Needle choice for upholstery leather

[jeepdoc]

Need to know if you need to use a leather chisel tiped needle for doing leather automotive leather? if so my chandler uses 135x17 needles but those types of needles are not avail or at least i have not been able to find them. I did find them in 135x16 will those work?

[SHHR]

My Consew uses that needle system (135x17) and that's what I use for leather (135x16). Works just fine.
Kyle

[skegfish]

135 x 16 is the chisel point and 17 being the ball type point in 135. jeff in pa

[NDAV8R]

   I sew 95% leather (mostly 3 to 4 oz) nowadays. I have a couple of Consew 206RBs and I use the regular 135x17 needles. I have sewn up to Eight layers of 3oz leather at one time with any brand name needle.
    I have use chisle points or "leather needles" only to be disappointed by the needle cutting the thread when I locked the stitch or going in reverse. I have 6 singer type model 29 machines and use a regular needle in them unless I have very heavy leather (shoe leather or heaver) to sew...I use a chisle point and tie off the stitch later.

Gale.

[Gregg @ Keystone Sewing]

Need to know if you need to use a leather chisel tiped needle for doing leather automotive leather? if so my chandler uses 135x17 needles but those types of needles are not avail or at least i have not been able to find them. I did find them in 135x16 will those work?

jeepdoc,

I got the email from you and sent off some information via email.

I did want to share this brochure from Groz-Beckert with everyone so we can all be on the same page with 'cut point' needles for leather.

Narrow Wedge (NW) is by far the most common needle for us here at Keystone, but you can see the big effect the different needle points have in the brochure.

See the brochure here; http://www.keysew.com//Webpages/DemoImages/Groz-Beckert_Needles_for_the_processing_of_leather.pdf

[scarab29]

Wow that is a lot of info there Greg !! Wonder what they have to say about mr needles?
Great info BTW !!

[fragged8]

I dont really do leather but cant you use modified spear tips
to change the way the stitches lay ?

like you can get them to lay at an angle or straight etc ?

[gene]

Thank you for the info everyone. That is a rather comprehensive document, Gregg.

Straight stitch versus a slanted stitch: The PDF file says that this can be a result of the needle, thread, and leather.

Occasionally when sewing fabric, the stitch will be slanted. Since I am using the same needles and same thread, is it correct to assume that the slanted stitch is caused by the fabric? Will adjusting the thread tension result in a straight stitch?

Thanks,

gene