Singer 500's and 400's
06-22-2014, 09:05 AM
#11
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
Originally Posted by J Miller
I have both the 401a and the 500a. I like them both. My wife stole the 401 from me so I mostly use my 500 but to be honest I can't tell a whole lot of difference in normal straight or ZZ stitching between them. I do not do FMQ so I'll leave that to Candace and others who do.
With my three machines, one 401 and two 500s I've done skads of patterns with both the built in cam stack and cams. We have almost all the cams ever made for these machines and I use them quite a bit.
Both the 401 and 500 are noiser than some other machines, but that is due to their all metal ( steel ) mechanical insides.
Nothing a drop or two of oil once in a while won't take care of.
Internally the 401 and 500s are pretty much identical. The cams are the same, the available patterns are the same, the selectors are the same, only the outer shell, hand wheel, and thread paths differ.
The only thing I can say is decide which one you like the best and then ....... um buy both.
That's what we did.
Joe
With my three machines, one 401 and two 500s I've done skads of patterns with both the built in cam stack and cams. We have almost all the cams ever made for these machines and I use them quite a bit.
Both the 401 and 500 are noiser than some other machines, but that is due to their all metal ( steel ) mechanical insides.
Nothing a drop or two of oil once in a while won't take care of.
Internally the 401 and 500s are pretty much identical. The cams are the same, the available patterns are the same, the selectors are the same, only the outer shell, hand wheel, and thread paths differ.
The only thing I can say is decide which one you like the best and then ....... um buy both.
That's what we did.Joe
06-22-2014, 11:44 AM
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 174
I'd love to get both but I'm already getting grief over wanting just one more 
If anything, it looks like it will be the 503 as I've having trouble convincing anyone to come with me as it is, much less drive an extra hour.
What I need to do now is convince myself (and others haha) that the 503 is different enough from the Kenmore (beyond styling) to justify it.
The 600's do look interesting, but haven't found any near me yet (plus my heart just loves those Rocketeers...)
If anything, it looks like it will be the 503 as I've having trouble convincing anyone to come with me as it is, much less drive an extra hour. What I need to do now is convince myself (and others haha) that the 503 is different enough from the Kenmore (beyond styling) to justify it.
The 600's do look interesting, but haven't found any near me yet (plus my heart just loves those Rocketeers...)
06-24-2014, 04:16 AM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 5,510
Interesting discussions here....I have an 401a, recently purchased and it has all cams, looks like lots of stitchery too.
Will have to play with it as soon as I understand which setting needs to be on for such and such stitchery. Beautiful machine, doesn't look like been ever used much, my FW dealer says in it's condition that I could fetch $400 for it..
Wow, but I'm more interesting in sewing with it and maybe later sell to a good home!
Will have to play with it as soon as I understand which setting needs to be on for such and such stitchery. Beautiful machine, doesn't look like been ever used much, my FW dealer says in it's condition that I could fetch $400 for it..
Wow, but I'm more interesting in sewing with it and maybe later sell to a good home!
06-24-2014, 07:05 AM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Outer Space
Posts: 9,319
Originally Posted by nwm50
my FW dealer says in it's condition that I could fetch $400 for it..
06-24-2014, 07:11 AM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
nwm50,
If you don't have one, do yourself a favor and go to Singer and download a free owners manual. Print it so you can have it with the machine. The controls on the 401s are not overly complicated once you get used to them, but they are not intuitive. You must set the stitch pattern knobs in the correct manner or you'll jam up the machine. The owners manual gives specific directions on how to set them so you get the best use of your machine.
Also the manual tell how and were to oil and grease them. Very important for this design of Singer.
As for the machine fetching $400.00 ..... no way around here. Maybe in FL if it's in mint condition with everything, but it won't sell for that anywhere around my area.
Joe
If you don't have one, do yourself a favor and go to Singer and download a free owners manual. Print it so you can have it with the machine. The controls on the 401s are not overly complicated once you get used to them, but they are not intuitive. You must set the stitch pattern knobs in the correct manner or you'll jam up the machine. The owners manual gives specific directions on how to set them so you get the best use of your machine.
Also the manual tell how and were to oil and grease them. Very important for this design of Singer.
As for the machine fetching $400.00 ..... no way around here. Maybe in FL if it's in mint condition with everything, but it won't sell for that anywhere around my area.
Joe
Yeah, Joey found out the hard way.
06-24-2014, 02:44 PM
#20
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 174
Well if this 503 or 500 do end up working out I will be extra careful to make sure I oil everything well. I haven't done anything like that before, was hoping to use this as a chance to learn. Good to know!
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