Originally Posted by
Wintersewer
I say buy the best you can afford. I LOVE my Bernina 530 with all it's bells and whistles. I also love my Janome 6500 and 6600 with their computerized features. I know that I do a better job of quilting with these over my many vintage sewing machines. I have had NO trouble with them, so do not believe that all "plastic" machines are nothing but trouble....NOT true.
When I have to do really heavy sewing I use my 1960s-70s era Kenmore. These machines are beasts! And they have cams for many many decorative stitches. They have a 1.2 amp motor, which is bigger than any of my vintage Singer machines. I have bought/sold/given away quite a few of these machines and have never paid more than $30 for one. Just be sure to get one with low shank feet, that "homes" (goes to the middle for straight stitch) in the middle and you will be able to use most modern feet.
Wintersewer,
You have just answered the question as to why the plastic geared, plastic parts machines are junk, and contradicted yourself at at the same time with one short sentence:
When I have to do really heavy sewing I use my 1960s-70s era Kenmore.
If your plastic machines were really as good and trouble free as you think, you wouldn't need to go to the Kenmore.
They simply will not hold up to heavy sewing. My wife's Singer 538 is proof of that. She used it to sew everything, stripping out the plastic feed dog drive gears within 8 years of getting it new. Three sets of gears later, it's retired to light duty use and she uses the Bernina 930 for the heavy work.
Joe