Babylock Esante - Perpetual Problems

Hi all - First time poster here.

I bought this machine brand new in 1999 with Palette 2.0 Now I've upgraded to 8.0

There is all of 2 hours use on this machine because of it's lack of ... what I think is a serious reliability issue.

We can never ..... ever sew a project without the machine breaking a top thread at least once. This thing can't embroider anything without breaking a thread. We've adjusted tension with mixed results. $5000 of machine, and it sits 99.99999999 percent of the time.

Trying to sell it is laughable as people don't offer much more than $500.

We've never had an embroidery machine before, so I don't know if this is normal or not. If it is ..... you'all have the patience of Saints.

Reply to
NHR
Loading thread data ...

You don't really provide much information. What kind of thread (Brand? Poly/Rayon?) do you use? What kind/size of needle? Have you tried slowing down to the slowest speed to see if that helps? Does your machine need cleaning/oiling/maintenance? Etc....

I have hundreds (thousands?) of hours on my embroidery machine, I've had it for 6 years.

Reply to
BEI Design

Ok...... I'll play (Can you detect my utter frustration?)

Thread? It's embroidery thread...... to embroider ..... for my embroidery machine. (I'm not trying to be sarcastic, rather logical)

Rayon vs Poly? What would you recommend? I mean, If I had my way, I'd feed 20 pound fishing line in there and sneer as I dare the machine to break that. But again.... as logic kicks in, one would think if the thread is break proof, wouldn't you then break something in the machine? - I mean.. there has to be a logical reason why a minute into a project, the thread ...... just........ breaks.

Needle? It's an embroidery needle that came with the machine, among many. What would you recommend? For the most part ... lately, I'm just sewing into a cloth backing just to test the pattern before I allow it to ruin the intended article to be embroidered. By the way..... nothing stellar is being done here .... no wall murals .... just simple one or two word projects ,, in the small hoop. Seriously, if I was the designer of this machine, I'd be ashamed to show my face in public.

Oil? Maintenance? This thing has been under a glass bubble for 10 years with all of two hours use on it. If after two hours use it has to be taken in to be "maintained" would re-enforce my comment about shameful design engineers.

All frustration aside ...... thanks for your help.

Reply to
NHR

Yes. :-}

However, surely you know what brand it is? Madeira? Robison Anton? Sulky? CTS? Mettler?

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it new or very old? Has it been sitting in direct sunlight? I certainly cannot offer an opinion without knowing what brand is giving you fits.> Rayon vs Poly? What would you recommend? Short answer: It depends. For something I'm make for a child, which may require repeated machine washing, polyester thread. For a throw pillow or hanging, where the sheen is more important, rayon. etc.... I have never had a problem with 40 weight rayon or poly from either Madeira or Robison-Anton. I do not like C&C. for metalic thread I learned to use a very large-eyed needle (14) and SLOW WAY DOWN.

Does your manual have a troubleshooting section? What does it say might be the cause? You may have a burr somewhere in the thread path, have you EVER had it looked at? Have you cleaned the bobbin area? The needle thread path? All mechanical devices need some tender loving care on a regular basis.

You must be kidding. After 10 years you are still using the original needle? Needles wear out, can be damaged, etc. and a bad needle often causes thread breaks. I use a new needle for every second project, more often if the last one was a huge design.

See above. Buy an assortment (several sizes (9-11-14) and point types [woven & knit]) of the needles recommended for your machine and replace them *often*.

Or, it may be operator error. ;->

If you had a car that had been "under a glass bubble for 10 years" would you not take it in for routine inspection and maintenance before starting off on a 1000 mile trip? Same thing.

You're welcome.

Reply to
BEI Design

I understand utter frustration. The embroidery machine learning/diddling took heaps more tenacity that I ever imagined but Bev is doing a great job of guiding you. Pay attention to what she's telling you. I still fail to embroider on fine batiste without squinches which is what I wanted to do in the first place - but if you see Miss Beverly's stitching, you'll know she's top of the line. Polly

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Is it new or very old? Has it been sitting in direct sunlight? I > certainly cannot offer an opinion without knowing what brand is giving you > fits.>

Reply to
Polly Esther

Thanks for your kind words, Pol. ;->

Reply to
BEI Design

I've/We've never paid attention to brand. ..... we thought, thread....was thread.... with the difference being ebroidery thread vs normal. If thread branding was so important as ... it apparantly is .... then perhaps babylock would have included information as such when they promptly cashed my $5000 check.

