Leather Sewing Machines Hand Stitching Machine Cobbler Sewing Machine for Shoes/Upsolery/Zippers/Coats/Bags/Cloth/Belt/DIY Items with 48Pcs Leather Sewing Tools

First a warning. “Fisters” has no machines or replacement items. They are simply a pass thru , taking your money and telling the actual Chinese manufacturer to ship a machine to you. If your machine arrives and it’s missing items then there is little hope of ever receiving them from “ Fisters”. I’m still waiting for the 10 spare needles, spare bobbins and thread rod and nut. If I ever receive them I’ll update this review. “Fisters” suspect customer service isn’t a reflection on the machine itself. It ROCKS. Choose your seller carefully and enjoy a wonderful piece of 1900 technology that still works amazingly in 2018.After reading some of the negative reviews I was a bit worried. The positive reviews changed my mind. It appeared the plug and play folks were the negative reviews. The positive reviews were by folks with a degree of mechanical ability and understood these simple machines could be brought to life with just a bit of thought and effort.Mine arrived well packed in a rigid foam fitted box. It was well oiled to survive it’s journey from China. I took it outside and completely unpacked it. Then used one can of aerosol brake cleaner. That completely removed all the oil. Allowed it to dry. You then have to install the large steel drive wheel using the supplied nut. The stand wasn’t used as it’s flimsy and at a awkward height for our average person.It appears to be set for a smaller person who is seated on a short stool. Some scrap lumber and drywall screws made a stable base to set it on a table.Having watched a couple  Utube videos it was easy to thread both the bobbin and needle, and make some minor adjustments. I did make a threading rod from a 8 inch piece of fine iron wire.I oiled the indicated lubrication points and checked to make sure it operated and picked up the bobbin thread. If you have difficulty removing the bobbin just use a small magnet to lift it out.Works splendidly !#69 thread works great in the needle and bobbin.If you buy a “as is” machine and you are even slightly mechanical this machine is very easy to get cleaned up and running.And to the reviewer who stated the bobbin winder wouldn’t work- ever. Just swing it around so it’s small rubber wheel rubs on the large drive wheel. Pop a bobbin on. The small black rubber “tire” presses against the rim of the large steel drive wheel. The friction between them spins the bobbin as you turn the drive wheel. If the bobbin doesn’t turn rough up the “tires” face with a medium grit sand paper. Degrease and lightly sand the rim of the drive wheel. You are trying to increase the friction. Then the bobbin spins very fast. Wind away. It works perfect.If your glass is always half empty don’t buy this machine. For the folks who view their glass as half full buy it. It’s easy to get set up, sews most anything that fits under it’s presser foot and built like a tank. And on the lack of a main bearing. Mine must be a updated unit or different manufacturer. The main drive shaft runs through a nice set of ball roller bearings. It’s my understanding that these machines are made by several factories in China. Basically copies of the 120 year old Singer 29-4. Mine is green and bears a label of “ HUANGLONG” sewing Machine. Perhaps others received less well made machines than this one.Just plain fun to use.PsUsed Singer 29-4 s run $500-$1000. Collector items.10 mar 2018I simply haven’t been able to get 150 waxed leather style thread to run in this machine, even in size 25 needles. 138 bonded nylon and a 20-22 needle seems to be the largest thread this machine can handle. That’s still a very heavy ,strong thread. I’m using it on leather too leather projects. At this machine’s closest stitch , 7 to the inch, it works pretty good on leather.Sadly 150 waxed evades me.3 Apr 2018Update. They missing items that Fisters promised did actually arrive from China on this date. So Fisters was true to their word on their promise of customer service. Good job Fisters.April 2018On the other hand Bantam Saddle Tack forgot to include one item on my first order. Said they would reship , but never did. My second order , for parts, from them never arrived and they refused to provide any shipping/ tracking info. After some email exchanges they did refund my money on the “ lost” order and the missing item.So, You will have to decide who gets YOUR business.

Considering value for money, this machine is fantastic! It cost less than 10% of what a new branded machine could have cost. For $1500 I could not own a walking foot machine for my workshop. For $160, I have one sitting in my shop and can use it whenever I need to make a tool kit or protective sleeve for my antique cabinet maker's and furniture maker's tools - which is my primary use. I'm sewing canvas, leather and vinyl.I will echo others' comments. The bad ratings did cause me to hesitate and do more research. This is not 'plug and play' ready. You will need to wipe it down and give it some fine tuning - but only minor things if yours is like mine. This machine is for someone who likes machines and likes adjusting them. As far as construction, it is cast iron, steel and 'bullet proof.' Mine has sealed ball bearings where it needs them. It will arrive as a machine more directly from the tool shop/factory than from the fabric store. You must wipe it down of the oils and grime. Not bad, but it isn't a Brother Sew-At-Home right out of the box. It is a copy of a crude but very successful antique design from long ago, cast and fabricated in a machine shop. You will also want to file rough edges, polish some things bright and smooth, and give it gentle TLC to suit yourself. Again, for a dime on the dollar to own one, you have the budget and the motivation to do this!As for sewing: If you can get 'it' under the needle (about 1/2-inch clearance/thickness) this machine will sew it! If the foot is too sharp for you, wire brush it down or dip it in vinyl tool handle materials commonly available for shops. I haven't done anything with mine and it is fine. I have been sewing leather and mostly vinyl/naugahyde. It works great.I do think the thread they send might be a source of complaints and I want to address that. The thread itself is OK. I have added bonded nylon, but the spool they sent is OK. Trouble is, it is a top-wound commercial spool. The machine was designed for the more common 'unwinding' type cylinder spools found on home sewing machines. If you try putting the commercial spool they send on the spool peg that comes with the machine, you are doomed to fail. Those commercial spools will not 'unwind' by themselves like a home spool will and the thread will break and give poor stitching. So, either re-wind the thread off the commercial spool onto a common household spool, or use a high overhead support made from a coat hanger or such (as seen on youtube). Then, you're off to the races.I have ordered replacement bobbins from a saddle shop in Idaho. Very disappointed. They pictured 10, sent 5; 2 were steel and did fit; 3 were aluminum and did not fit. I have not ordered yet, but from my research it appears that small bobbins for the Singer 29 will fit this machine. Maybe a little sanding might be needed, but they look like they will fit. Also, the shuttle hooks for the Singer 29 appear to be the same, too. There is one little bit on the Singer shuttle hook that may need to be ground off, but I think these could fit. So - I don't feel like I'm beached for parts in the very unlikely event I might need more. (EDIT NOTE: 7-27-2018. I have purchased small bobbins for the Singer 29 and they do fit. The shuttle hook sent also will fit with just a little bit of polishing and fine sanding.) The stand is a joke. But it is only 3 pieces of tubing. I mounted mine on a wooden base. Easy to do using the mounting holes already provided for in the castings.As far as shipping: I ordered the machine on Monday. It left China on Tuesday. It arrived in Omaha, NE (my closest city) by Friday afternoon. Amazing! I live about 50 miles out in the country, so it didn't get delivered to me until the next Monday. I could have gone to Omaha to pick it up sooner, but that's my life in the country....So all-in-all, this is just a fantastic machine to own if you have need for something that will sew heavy fabric/leather/vinyl and don't want to spend 10 times the money to have a capable machine. Plus, you're owning a copy of an important piece of history. This is a copy of the Bradbury Elastic A-1. It is not a copy of the Singer 29. In fact, it appears that the Singer 29 has copied some things from the Bradbury (circa 1852).