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I have a leather jacket that the customer wanted their last name in a silver metallic thread. I have stitched on leather but never with metallic. I tried it, it doesn't work!! So, I'm moving on, right? Wrong. I was just going to stitch their name in a gray ARC thread #102 that I purchased from Melco. I get about 4-8 stitches, if I'm lucky and either have a thread break and/or bobbin break. I called melco like 10 times today and never got to speak with the fella that I was told could help me. I am so afraid I have ruined this leather jacket. I was told by melco to put my actifeed anywhere from 12-20. I started at 12 and worked my way up and still don't have the first letter stitched. Can someone please help me before this $5 job costs me $300.
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~Chrissy~ -
I sew on Leathers and vinyls constantly. I only use actifeed and set the lower limit to 1 or 2. I've never had any problems. Make sure your presser foot is set right. I set mine where a piece of paper moves easily back & forth between the foot and material. Also, make sure your bobin thread pulls through easily (no drag). Sometimes i've found also that some top solvy helps. I use Aquafilm for a top solvy, it's clear and thicker but goes away easily with a little water.
You may also want to check the font & thread density you're using and see if you've added underlay. Some of the fonts already have underlay built in and if you add it that can be a problem. -
Thank you for the info. Here is just a bit more info just in case it can give you more insight as to what I am doing. I created the word "Johnson" using the Cooper-Dak font .5" height, 96% width. I did not add an underlay. I did not change the font, fill density or anything. Just trying to stitch the way it typed out on my computer. Thanks for any help!
~Chrissy~Chrissy~Comment
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Well I tried everything that sschroed2 suggested and am still having thread breaks, bobbin breaks and some false bobbin breaks. I am at a loss . Any help is greatly appreciated.
Chrissy
615-260-0240~Chrissy~Comment
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I'm on west coast, where are you? send me private email with response capability or direct email me at [email protected]Comment
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what density is the lettering? You may have the density setting (default in the font properties) way to low....most of my fonts all default to 3 or 3.2, I always double check and crank it up...rare if I ever do lettering any lower than 4.
Another comment...$5 for a name on one leather jacket? I think I would have charged a minimum of $15 because just in hooping time, run time, setup, etc. you have tied up at least twenty minutes...
and now you can see how long it really could tie you up! I'm not criticising, just throwing out from experience...I'd re-evaluate my pricing schedule. Most of the comments in the thread we had running for pricing everyone had $5 minimum charge JUST to hoop a customer supplied item, and $5 to $10 minimum sewing charge on top of that.
Hope this helps!Comment
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I do metallic thread on leather. I always adjust my fill density from 100 (which is where it is when i get the digitzed file back) to between 60-75% fill density. I have a big red so no actifeed but the equivalent, i also change it to about 12 to accomodate thicker fabric.
good luck. i have learned tho, that most of the time its not worth it. for a name id charge at least 30 bucksComment
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I'm not sure leather is profitable either. Most of the time a leather jacket has a sentimental value for whatever reason. Trying to replace it would be a headache and expensive.Super Stitchen by StubbyTailsComment
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