 30 years have passed and my experience and knowledge using the machine have greatly increased. There's no golden rule to restrict your ways to do any patchwork when using the machine. Follow your heart and you will get a lot of fun.

@Roger-eh7ez

5 жыл бұрын

Francisco- Why don't you do a video and show us how a "real"person might do it?

You've been on thetanster.com a lot!

Hi where to buy this machine, give provide the manufacturer address

@kslam5733

6 жыл бұрын

ballscrewpro I bought this through the Taobao platform where a lot of this patcher are available for your selection from the Chinese manufacturers. They are cheap, ranking around USD 35, excluding transportation fee. The fee from China to Hong Kong is around USD 21. I bought this from the 順達補鞋機商行。You can search the Taobao for the shop page. In fact, you can browse through the Taobao for more manufacturers and their products are more or less the same.

@ballscrewpro

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks you for the informations

@edroosen4988

5 жыл бұрын

Hello this is Ed, don't know where you are but i bought mine on Ebay . Please look there carefully because the price varies between 110$ and 250. Than there is also the shipping cost. When you buy from an Chinese seller it can take up to 2 months before you receive your machine. I found mine from an american seller for 110 $ and 20 shipping.Had my machine in the house in 10 days. Good luck!!

@Daledavispratt

5 жыл бұрын

You will regret buying this machine. For every success story you will hear about them, there are 100 bad reviews you will not hear about. They are cheap for a reason, they are basically junk.

@Z71Ranger

5 жыл бұрын

@@Daledavispratt They're NOT Junk... They work great if you're smart enough to make them work... I have been using this machine for years with no problems... There is a Facebook group that helps people with these machines and they all sew great... Here is a link to the Facebook group that will help anyone that joins the group get their machine running right... But they are Far from Junk... Link>>> China Leather Shoe Patcher facebook.com/groups/1519468478092166/?multi_permalinks=2530305967008407¬if_id=1567970917604334¬if_t=group_highlights

I have read so many complaints about this machine..I made the mistake of buying one and only today, after a few ruined leather projects, I tossed it in the garbage where it belongs and I bought a Cowboy Outlaw. Cheap machines are cheap for a reason. A good sewing machine would not require youtube videos in such great numbers just to show people how to use them. These are complete junk. Avoid these like the plague.

@kslam5733

5 жыл бұрын

1.Two levels of comparison: Cowboy - money dictates everything, so it is well equipped, user- friendly，but costs at least US$ 1200! Chinese shoe patcher around $100, so a raw machine, needs lots of polishing and filing. It is not fair to compare these two different priced machines! 2. The Chinese machine is not for domestic use but for shoe repair professionals. If you use it at home, learn by heart all the basics as the professionals do. 3. Complaints? Only people who do not master the skills would do so. KZread videos reveals how people get their satisfaction and excitement through using this cheap priced machine. They can produce leather projects that only to be done by high ended machines. 4. The so many how to do videos just to show how people like to recommend this machine to us. They want to support the machine not to be treated as so called "junk". 5. If you want everything ready and comfortable in sewing,buy the high priced ones. This Chinese machine is really not suitable for you.

@PINACI

5 жыл бұрын

That is an ugly looking stitch that machine makes. Some were loose, some were crooked and some were different lengths. Save your money and get a proper industrial machine or for light leather projects got a Singer 201k. Remember... Buy cheap, buy twice !

@kslam5733

5 жыл бұрын

@@PINACI The earphone pouch is my 1st project. The stitches made were tight enough for that particular soft leather. They could not be set too tight as it would shrink the leather into a mess. The crooked stitches were not surprising even using a high-priced machines. This is only concerned with my skills using it but not the machine to be blamed. The project is to show how wonderful an antique like shoe patcher could help DIY a daily life tool. The finished product was certainly not professionally touched. The stitches were then good enough for this DIY purpose. If you did try the machine and really have a heart to use it, the stitches are very perfect. if just use it for a few times, then make such a conclusion that this machine is not good as those high priced ones is not convincing. The stitches are perfectly done through a few turns of the tension discs. The theory is the same as those used by the high-priced machines. The problem of tension setting is not particular for this machine, It is very common for all people using sewing machines. Only the skills of using the machine is to blame but not the machine itself! The videos and comments on youtube about this machine are positive. They shared about the successes on their experience in mastering the skills, their mistakes made and above all their efforts in making modifications to the machines. Negative views such as yours are not too much. There is even a facebook group "China Leather Shoe Patcher" sharing success stories about their modifications and learning from each other the how to better use the machine. Those so called failed case listed in my comment column is just a beginner using the machine. As I just mentioned, it is inevitable to meet problems of any tools using it for the first time. If you throw it away, you will regret later. In fact, the machine is not user friendly. You need a lot of sanding and filing of the edges of every part of the machine. You need a lot of tuning and doing modifications. And above all you need to spend a lot of time to learn to use it. Once you have done so, the stitches are guaranteed perfect as those done by the high-priced ones. If you want everything ready to use, buy the high-priced ones.

