Sewing is on the spectrum of all the other making processes we like to do — metal, wood, etc. It’s just that measurement accuracy/tolerance is appalling compar

Sewing is on the spectrum of all the other making processes we like to do — metal, wood, etc. It’s just that measurement accuracy/tolerance is appalling compared to what we’d expect from working with wood or metal. Especially as you get into lighter fabrics closer to clothing than bags. I have several sewing machines, ranging from a 60yo Swiss post-bed to a modern Juki walking foot. These things can last forever. However if you buy one, assuming you aren’t master seamstress, I highly recommend replacing old clutch motors with a servo motor that also includes “needle positioning” sensor. This enables you to sew at a sane speed and keep the needle where you want it when making corners etc. It’s also good to have a proper servicing guy come and tune up the machine and get the right tensioning and timing. Unless you have a lot of experience you can get wildly off piste trying to get tensions set if you’re inexperienced. Leatherworker.net has a sewing machine sub forum that seems to have some decent experts on industrial strength machine questions.