Having said that ....... To go through this in a manner of "process of elimination" ..... what would you suggest is the BEST brand to use? I'm in Canada.

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Is it new or very old? Has it been sitting in direct sunlight?Well, it's old thread now .....but thread has always been in the thread drawers. Age of thread is not an issue at this point as the machine has behaved this way from day one.

There is no branding on any of the spools (the ones that have been opened) They vary .... One spool says Bluebird.

Noted

The machine was looked at in the beginning whereby they said it was "fixed". Clearly it's not. In so far as "loving care" .... There isn't a device in this house with a wire or a gear that .... even after

20 years can't still pass as brand new. I take care of my things well..... as I usually only like to buy things ONCE. LOL. :)

No ... the machine came with many needles. And we bought additional embroidery needles.

OR a poorly designed machine ;->

This was the Cadillac of machines in 1999 - God help those who bought the VW Bug version.

No, as there would be nothing to inspect .... if the item had not been used..... period..... how can it wear out.

Thanks again

Reply to
NHR

I haven't been used for a while (retired) but I'm wearing out too!

Here's how a sewing machine can 'wear out'

Lubricants gel, settle, or solidify and lose their effectiveness. In the worst case, they could jam the mechanism completely.

Parts that have been resting against each other unmoved can develop flat spots. Particularly true with plastic parts, but even some metal parts can suffer.

Dust and particulates can settle into strange places - even in a supposedly sealed environmnet.

Gases and chemicals in the air can affect parts (unlikely unless you're running a meth lab or live next door to a refinery).

Beverly mentioned the possibility of operator error. This was NOT a slur. It's possible that there's some seemingly innocuous action or that you don't know about or have ignored or something that would eliminate the thread breaking problem.

Machine embroidery takes some time to get right. The number of elements is almost endless - from hooping methods to changing speed depending on what's beeing stitched and where to thread brands for both bobbin and surface, stabilizers, adjustable tensions, and on and on. In person courses help, but they may be difficult to find for your system. There may be some available on-line as videos or documents.

- Herb

Reply to
Herb

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> Is it new or very old? Has it been sitting in direct sunlight?>> Well, it's old thread now .....but thread has always been in the thread> drawers. Age of thread is not an issue at this point as the machine has> behaved this way from day one.>

In 10 years any lubricant in the machine will have evaporated, hardened, or gone sticky... Same as in an untouched vehicle. It makes sense to have a service when taking anything out of mothballs. I do this even with my old mechanical machines, even if it's only a month since they were last on the bench being used. Any lint from thread that has drifted into hidden places can wick lubricants out of bearings and seize them up. If this happens, YOU wear it out when you use the machine without taking the care to service it when you want to use it again.

Thread is as important as any other element of the sewing process. Cheap thread is fuzzy and makes lint, which drifts into places like the tension mechanisms, the bearings, and all the little servo motors that drive swanky machines like this in all different directions to form the stitches. Same with fluffy fabrics... You need to clean the machine thoroughly after every use, and in the middle of larger projects. You need to lubricate where the manual advises, and not at all if there are no instructions to do so in the manual! You also need to give the machine the equivalent of a 10,000 mile/12 month service: 10,000 miles OR 12 months, whichever comes first, used or mothballed!

I tend to use the German made needles: Schmetz, Rhein, Gross-Beckert, or Klasse. MUCH better than Singer brand or Organ in my experience. And as Beverly says: match the needle type and size to the process: an embroidery needle of the correct size and type for the thread and fabric you are using (for example, use a Metallica/metallic thread needle for metallic threads, a top-stitching needle for heavy threads, bigger needles (90's) for heavier quilting threads and sharp/quilting/jeans needles for sandwiched quilts, denim and furnishing fabrics... ).

Though I don't yet have a full embroidery capable machine, I do use embroidery threads of various types for different utility and decorative elements (buttonholes, eyelets, heirloom edging, etc.), and yes, as with other threads, brands and qualities are not all the same. I have many different brands. Those I like best are YLI silk threads, Empress Mills floss and bulk threads, and Mettler and Empress Mills embroidery threads. I use rayon where wear is not an issue and I cannot get a silk filament in the correct colour, and polyester where wear might make a difference (such as the eyelets in a tight-lacing corset). I also like Aurifil threads. I have some of their wool/acrylic blend to experiment with, and love their 100 weight cotton, getting excellent decorative elements using it.

That said, once the machine has been serviced, you have threaded up with top quality embroidery and bobbin threads, given it a new needle suited to the task, and eliminated user error, there are some Friday Night Specials in every brand... I think I might have made a LOT more fuss and been far more insistent that the machine be exchanged or sorted out properly when it first manifested this problem. It may be too late to do so now, as the world of computer controlled sewing machines has kept pace with the computing world in general, and a 10 YO embroidery machine is now almost as much a dinosaur as Great Aunt Jessie's treadle! My £1100 Husqvarna Lily 550 certainly is! I keep it in use, keep it cleaned, get it serviced regularly, and just spent £103 getting a full service, recalibration and resetting of all the stitch patterns, and a small £13 part in the foot control fixed.

Worth every penny. Lily is now good for another 10 years hard labour, with annual servicing...

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

If that machine has a plastic presser foot, check the foot for burrs, often caused by abrasion from the thread as the hoop moves.

gwh

Reply to
Wayne Hines

Firstly, I'd like to apologize for being such a cynic ..... Until now, I've never been so frustrated with something in all of my life as I was with this embroidery machine. It sickened me to know we spent $5,000 for something that .... for all intents and purposes, never worked for us. Then to add insult to injury, to find that if we were to sell it, we wouldn't get much more than $500. Ugggghhh.

==========================

I would like to thank you very much for your help. I was at my wits end and was fully prepared to pack it in, in so far as embroidering was concerned.

It would appear that you were 100 correct in the thread quality. I went out today and bought a spool Robison Anton Rayon black and a spool of Janome Polyester bobbin thread. I also bought a pack of Schmetz 14 Needles.

I ran a pattern "Buddy" in the small hoop just using the backing as a test. Whereas before, the upper thread would have broken 2 to 4 times before completion. This time, I ran 3 samples ..... all finished without a single breakage.

So I then removed the Schmetz 14 and put back in my smaller sized 9 needle (less than 2 hours of usage). Again, the pattern went without breakage. I inspected my needle under my jewlers industrial microscope and compared it with the new one. Mine looked as sharp and pristine as the new one, with the exception of being smaller.

My conclusion? I had been using garbage thread all this time.

And I would have never have thought to buy the best if not for you.

For that, I thank you kindly. All I have to do now is find a cheaper source as I paid $9.00 for a 1100 yard spool.

Funny though, when I was in the shop I asked them about bobbin thread. Although recently I had been using normal bobbin thread, I do have a HUGE supply spool of nylon bobbin thread. I was told today at the shop to stay away from the nylon bobbin thread. Your thoughts?

By the way, thanks again for your guidance, and thanks to the rest of you who chirped in.

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Is it new or very old? Has it been sitting in direct sunlight? I > certainly cannot offer an opinion without knowing what brand is giving you > fits.>

Reply to
NHR

On another note would you all trust Ebay as a source for Robison Anton thread?

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> Is it new or very old? Has it been sitting in direct sunlight? I >> certainly cannot offer an opinion without knowing what brand is giving >> you fits.>>

Reply to
NHR

That's one possibility. If you don't get what you ordered, PayPal and/or eBay will be sure you get a full refund, as long as you follow the procedure. I suggest you also look at

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Join the "club" -- it's free.

Reply to
Pogonip

Have you all ever heard of Marathon Thread?

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Reply to
NHR

We've all been there over SOMETHING! ;->

Just like buying an expensive new car: the value drops by half the minute you drive it off the lot. The same car a year later can be had for MUCH less then the brand new price.

You're welcome, I'm glad what I wrote helped.

;-} Life's too short to fuss with bad thread. That is true for garment sewing, and especially true for machine embroidery.

Hurrah!!!

Keep some needles of different sizes on hand, some project down the line will love you for it. And do heed my advice, change the needle often.

I buy almost all my thread online. Robison Anton here:

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here:
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also bought two collections of R-A thread:
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I first started 6 years ago, I bought a Madeira"Treasure Chest":
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now buy Madeira straight form madeira.com:http://madeirausa.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.mainCategory&productGroup_ID=145&It helps that I have a Madeira color chart for both poly and rayon.

I'm in the USA, so shipping is not problem, I don't know how they handle international shipping, but you might contact one of the Canadian suppliers:

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Funny though, when I was in the shop I asked them about> bobbin thread. Although recently I had been using normal > bobbin thread,

I have used R-A and Madeira polyester bobbin thread exclusively. They work and I see no reason to temp fate. ;-}

You're welcome, I hope you start enjoying your machine soon.. By the way, you didn't ask, but I also have a favorite supplier for designs:

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Their designs are well digitized, and they have a huge searchable inventory.

NAYY,

Reply to
BEI Design

I would trust a retail seller using eBay, but NOT random people selling "grandma's collection of thread". You already know how that turns out. :-(

Reply to
BEI Design

We used Marathon thread exclusively and have even become distributors.

First things first. Forget all that thread stuff. It's only the icing on the cupcake.

GET THE MACHINE TUNED UP PROPERLY!!!

We had problems with our Brother machine too at first and after a few tune-ups it has worked flawlessly since. We break a thread every 40 patterns, maybe and a needle every six months now.

After getting the thing running right (with some good thread recommended from the repair guy) then worry about fine tuning the thread, tension and other fine details. Get a thread stand and don't use the self-contained one...they don't work well on the side.

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Reply to
Josepi

Well, thank you so much, Beverly. We have a dear and passionate friend who is a New Orleans Saints fan/maniac. She is expecting a first granddaughter. We wanted to make some new baby things with a pink fleur de lis. Just looking quickly, I don't see anything tiny enough but am glad to know what design place you know to be reliable. Polly

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or here:>
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> I also bought two collections of R-A thread:>
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> When I first started 6 years ago, I bought a Madeira> "Treasure Chest":

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> I now buy Madeira straight form madeira.com:>

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> It helps that I have a Madeira color chart for both poly and rayon. >> I'm in the USA, so shipping is not problem, I don't know how they handle > international shipping, but you might contact one of the Canadian > suppliers:>
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>> Funny though, when I was in the shop I asked them about>> bobbin thread. Although recently I had been using normal bobbin thread,>> I do have a HUGE supply spool of nylon bobbin thread. I was told today at>> the shop to stay away from the nylon bobbin thread. Your thoughts? >> I have used R-A and Madeira polyester bobbin thread exclusively. They > work and I see no reason to temp fate. ;-}>

Reply to
Polly Esther

You're welcome. I have never had a bad design from emblibrary.com. I almost always resize, occasionally that causes problems, however that's not emblibrary.com's fault. Do you have software to manipulate designs? I have Embird and PSW 2.0. I often open the design first in Embird, than "save as" in the format for my machine, because very few places offer .xxx format.

I find .pes the most reliable format for converting.

I have also bought several designs recently from

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and I'm very happy with them (AND they offer designs in .xxx!). They have a bunch of fleur de lis designs:
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Reply to
BEI Design

Marathon has starter thread kits with various quantities of spools in them. They come in rayon or polyester and give you a well priced starter's assortment of coloured thread.

Make sure you ask for their colour swatches with your order, each time. You get one free (of the 5 units) with each order (may be limited to sales certain price tag. We always order a few hundred dollars worth at a time so we always get free swatch cards.

There used to be a USA dealer for them, also, but I see they are right in your Canuckistan neighbourhood.

They are always looking for more distributors but you may have to lay out some bucks to get the starter kits. Prices end up being really cheap and the thread is excellent once your machine is tuned up, properly.

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Reply to
Josepi

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