OK Joe, fess up. you really don't want him to have this machine do you? find another one like it then and give that to him. a 15-91 would work for him heavy duty, reverse, he really doesn't need a zig zag. I have never used it to make the clown costumes that I have made. Plain jane straight stitch. Esp if you don't know his experience with a sewing machine. By the way, isn't he old enough to get his own? JMO, Amy