FMQ - Which machine would be better to use -- Singer 301A or Singer 403A
 

I currently use a portable 301A but the foot controller gets so hot after a while! I also have a Singer 403A in a cabinet. Both are great machines and work beautifully.

Just wondering if one is better than the other for FMQing. Advice? Opinions gladly accepted.

Thanks!

Julie:confused:

I have a Singer 15-91 that I prefer for FMQ. I also have a 301A but haven't tried using it for FMQ

For sure the 301. The 400 and 500 series machines are terrible IMO, for FMQing. Go ahead and try it if you don't believe me:>

The Slant Machines are not good FMQ IMHO, look for a 15-91. I'm with Blackberry

I have a 15-91 for FMQing but I have heard the 301 does a great job also. The 400's - not good for FMQing.

The 301 does a tremendous job. I sold my brand new Pfaff creative vision last year and bought 3 301s. I also have a 401 and 403 for piecing and zig zag. The 301s are precise, reliable, and can quilt very densely. I found an all metal FMQ foot and have a vintage Singer walking foot. As far as the foot pedal getting hot, see the other thread about that, but I swap pedals when one gets too hot. You can buy a different kind. eBay always has some. The 401/403 does not drop the feed dogs, but raises the needle plate for FMQ which I find unsatisfactory. The slant needles have no problems FMQ. They are gear driven and very smooth.
Linda

My 401 (slant machine) doesn't play well with FMQ. It always breaks the thread when I try to move to the left. However, it does a fine job straight quilting with the walking foot. As I don't own a 301, I can't give advice on it.

After doing much research, and asking advice of other quilters, I purchased a vintage Bernina 830 Record that I reserve solely for FMQ...it is a jewel!

301's are great for FMQ...15-91's are also good.

The Singer 301 is the best machine I've ever used for fmq, and I've tested and used many.

I agree, the 301 is a very good fmq machine. Strangely, I tried doing some FMQ on a 431G last night (think 401A with chainstitch capability, no elevator plate and an open arm) and I did just fine with it. As a rule, they're considered poor for this, but you may do OK. It's worth trying, but don't be discouraged if it doesn't work. One thing I did was set the stitch length to "zero" and stitched like that (it has a plate with a raised portion to "hide" the feed dogs, but I didn't bother with it. At first, it skipped stitches, then I changed the tension a little, went UP a needle size (from 80 to 90), and sped up a little, and it seemed fine.