New Machine advice sought

Well,

After having Brother tell me that they were sending me my second replacement machine, I've concluded that for $120, one gets not too much of a machine...

I've been looking at the Viking Emerald 118, a made in Taiwan machine; and the Prelude 370, Swedish-made, but now discontinued, both of which sell for about $350.

There's not too many substantial reviews of these machines, just a lot of "nice machine" reviews on the internet. Does anyone have any experience or opinions about either?

Any suggestions of another machine that I should be looking at? Many thanks!

Reply to
Sparafucile
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Too right! If your budget is that low, you'll get a lot more machine if you look at pre-loved ones of the better makes like Bernina, Husqvarna, Phaff, Elna... If you don't want a vast array of electronic stitches, older all metal mechanicals can be an excellent way to go, but you need to do your homework on the makes and models that are good, and know how to tell a clapped out doorstop from a gently loved gem.

Personally, I'd go for the Prelude. My Swedish built Lily 550, bought in 1999, is still going strong, and I use her for most of my professional dress making. Mind you, I do get her serviced every 9-18 months! Due for one now...

For a new simple mechanical that will last for many years, take a look at the Bernina 1008. I have a 1005, which is fab: kids love to sew on that.

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

I am sorry that it took you that much trouble to learn that. But you have, indeed, learned a valuable lesson.

What do you want to use a machine for? If your funds are modest, purchasing a mechanical machine that was built to use as a tool, not as a toy, would give you the most bang for the buck. Hopefully someone will post the How to Select a Machine (or whatever it is called) FAQ for you.

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - take out TRAS

Kate XXXXXX wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com:

i second this! i have the 1008. nice solid basic machine. lee

Reply to
enigma

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Reply to
BEI Design

I had a similar experience with a Brother serger several years ago. It's so upsetting when you can't just buy the thing and have it work properly. Lots of empathy for you, Serge.

I don't know about either of these particular Vikings. I will tell you I have a mechanical (not computerized at all) Viking that was made in Sweden. I LOVE it and it is an incredible workhorse. Very easy to clean. Very easy to use. Good consistent stitches. I really like it a lot. Mine is a Viking 325 "Daisy." It cost me a little more than $350 when I got it new. I got it when a quilting shop that was also a Viking dealer went out of business. I got mine for 40% off and still paid about $450. But that was 5 or 6 years ago. I loved this machine when I first sat down with it and I still do.

So my vote would be for the Swedish made Viking. ;)

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

I also have a Swedish made Viking Sarah. It's a small mechanical machine. I love it and like Sharon would opt for a Swedish made Viking. They are very sturdy machines and need little maintenance. Keep it clean and have it cleaned by the dealer once in awhile. Juno

Reply to
Juno

Thanks for the thoughts, the new, replacement machine goes on Ebay... At least I'll get some money back...

Thanks Sharon, and Juno for your votes; unfortunately the Prelude was used, and sold for about $500 before I could think about it.

I've spent all week in and out of *many* sewing machine shops looking (mostly) at Viking, Pfaff and Bernina, and chatted with lots of customers in the shops and listened to the salesmen; so let me share what I've picked up this week. Please feel free to give me feedback and/or correct me if I'm wrong (I've been sewing all of four months) so most of you know a lot more than I.

Apparently, the European-made, metal-bodied, mechanical (i.e. driven by cams and gears) high-end sewing machine is now a thing of the past! (Bernina has one, but it is soon to be discontinued) Each of those brands top-of-the-line, European designed-and-made, *entry* level models are well over $1000 and are all computerized with plastic bodies! While the fit and finish are well-done, I'm unwilling to drop over a thousand dollars (a) because the technology is so new (i.e will they be as durable and repair-free as their mechanical predecessors?); and (b) because I think it's a bit of a leap to spend that much only four months into it.

Each of those manufacturers have second and third level machines that are computerized; and designed and made in Asia. Since I chatted with other customers (easy to do in JoAnne), I heard many reports of the Emerald and Scandanavia lines of Viking being returned either for warranty work or for refunds; one Viking salesman told me that those two lines were "no better or worse than many of the mass-market, Asian-made computerized machines" available in big-box stores...Another older salesman told me that "they were all crap" (a word I was to hear a lot this week...

The only mechanical machines made (that I saw) are the industrial ones (belt-driven, mounted on an ugly table with a motor exposed below) - really not suitable for my apartment.

This has driven the prices in the used market for mechanicals *way* up; I saw none for under $650 except for the one I just posted about. And since service is expensive here, and none of the dealers offered more than a 90-day warranty on a used machine, I'm a bit wary of a used machine...

