OK I'm in the market for a heavy duty sewing machine which will sew through various thicknesses and not move on my table.

I also want it to have a Start/Stop button since I do not use foot pedals.

It can have other features besides just a straight stitch.

Any brand recommendations out there?

I recommend the Janome 6600P. This is a heavy duty machine and will sew thru anything. I have sewn heavy canvas, denim, fine silk, sweater knits and just about everything in between with mine.

It does have the feature of not using a foot pedal. It also has a thread cutter and a knee lift.

It is a heavy machine and doesn't move even when sewing at the highest speed.

Janome all the way! Can take anything thrown their way - either the 6500P or if you want that dual feed, the 6600P! You won't be disappointed.

IMHO, the 6500P is going to go down in history equivalent to the Featherweight and older Singers.

I just bought a Janome 6600P on the advice of my sewing machine repair guy; so far, I'm happy! It is a very substantial machine and sews well. I also have several Singers and a Bernina but I'm thinking this MAY be my new favorite...

I guess it still comes down to personal preference. I have certainly had many issues with my Janome 6500 and more issues with the dealer. My Janome 6500 does not like to sew through heavy fabric and veers off at seam junctions. It often bunches up thread at the beginning and hesitates getting started. My vintage Singer 201 does a superb job of sewing through heavy canvas but doesn't have the option of a start stop button (neither does the 6500 or if it does, I've never found it). My Janome 6500 cost me more money than all my other machines put together and it definately has not been the love of my life.

What is cost of Janome 6600P?

I recently bought a Singer 401a vintage sewing machine. It does everything you would want it to do except it doesn't have a start/stop button. I paid $70 for mine. It came with its own desk and the presser foot was mounted so you could use your knee to operate the machine. With my DH's help in manueverying our boat canvans cover I patched it. I also sewed through 8 layers of canvas to test out it duribility. You would be amazed how sturdy that machine is. I bought mine off of craigslist. It out sews my 2004 Bernina Artista Embroidery machine with the stop/start button any day. Might not be what you are looking for but thought I would add my 2 cents. :-D

Check out the Baby Lock line. They have great little introductory tutorial videos online.

I think it is like most machines you need to try them out and see what may work for you.

I think I the last price I saw, about a month ago, was $2,300 brand new. But don't take that as the FINAL price. I know someone who bought the next version up, which was selling for $3000, and she picked it up for $2,300. There isn't a lot of selling going on right now, and there's a lot of "wiggle room" in those prices. I know you could get it below the $2,300, and if you had a decent trade it, well below that.

But that's the machine you want. Button start and stop. Lever speed control. Lots of options. Sews through anything. Long arm to accommodate quilts more easily. Beauty of a machine. The "leg lift" is for the presser foot, so you can keep your hands on the fabric and lift the foot at the same time, pivot the fabric, and drop the foot again. You can also lift the presser foot the usual way, by hand.

Go and try it out. Let them know you're looking for a deal. See what happens. But don't make a decision until you've spent some time sewing on the machine so you know you'll be happy with it!