Leather Machinery
Leather machinery is an integral part of leather crafting, especially if you're looking to take it from hobby to business or tackle more ambitious projects. From sewing machines to clicker presses and replacement parts, we've assembled the equipment you need to build your shop.
This page is dedicated to helping you understand the machinery we carry, how to choose the right equipment, and what to expect when purchasing and setting up your machine. Below you'll find information on selecting the right machine, shipping, financing, setup, and educational resources. You can also find product-specific information on each machine's individual page, along with even more sewing machine techniques on our YouTube channel.
Of course, if you still have questions, don't hesitate to contact us—we're always happy to help.
Choosing a Leather Sewing Machine
We're going into detail about all of the things to consider before taking the plunge. If you'd rather watch the short version first, check out the video below. Then we'll cover purchasing, setup, and everything else you need to know.
Communication Matters
Before buying any sewing machine, regardless of where you purchase it, ask yourself these questions:
- Who stands behind the machine?
- Will you have to ship it across the country—or overseas—for repairs?
- What warranty is included?
- Who actually honors that warranty?
- Can you easily communicate with the dealer when you need help?
Ultimately, you're buying more than a machine—you're investing in service, support, and peace of mind.
How Handy Are You?
You should also decide whether you want to become a sewing machine mechanic.
If you enjoy repairing and adjusting machinery, a used machine might be a good fit. However, if troubleshooting and repairs aren't your thing, purchasing a new machine with dealer support can save you a great deal of frustration.
Otherwise, you may end up with a machine you can't use or expensive repair bills.
Servo Motors & Speed Reducers
A servo motor works much like the gas pedal in your car—the farther you press the pedal, the faster the machine sews. Most modern servo motors also allow you to set a maximum speed, giving you much greater control.
A speed reducer does more than simply slow the machine down—it also increases torque. That extra torque allows the machine to sew through multiple layers of leather at slow speeds without requiring extra effort from the operator.
Most older industrial machines come equipped with clutch motors, which tend to jump from zero to full speed almost instantly, making them much harder to control.
Compound Walking Foot vs. Geared Roller Foot
Compound Walking Foot
A compound walking foot literally walks across the leather instead of simply pressing down on it. This feeding action greatly reduces material shifting and bunching, making it ideal for both lightweight and heavyweight leather.
Geared Roller Foot
A geared roller foot feeds material using matching geared rollers above and below the leather. This creates exceptionally consistent feeding and performs especially well when sewing over existing stitch lines.
What Do You Want to Make?
Every sewing machine has its strengths. Choosing the right one depends entirely on the type of projects you build.
Flatbed Machines
Ideal for:
- Chaps
- Chinks
- Wallets
- Upholstery
- Belts
- Tarps
- General-purpose sewing
Post Machines
Perfect for:
- Wallets
- Bags
- Upholstery
- Garments
- Belts
- Jacket patches
- Decorative stitching
- Hard-to-reach areas
Heavy Cylinder Arm Machines
Best suited for:
- Belts
- Holsters
- Knife sheaths
- Saddle work
- Tack
- Heavy leather projects
- Thick materials
A Final Word
The machines we sell are the same machines we use ourselves. That's why we know them so well.
If you have questions, stop by the store or give us a call. We'd much rather help you choose the right machine the first time than sell you something that isn't a good fit.
Of course we'd love for you to buy your machine from us, and we offer only new machines at the lowest price we can. But even if you're considering a used machine or purchasing elsewhere, we're still happy to answer your questions and help you make a smart decision.
Shipping
Machines ship by freight on a pallet or are available for pickup at Springfield Leather.
Most machines (excluding the 10-ton clicker press and the AK-20 Strap Cutter) ship for flat rate $335Â to a commercial address or shipping terminal.
Smaller machines, such as the Cobra Burnisher, often cost less to ship.
Residential deliveries and remote locations may require additional freight charges, so please contact us before ordering if you have questions about delivery.
Call us at 1-800-668-8518 and we'll gladly discuss your shipping options.
Returns
SLC wants you to be successful and have a great experience with whatever machine you purchase. To that end we try to provide the absolute best level of service so as to ensure your success. Before you make your machine purchase, give us a call and chat with our customer service staff or watch one of our many educational videos to determine which machine will be the best investment for your business. It isn’t our goal to sell you the most expensive machine we can but to sell you the RIGHT machine, the first time. Moving leather machinery across the country is not a simple task and getting a machine back that didn’t end up being the right fit for a customer creates grief for everyone involved. To that end, if you find yourself in a situation where you’ve ordered a machine that is not fitting your needs please contact us and we will work with you as far as humanly and reasonably possible to resolve the situation. If you’re willing to work with us, you’ll find us willing to work with you.
Returns
At Springfield Leather, we want every customer to have a successful experience with their machine.
Before purchasing, we encourage you to speak with one of our customer service representatives or watch our educational videos to ensure you're selecting the best machine for your needs.
Our goal isn't to sell you the most expensive machine—it's to sell you the right machine the first time.
Moving industrial leather machinery across the country isn't simple, and returning one because it wasn't the right fit creates unnecessary expense for everyone involved. If you find yourself in that situation, contact us. We'll work with you as fairly and reasonably as possible to find a solution.
If you're willing to work with us, you'll find we're more than willing to work with you.
Machine Setup & Educational Videos
You've answered the questions, chosen your machine, and now it's sitting in your shop.
Now what?
The videos below feature Kevin and crew walking you through setup, operation, maintenance, and common sewing scenarios.
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Threading
This playlist includes instructional videos from Rusty on threading a Cobra Class 20, Cobra Class 26 and Cobra Classes 3 and 4.
Cobra Class 20 Sewing Machine Build
From time to time we have people that have to take their machine apart for many reasons. So we put this together as a help get your machine back together and hey if you watch it backwards...you can take your machine apart! This would also be similar to the Class 18 as well.
Cobra Class 26 Sewing Machine Build
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Highlead 318 Machine - What's it all about?
See what Kevin has to say about the Highlead 318 Sewing Machine! The Highlead 318 is a flatbed industrial sewing machine with a servo motor and a speed reducer, perfectly suited for medium weight and medium/heavy weight material. It comes complete with a table and features hand and knee presser foot lifts, a compound walking foot, and top and bottom feeding. Great for synthetics, plastics, upholstery and, of course, leather. You won't have to spend much on maintenance for this self-lubricating machine that includes a reverse stitch lever and a stitch length of 1 - 8 mm. Uses thread sizes up to 138 and will sew items from 5/16" - 3/8" (8 - 9.5 mm). Uses needles size DPx17 18-24.
For even more information on sewing machines and techniques, check out our YouTube Channel.
