Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Longarm - where to begin? >
  • Longarm - where to begin?

  • Longarm - where to begin?

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 02-15-2014, 06:38 PM
      #11  
    Super Member
     
    terri bb's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Dec 2010
    Location: St Maries, Idaho
    Posts: 2,147
    Default

    i am really doing alot of research into getting a machine myself. i drove the HQ Sweet 16 and although i got all warm and fuzzy with the face that i had a TON of room around my needle, not like my little sewing machine here at home, i realized that you need a table around it as an extension, and you STILL have to baste your quilt somehow. which in my case i dont like doing because inevitably i end up with a pucker somewhere. you also are using your arms and shoulders to move the whole quilt around. the price was a bit over $4k but if you wanted a stitch regulator they were an addition $1k and although i can't describe this right, it was like a magnetic ball in a socket, you seperated it, slid the quilt in, and plopped the ball down on the socket again, and the light blinked as it went. so i could see myself getting all involved in what i was doing and it going off on the floor. i love the HQ Avante and what it has to offer for under $10k with all the goodies on it except the computerized stitching. The big thing that sold me on it is our sales rep; they will come to the house, set it up, spend the day with me giving me lessons, especially tension lessons she said, and she will also return once a year for its annual maintenance. as you are deciding which kind you want, make sure they will set it up, be there for questions, come do maintenance, etc. even if it is for home quilting, it is entirely too much money to spend on not getting exactly what you want. good luck in your endeavors and hope i have helped!
    terri bb is offline  
    Old 02-15-2014, 07:32 PM
      #12  
    Super Member
     
    TexasSunshine's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Oct 2010
    Location: Kilgore Tx
    Posts: 1,883
    Default

    I bought a Nolting Fun Quilter and it is a good starter machine, hope someday to upgrade as I improve.
    TexasSunshine is offline  
    Old 02-15-2014, 08:57 PM
      #13  
    Super Member
     
    Gramie bj's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Dec 2010
    Location: Riverside Washington
    Posts: 1,508
    Default

    Test drive, ask question's, listen to sales person, walk away take time to try several, you will learn something new with every machine you try. then go back and test dive them all again. You will discover the more you learn, the more questions you will have. Soon you will be able to sort out what you really want in your machine. Do take into consideration where your closest repair shop is. Find other LA's in your area, talk to them about pros and cons of the machines you really like. Don't forget to question the tables too. Good Luck, I have a Lizzie 18, it is my first LA. I really like it.
    Gramie bj is offline  
    Old 02-15-2014, 09:42 PM
      #14  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Dec 2008
    Location: Western Wisconsin
    Posts: 12,930
    Default

    What kind of budget do you have for the setup? A longarm setup can cost anywhere from about $3,000 to $30,000 depending on whether you buy new or used, harp size of machine, stitch regulator or not, computerized features or not, plus many incidentals such as extra handles (for micro work or pantographs), extra lighting, leaders, etc. If you know your budget in advance, this helps narrow down the options you need to consider.

    Also, how much space do you have for a setup? To do king-sized quilts on a frame, you generally want a 12' or 14' frame. To be able to walk around the frame, you need at least 4' more (and 6' to 8' more is desirable). Not everyone has a room large enough to handle this kind of max size frame.

    My own setup is a Voyager 17 with Hinterberg stretch frame, purchased used, 10' poles on the frame, no stitch regulator. This is a nice beginner's setup (although many would prefer having a stitch regulator). The Innova with lightning stitch, which is my dream machine setup, costs about 8 times as much as this beginner setup.

    Whatever you get, you really want to get lessons with the machine. Some people who go all-out on their first setup are so intimidated once it is in their house they don't touch it for a year. Better to either start with a smaller, less fancy setup or get lessons with your investment so you feel comfortable actually using it.
    Prism99 is offline  
    Old 02-15-2014, 09:56 PM
      #15  
    Junior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    yweinst's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Oct 2012
    Location: Colorado
    Posts: 246
    Default

    I would like to stay under $10,000 in terms of price.

    I do have a very large room to put it in so space isn't an issue.

    I'm not typically one intimidated so I'm not worried about that aspect, just about choosing the right machine for me in my price range.
    yweinst is offline  
    Old 02-15-2014, 10:14 PM
      #16  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Dec 2008
    Location: Western Wisconsin
    Posts: 12,930
    Default

    In that price range, you might want to consider this Innova:
    http://www.innovalongarm.com/shop/in...ge-detail.html

    It's their smallest, and comes with their regular stitch regulator (not lightning), but it would have excellent resale value if you ever want to upgrade.

    You can get lots more info by joining the two Innova longarm groups on Yahoo:
    https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/innovalongarm/info
    https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/innova_longarm/info
    Prism99 is offline  
    Old 02-15-2014, 10:56 PM
      #17  
    Super Member
     
    AliKat's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Apr 2007
    Location: Phoenix, AZ
    Posts: 2,943
    Default

    First question is what is your budget? Second question is how much room do you have for the machine? [This is a major need to know item!] Third question is do you want a computerized LA? Final question is what kind of support does the maker of the machine provide?

    I know of several LA'ers. They don't all have the same machine. Yet they all feel they have the best one. Go figure.

    I have a HQ16 [not the Sweet 16] with the ProStitcher. I love it. One of my friends has the Statler Stitcher and loves it. etc, etc, etc.

    Like with DSM users. Some are dedicated Bernina fans, while others prefer Pfaff, Viking, Brother, Baby Lock, or Janome.
    AliKat is offline  
    Old 02-16-2014, 03:59 AM
      #18  
    yel
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Feb 2013
    Location: 1000 miles from nowwhere
    Posts: 671
    Default

    prism 99 i have the innova with a lightning stitch it is a dream .....i went to the quilt show and test drove everyone in the place TWICE keep coming back to the innova.....and yes i had to borrow money to get it but it was worth every penny
    yel is offline  
    Old 02-16-2014, 06:44 AM
      #19  
    Senior Member
     
    Judi in Ohio's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Sep 2008
    Location: Ohio
    Posts: 674
    Default

    When you decide go to Longarm university and see if any machines you tried and liked are for sale used. I have an A-1. It's like the best kept secret around, A-1 and the Prodigy - I think those two machines are the best, just not real well known. Some people market their product better than others. I'm not saying I don't like the Innova, but that machine is at every show and really marketed well.
    Judi in Ohio is offline  
    Old 02-16-2014, 06:53 AM
      #20  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Mechanicsville, IA
    Posts: 1,497
    Default

    Don't buy til you try out the company American Professional Quilters. APQS They have ever model style you could want. But their product and support and spectacular. I have had one and quilted professionally for 5 years without a bit of trouble. They offer classes so you can do your own repairs with or without telephone support. We added a computer "Intelliquilter" to ours after one year for health reasons. I would not do without either one.
    Silver Needle is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    NewsletterBot
    Main
    6
    08-27-2007 11:11 AM
    mimisharon
    Main
    1
    08-13-2007 05:50 AM
    mimisharon
    Main
    3
    08-09-2007 08:02 AM
    NewsletterBot
    Main
    12
    08-02-2007 01:38 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter