First leather walking foot machine

[gagahun73r$]

I am finally ready to buy my first walking foot sewing machine for my leather projects and I keep looking at two main options. I can get a used Pfaff 1245-706/47 from a trusted repair shop but the price seems a bit high for an older machine. My other choice is to spend about $500 more and buy a brand new Juki DNU-1541.

I really want one machine that can handle a wide range of materials, specifically two layers of 10-ounce canvas and up to two layers of thick leather, maybe 9 to 10 oz pieces. But I might need two machines for everything I want to do, so I do not want to blow my entire budget on the first purchase. The Pfaff is an older, reliable machine with a 14 mm foot lift and is great for medium-heavy materials. The new Juki has a slightly higher 16 mm foot lift and a longer 9 mm stitch length, making it better for really thick projects. So, should I go with the reliable but older Pfaff to save money for a future second machine, or is the new Juki worth the extra 500 because it handles a greater thickness?

 

[midNight]

In my opinion, Juki DNU-1541 is likely the better starting machine because it has more capability right out of the box for handling that maximum thickness. Pfaff 1245 is well-regarded workhorse but it can struggle with more than about 3/8 of an inch of material and two layers of 10oz leather is pushing that limit, so the Juki’s 16 mm foot lift and longer 9 mm stitch length gives a safer margin for those heaviest projects. Since your initial goal is to manage that heavy leather, I think spending the extra $500 ensures you only need one machine to start and avoid the immediate need to buy another machine for your thickest materials. Hope that helps.