Finally. After more than one year of searching, dealing, mailing, talkin' on phone, ordering stuff from different parts of Europe I've got a new workhorse in my stable. I've been sniffing on the web for months to find an industrial sewing machine in a quite well condition which hasn't a price tag of a Ferrari. I've got to a nice lady who was on maternity leave when her employer did redundancy because of this, so called, recession. She was sewing leather goods at home for the company. Not anymore. Unfortunate for her, good luck for me. I've got her pretty Seiko LSC-8b1 in good condition. A real beast. It went through 8 layers of 1000D FR Cordura fabric and a 1" Solution dyed nylon webbing like hot knife in butter, during the test. Than I had to change couple of things. The young lady was using longer needle than this machine requires. Probably that's why the set up wasn't correct. Thus she damaged the bobbin case and the feed dog a bit. The needle plate was broken, but welded and the plates were missing a few screws. Plus I wanted to see a servo motor on it. So, I was staying up late, after work and searching for the goods online. I've got Organ needles in the right size online quickly. Than I went for the important parts which were more difficult to get. I've found a great shop in England, Advance Enterprise, they could order all the little components I needed. Thanks for Rhys who accomodated my request and was working on it, dealing with the suppliers delay, etc. Then I found a 3/4 HP servo motor in Germany on eBay. Brand new with a great price tag. It is in Germany no more. ;) Plus I've got a sturdy binder attachment. Just to show a little TLC to the new machine. Oh yes, and I've made an extra platform. Now I can use it as a flat bed machine at the beginning of a project and when I get to the curves, every man loves curves, I can remove the platform and use it as it is, a cylinder arm machine. It still needs a little care from a sewing machine technician. Just final adjustments here and there, oiling and fine-tuning, but the major job's done. To find a technician won't be an easy-peasy, because all the sewing machine technicians gave back their licens in my hometown. So, now I have to find a guy who's willing to travel to me. Whilst I'm just using my other sewing machine. No problem. Ladies and Gents I'm proudly present to you the new beast in the house:
As I've got it, for a price of a small car.
With the removable platform I made. Those cables belong to my Hi-Fi where the rock 'n' roll plays from. :)
A close up about the padding to protect the paintwork.
With the new bolts, needle plate, feed dog, needle and the binder. Full Metal Jackass. ;)
Now I just have to find a good technician. Not a problem. Only a task.