Most told me that some of the "mid-line"($200 to $300) mass-market machines are not bad at all, most are unreliable and sew poorly, and it depends on the individual machine, with both good and bad in each manufacturer's line. (the White 3100 and one or two Janomes were mentioned over and over as good machines). I was also told by more than one person that the entire lines of Brother, Singer and Euro-Pro were all crap! [FWIW, the word "crap" was actually used that often!]

Since most of you have been sewing on, and buying machines for many more years than I, I'd really like to know if my week of shopping has given me a good picture of the sewing machine market, and to hear your .02.

As for me, I haven't yet made up my mind, but I'm considering the White 3100 at $200 on the web, on the other hand, I haven't totally ruled out a used Pfaff.

Reply to
Sparafucile

Personal bad experience with an inexpensive machine with lots of "stuff" makes me want to scream don't touch it. If you can try out the Pfaff give it a run through with your own material. If you do the same with the White do so. Without seeing and trying either one I'd seriously consider the Pfaff. As I said at the beginning I had a terrible experience with an inexpensive machine and gave up sewing for 10 years.Then I got the lovely little mechanical and I sew all the time. Juno

Reply to
Juno

:-)) Yes, and IIRC, that is why the advice given here was to look for a good used one.

I'd vote for a used one but I'd probably go for an old Elna or a Bernina, or even a geriatric Singer. Given that you have expressed an interest in making shirts, they don't need fancy stitches, just high quality straight stitches. Any machine from the 1950s backwards in time could do that on a bad day.

Reply to
FarmI

Extremely satisfied with my modern high-end Pfaff. It does everything I want of it.

Reply to
The Wanderer

Spew alert, please!!

OP, I campaign a Pfaff 360 which my mother purchased new in [kicks off shoes]...1963 (??). Metal body and internal parts. It ain't beautiful, but what it creates is. I will use it forever.

HTH

--Karen D.

Reply to
Veloise

Your observations are good. Machine made today are not made to last a lifetime as the old machines were.

Given your experience or lack of it. It is in your best interest to shop local. There you will have the after the sale service you will need. And I mean will need. The internet may offer a lower price on a machine but not nearly as good a value and a trustworthy local dealer.

Reply to
Ron Anderson

Yeah, the inexpensive (dare I say "cheap) machines with lots of bells and whistles are totally crap. (Look Serge, we even use that word here. lol) However, I have heard really good things about the White "jeans" machine. A friend of mine worked for a long time at a Hancock's. She said of the machines they carried, and she test drove them all, that machine did the best. So if you really need one on a budget that will work for you, you might look at that one. I'm pretty sure you can find them at both Hancock's and Joanne's. But that's about all I know about them.

HTH

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

Oh, I have one of those and it is the quietest, smoothest running machines around here! Not to mention that it has all those "fancy" stitches. ;-) I tend to use the Singer 401, but should set up the 360 and get more use out of it.

Reply to
Pogonip

We bought a $300 White Jeans Machine type of machine about 5 years ago and sadly, it was a piece of junk that wouldn't hold the tension setting after a few projects. So be afraid, be very afraid, when looking at any low-end model machines, and if you can't afford the mid-range machines, stick to older used models.

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - take out TRAS

Thanks for your reply, Ron! I looked at your web-site, and obviously you know...

I've owned vintage sports cars, and found that keeping them running was an expensive and frustrating proposition; I'm wondering if the same is true of sewing machines. It seems to me that older precision machinery that is not lubricated nor adjusted regularly and gets covered with lint will wear out quickly and be expensive to keep running; and my hesitation with an older, used machine is that there's no way of my telling if I've bought an expensive problem, especially since my local dealers only give 90-day warranties on used machines.

For example, I know how to use feeler gauges and the like to examine an automobile engine, but often that can be a crapshoot without pulling the head. How does one tell the condition of a mechanical machine? Can those machines stand up to a lack of maintenance from the previous owner? Is $600 to $750 the going price for a used "basic" Pfaff (like a 1229), Bernina or Viking?

Thanks again!

Reply to
Sparafucile

Ahhh, shopping for a new machine is becoming more of a chore. I can certainly afford the mid range lines e.g. the Viking or Pfaff, but I haven't yet had anyone tell me that they're not crap.

I'm leaning toward a used "basic" mechanical, but I'm a bit wary (see my reply to Ron, below) of dropping $600 to $750 on a 10+ year-old machine when the dealers only give 90 day warranties....

Reply to
Sparafucile

So drop

Reply to
BEI Design

Another brand you should look at is JUKI. I sew for a living and own/ operate many industrial models and my JUKI's are the most trouble free machines I use. I know you don't want a industrial machine but JUKI makes consumer models as well and I would expect them to be made to the same standards as the industrial models. Personally I would never consider ANY modern Viking, Pfaff, White, Singer and such, to me those are all toy machines.

Reply to
1foxracing

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