Leather, Canvas and Upholstery Machine Repair
Marine canvas, boat covers, biminis, upholstery and auto trim.
Heavy work asks more of a machine than any other kind of sewing. Marine canvas, boat covers, biminis, sail repair, furniture upholstery, auto and truck trim and webbing all need the right needle, the right thread and a feed system that pulls without marking the material. We service the walking foot, compound feed and cylinder arm machines this work runs on, in our shop or at yours.
What the service includes
- Walking foot, compound feed and roller foot mechanisms adjusted or rebuilt
- Cylinder arm and post bed machines serviced for upholstery and trim
- Needle and thread system matched to bonded polyester, nylon and heavy webbing
- Feed timing and hook clearance set for thick-to-thin transitions
- Presser foot pressure and lift set so vinyl and leather are not marked
- Large bobbin and oversize hook conversions where the machine supports them
- Servo motors, speed reducers and needle positioners fitted
- Machine set up and test sewn on your actual material
Problems we fix every week
If it uses a needle and thread to sew, we repair it. Home machines, industrial machines, embroidery machines, sergers, quilting machines and antiques.
The needle will not go through webbing without skipping
The thread breaks on heavy bonded polyester
The walking foot leaves marks on the vinyl
The stitch length changes when it goes from thick to thin
It will not pull a size 22 needle through leather
The bobbin runs out too fast on long canvas seams
The needle heats up and melts the thread
The roller foot slips on marine vinyl
It will not climb over a taped seam on a bimini
There are loops on the back of the panel
How a repair works
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Tell us the material, not just the machine
Marine acrylic, coated vinyl, leather, sailcloth and webbing all need different settings. Bring a scrap and the thread you use, or a photo of the seam that is failing.
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Shop bench or on-site
A portable head can come to Clearwater. A machine bolted into a bench with a speed reducer is usually better serviced where it stands. We travel about 150 miles.
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Set it up for the work
Timing, hook clearance, foot pressure, needle size, thread path and motor speed are all set together. Getting one right and the rest wrong is why heavy machines skip.
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Sew your material
We test on your fabric at the thickest seam you actually run, including taped and folded sections, before you take the machine back.
Common questions
Can my machine handle leather and canvas at all?
Some can and some cannot. A machine built for garment weight will not sew a boat cover for long no matter how it is adjusted. Call (727) 321-9344 and describe the machine and the work, and we will give you a straight answer at no charge.
Do you service marine canvas shops on site?
Yes. Canvas shops, sail lofts, awning shops, upholstery shops and auto trim shops within about 150 miles of Clearwater, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Bradenton and Fort Myers.
Can you add a speed reducer or a servo motor?
Yes. Heavy work needs punching power at low speed, and that is exactly what a servo with a reducer gives you. It also makes the machine much easier to control on a curve.
My machine skips only on thick seams. What causes that?
Usually needle deflection, a needle too small for the thread, hook clearance that has drifted, or foot pressure that lets the material lift. It is a normal adjustment for us and it is fixable.
Areas we serve
Related repair services
Industrial Sewing Machine Repair
Shop service in Clearwater, on-site service within 150 miles.
On-Site Sewing Machine Repair
We come to you, up to 150 miles from Clearwater.
Sewing Machine Parts
Bring the old part in. That is the fastest way to match it.
Blind Stitch, Drapery and Specialty Machine Repair
Blind hemmers, drapery machines, buttonhole machines, knitting machines.
Is your machine giving you trouble?
Call and tell us what it is doing. The estimate is free and you do not need the model number.