@Daledavispratt

5 жыл бұрын

@@kslam5733 No, it's not suitable for me or anyone else who truly cares about the quality of the products they make, and in the end the Outlaw and produced many sheaths and holsters and zero problems..it more than offsets the difference in cost. Efficiency in producing a product costs some money..this machine would be good for someone who's hobby happened to be fooling around with their machine to keep it sewing..

@kslam5733

5 жыл бұрын

@@Daledavispratt Go to a facebook group "China Leather Shoe Patcher", you will find over 900 members joined. Most of them produced good quality DIY leather craft. It is not the machine but rather the skills and patience of users to make good leather products. Using expensive machines does not guarantee making good quality projects or else everyone can do their own leather goods at home!

That is an ugly looking stitch that machine makes. Some were loose, some were crooked and some were different lengths. Save your money and get a proper industrial machine or for light leather projects get a Singer 201k. Remember... Buy cheap, buy twice !

@kslam5733

5 жыл бұрын

This machine can get perfect stitches as those done by high-priced sewing machines. Those problem stitches you mentioned only appear when you are not familiar with the machine. Once you know very well how each part of the machine works you will not have any problems at all. When using the machine for the first time, problems such as thread breakage and uneven stitches are very common. This is not surprising for beginners using a tool for the first time. Even for those high priced sewing machines, the problems you mentioned would appear too if using the first time.

@PINACI

5 жыл бұрын

@@kslam5733 I disagree, a quality walking foot leather sewing machine will not leave stitched like this cheap Chinese patcher. If your tension is out then all of the stitches will still look the same, only too loose or too tight. I've watched and read nothing but bad comments about this machine which is why I avoided it like the plague when I was looking for a new machine. I still appreciate your video though because other people can also see how bad it stitched and which will in turn help them to decide on whether to get one or whether to spend a little more on a better one or not. Even reading down your comments you can see how frustrated other people who own this machine are and some just gave up on it all together and threw it out. I'm in no way complaining about your leather project just the machine used to create it makes the stitching look very ugly.

@kslam5733

5 жыл бұрын

@@PINACI The earphone pouch is my 1st project. The stitches made were tight enough for that particular soft leather. They could not be set too tight as it would shrink the leather into a mess. The crooked stitches were not surprising even using a high-priced machines. This is only concerned with my skills using it but not the machine to be blamed. The project was to show how wonderful an antique like shoe patcher could help DIY a daily life bag. The finished product was certainly not professionally touched. The stitches were then good enough for this DIY purpose. If you did try the machine and really have a heart to use it, the stitches are very perfect. if just use it for a few times, then make such a conclusion that this machine is not good as those high priced ones is not convincing. The stitches are perfectly done through a few turns of the tension discs. The theory is the same as those used by the high-priced machines. The problem of tension setting is not particular for this machine, It is very common for all people using sewing machines. Only the skills of using the machine is to blame but not the machine itself! The videos and comments on youtube about this machine are positive. They shared about the successes on their experience in mastering the skills, their mistakes made and above all their efforts in making modifications to the machines. Negative views such as yours are not too much. There is even a facebook group "China Leather Shoe Patcher" sharing success stories about their modifications and learning from each other how to better use the machine. Those so called failed case listed in my comment column is just a beginner using the machine. As I just mentioned, it is inevitable to meet problems of any tools using it for the first time. If you throw it away, you will regret later. In fact, the machine is not user friendly. You need a lot of sanding and filing of the edges of every part of the machine. You need a lot of tuning and doing modifications. And above all you need to spend a lot of time to learn to use it. Once you have done so, the stitches are guaranteed perfect as those done by the high-priced ones. If you want everything ready to use, buy the high-priced ones.

@Z71Ranger

5 жыл бұрын

@@PINACI LMFAO... you say You "avoided it like the plague " But you are all over KZread watching how to make this machine work... Bet you bought one and are to Stupid to make it sew right!!!

@PINACI

5 жыл бұрын

@@Z71Ranger lol, No I didn't buy one, that's why I was looking at these on youtube and from watching what problems they have is the reason I didn't buy one. I purchased a sewing machine that stitches perfect and for heavier stitching I saddle stitch by hand.