I have an older bernina serger that take 4 spools of thread. The other day I had to get a ott-light out and two pair of twissers and 4 different colors for cone thread that was a close colors on the threading instructions and sat it up on the counter withe the book of directions. My DH help and we got it done and it works good. It is just a mess to rethread the older sergers. I bought it used from friend for $150 and I think it was about 7 or 8 when new. I don't cover it up when not in use because that is how it got messed up a couple times.