I have seen a lot of industrial sewing machines for sale on Craig's list and at garage sales and was wondering if they would be good for free motion quilting since they have a large throat bed. Thank you for any help. Carole

I was tempted by one on craig's list also, until I researched the model number online. The ad didn't mention it, but this particular model had a trimming knife to automatically trim off the edges of seams. This would make it useless for quilting.

Just make sure you read up on it before buying. The commercial machines I've seen aren't cheap.

I have wondered that myself. I will be watching to see what others say.

I have a Singer 191. It will sew through very thick stuff. It is great EXCEPT there is no dual feed foot to fit it so the back feeds different than the front. Also I've not been able to figure out how to FMQ with it. The feed dogs don't drop.

All of the above is why I bought my Horizon.

I have thought and looked for years. Just a few comments
1. Make sure you can do reverse, many industrials only go forward.
2. Will you want to use the machine for anything other than peicing? Check to see if there are feet that are compatable for free motion, many do not ! Feed dogs are not able to be lowered on many. Yes you can cover them but , the covering creates a drag as you move the quilt around. Tape only lasts a short time.
3. Parts for industrials can be expensive and difficult to get , that's why many are for sale. check on service availability.

I saw a longarm type that was mounted on a table at a quilt show ... I just can not remember the name . It was subtaintally less money than a traditional longarm with frame. it could also be used for a straight stitch with regular feet.
It was at International quilt show Chicago last year, too bad I just tossed out my program with all the vendors listed. Maybe someone else here knows .

This is a link to the type , but was not the exact machine , I will keep looking as it does not appear that this can do regular stitiching.

http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp24354-0073.html

the problem i had with industrial was the speed (you can't regulate it), you can't buy a stitch regulator (they aren't made for industrial), you'll have a hard time finding a FMQ foot (they don't make them for industrial).

the feed dogs weren't a problem for me since i was only going to use it for FMQ and planned on removing them completely from the machine.

needless to say i didn't go with an industrial machine.

Thank you

The feed dogs don't drop on industrial machines...and I don't remember ever seeing a free-motion foot...
I think you could probably remove the feed dogs completely to use it this way, but I don't think I would want to.

oh I have an industrial singer - I'm going to watch this thread. I have never tried fmq with it - actually I have never thought about it.. hmmmmmmmm.... I bought it to sew heavy fabrics and vintage chenilles.

Industrial machines are much more specialized than domestic sewing machines.

Some have built-in dual feed, (where the foot moves the top layers of fabric while the dogs move the bottom layers), some have only feed dogs and some are made to not feed at all - they only stitch.

I have an antique industrial treadle model 31 - it takes standard high shank attachments like many or even most industrial sewing machines.

I bought the Juki darning foot for it, but all my other high shank feet fit it as well. I bought a darning plate for it on eBay and removed the feed dogs. It free-motions quite well, having the vertical bobbin, but the table it came it needs a new top.

I am going to have someone build me a box to set the machine in and mount a small motor on it. When I get to this, I'll have a MUCH larger quilting area and I'll be able to position it with the nose facing me so that I can use my Flynn frame. (which I haven't even taken out of the box)

I wouldn't want to use an industrial machine that has the big coffee can motor under the table - those motors make the machine much too fast. A small motor for a domestic sewing machine will be just about right for the speed I like to work. At least, I hope so. All these projects hanging around waiting for me to get off the computer and go do them.... ;)