I sewed on my old Elna for over 40 yrs. and it never was in a shop. I cleaned and oiled it myself and it never gave me any trouble. I sewed all my childrens clothes on it and then some for the grands and started quilting on it about 8 yrs. ago. At that time, I bought a computerized machine, a Kenmore 19606. The Elna is retired now, but still hauled out for certain things like sewing through decorator fabric and latch hook canvas to make a pillow that my grandaughter had hooked. Don't want to scare the Kenmore , which probably would have done the job but why push it.