Does anyone use an industrial machine to piece or quilt with? The Juki DDL 8700 has an 11" arm but it is not a portable machine, it has to be in a table because the motor is separate from the machine head. The extra few inches would be wonderful, but I'm wondering how it would do FMQing. The machine and table aren't too pricey but shipping is high. I don't have room for a frame so I've been looking around for a larg harp sit-down machine and stumbled across this one.

Happy Holidays everyone!

I don't know what it would be like for quilting, but when I was in school (I have a diploma in fashion design), we used industrial machines and I LOVED them. I wish I could afford one and that I had a place to put it :)

Someone on the homequiltingsystems list at http://groups.yahoo.com might know how it works for quilting. I know that industrial machines can sew many more stitches per minute than domestic machines, but don't know if you can drop the feed dogs (although some people actually prefer to FMQ with the feed dogs up anyway).

I have used an industrial machine for years. Mine was a singer 120u professional and us acquired from a garment factory.
It sewed so fast, I could piece a queen size bargello quilt in about three days. I still have the machine, but don't have space for it to be in my home.

I never figured out how to quilt on it.

If I had the space I would have an industrial machine. Especially or making clothes and bags. Yuki is a good brand.

I have a Janome 1600P-DBX that is "industrial", only because it has a throat area of 9 x 5, I bought it to FMQ but also use it for piecing. It is a straight stitch machine.

JulieM

I have a 6 month old Juki TL98q. It's a semi-industrial machine. I use it as a domestic for mostly machine quilting. I don't have it set up on a frame like most people do. I just have it on my sewing table and I do a lot of quilt as you go style quilts. So I machine quilt sections of quilts at a time with it. I really like it because it's fast and simple.

I want to start using it to do some strip piecing but I found that the quarter inch foot that came with it is not good at all. I need to find a better foot for it. Actually a Juki TL98 user recommended a non-juki 1/4 foot and I found one online and I just need to get around to order it.

I would recommend this machine as a second machine (because it only does straight stitch), but be aware that it's hard to source normal quilters feet for it and Juki doesn't have a great website for support, maintenance, or accessories.

I have a friend who has an industral Bernina machine. She used it for several years to do machine quilting as a business. Now that everyone and his brother has a longarm they can under price her. She is looking to sell her machine. The last time I talked to her she had a few people interested. I don't know if it went yet or not.

I have a Yamato which is a commercial sew/serger 5 spool and I love it, but it makes a 1/2 inch seam that is very bulky. So I do not use it much for quilts as it makes them difficult to put in the quilting frame and roll. I love commercial machines and have had others. But only have the one currently.

APQS makes a sit-down machine. The model name is George. It has a 20" throat and costs $7,900. You might be able to find a used one cheaper.