Bernina Q 24 Long Arm
 

I have come here several times sharing that I've been looking to either upgrade my APQS Ultimate 1 and asked your advice with wonderful response - thank you! I toyed with the idea of switching over to a Handi Quilter Fusion as I think they are great machines with lots of extras to buy (a bonus to me) and great education available...as well as service. Ultimately I was sold by the APQS service and powerful motor and I resigned to upgrade my older machine to a Lucey.

But then - I recently heard about the new Bernina Q 24 long arm that is coming out any time now and debuted in Houston...and now I'm in love!!! Has anyone seen or tried this machine? More importantly - any idea what the price point will be?

I am really really in love from what I've seen. Things I like are:

- Needle plate pops off like regular Bernina machines for easy cleaning/repair access
- You can use your standard domestic sewing machine needles
- Adjustable handles (something I adore about my APQS that I haven't found another brand to rival - until the Bernina popped up!)
- Interchangeable feet (APQS now has these as well now so this is where price point will definitely factor in for me)
- Programmable handles (that's amazing!)
- Bobbin winder on the machine (it seems a lot of long arms are moving away from this - I'm glad Bernina has included it! I still wind all my own bobbins!)

I think the biggest factor for me at this point is - How Much is this going to cost?? Bernina's are quality machines so I'm expecting a hefty price tag.

Just curious if anyone else has heard about these, tried them - thoughts?

Hi Pumpkin Patch, Yes, my LQS has been advertising the new machines that you are referring to. They said they will be getting them in in the first quarter of next year. They will have 2 sizes. I do not know the price at this point. Sorry I could not be of more help.

Thanks for sharing sweet! I'm kind of excited about them - the only thing I've noticed that I question is I don't see a laser light for pantographs. I'm wondering if they are going to make this an accessory you have to buy separately?

For anyone reading I did find a brochure on the machine and the track system looks identical to Handi Quilter's glide system...and it looks as if you have to buy a pantograph kit and a ruler kit to go with the machine for ruler work or pantographs. :)

I got to play with this machine back in September. OMG!! There were only 6 in the country at that time for demos. It is so easy to move it's like melted butter.

I was at my Bernina dealer for an event. The head of Bernina was there. He & I were trying to get it working. The lady who was to demo it was late. What fun we had playing with the machine :). Anyway I had the opportunity to test a Gammill years ago & it was very heavy & hard to move on the rails. With the Bernina Q24 I wrote my name & the machine moved so easy it was like running a hot knife thru butter. Price point is around 14K, depending on your dealer. The sit down model is a little cheaper. I'm waiting for that one to come out, as I don't have room for the rail.

No idea about pantograph or laser.

The machine has BSR, on screen adjustment ability for tension, bobbin winder on the machine, etc. It's loaded. If you go to Bernina USA website they have a video of this machine. http://www.bernina.com/en-US/Product...s/BERNINA-Q-en

I saw it at Houston and can't remember the price - for some reason I was thinking low 20k. the one thing I did notice is that back handles (for using pantos) is not included and they are add on??? I honestly can't imagine why they did that. My biggest concern is that it looks like the customer service is going to be provided only by your dealer and not from home base like most of the other brands. Most brands, yes we do go back to our dealer but if they don't have an answer or it is after hours we then can go to headquarters or a number provided to us.

Feather3 - I did happen to find a brochure and it says that they are add on - I don't like that much either but depending on what the kit cost is it may not be a big deal. I see there is also a ruler kit too (ruler base, ruler foot, etc.)

Quiltstringz - Hmm. I had seen somewhere around $14,000 like Feather3 but because they aren't for sale anywhere I don't know if that's rumor or based on fact. $20K would put it over the cost of a brand new APQS Millie - their top of the line machine...and I'm going to guess this is going to be more in the ballpark of an Innova and/or Handi Quilter as it seems to be a hybrid of those machines interspersed with Bernina's trademark style. Maybe that will be the price point with a computer system like the Pro Stitcher? I suppose time will tell. If the price is $20K I will sadly be out as that is far out of my price range...but if it is more in the $14,000 range I may be a taker.

Something I also wonder - is the track system going to be standard or an upgrade? Standard I would hope!

I suppose the support would be a lot like that of Handi Quilter - do you think?

What puts me off about it, is that it's "new" and likely will have bugs to work out. Possible faulty parts like the 8 series. Look at the 830 issues. I've had tons of issues with faulty parts and repairs on my TOL machine. Those of us who purchased an 830 and had so many problems with the new technology not being fully debugged have a bad taste in our mouths for new tech that may be prone to problems. I, personally, would wait quite a while to see what problems appear before plunking down that amount of money. Likely, I would purchase an Innova, if I had my choice.

I definitely do NOT think it an advantage that it takes domestic sewing machine needles. The round shank are much stronger which is the reason real pro machines use them. I also definitely prefer an off-machine bobbin winder so I can wind without taking the thread out of the needle. Don't get me wrong, I love my Bernina machines, but it sounds like Bernina is trying to make a domestic-style machine instead of a stronger machine like a long arm really should be. Actually, I doubt it is really built by Bernina. I know they don't build their own multi-need embroidery machines. Anybody know?

I work at a place that carries Bernina and HandiQuilter. We have opted to NOT get the Bernina quilting machine. After all the problems with the $10,000 Bernina 830 embroidery machines, there is no way we want anything to do with their over-priced, first out quilting machine. Not every Bernina dealer can sell or repair these machines. They have to get a separate dealer license and training to do so.

Have you seen the new Handi Quilter Infinity? Now that is an awesome machine!!! Here's a link... http://www.handiquilter.com/hq_infinity/ It goes 3100 stitches per minute, so there is no way you can out run it. It has the hand wheel control on the screen. It also has the tension control on the screen, and there are pre-sets for different threads. They put a new lighting system on it, called the Light Ring, that puts a ring of led lights just above the needle area. You've also got UV and black lighting, so you can see difficult to see threads. There's even a camera underneath, so you can check the stitch quality on the back, as you quilt. Our HQ rep just came to train us and said their engineers have been working on the Infinity for about 2 years before they announced it in November. You can bet they have the bugs worked out of it before it went to the dealers. Don't think I can say that about the Bernina quilting machine.

We were just talking about needles on the Bernina machine and the new HandiQuilter Infinity. Yes, the Bernina quilter takes ordinary needles. However, the HQ engineers put a special needle in their Infinity (can't remember what they're called) because it goes so fast (3100 stitches per minute), that even the regular, round shank HQ needles couldn't hold up to the speed. They put a needle in that has a bend in it, like a tiny stair step.
The Bernina quilter goes 2200 stitches per minute. A regular Bernina machine goes about 900 stitches per minute. I personally don't think a regular needle is a good idea in a a machine that goes that fastl

My dealer told me starting for the 20" is around $14k, the 24" starts around $17k. Of course each dealer is an independent and most times they sell below MSRP. He didn't know about the sit down 20" and I'm not interested in that one anyway. I'm sure it will be less than the 20" with the rails. What I'm waiting for is the computer program to go on the 24". It's like waiting for a pot of water to boil, you think it's never going to happen.

Chris

I heard my dealer talking to someone about this machine as they have one in their shop. The quoted price was $21,000. Wow. I'm not surprised at the price since all the Berninas are pretty pricey. Good luck.

Bernina was sure slow getting on the bandwagon of longarms. I have an old Bernina that I just adore. No major problems but my 1530 is getting up there in age. Oh dear, so am I !!!

Wowie zowie if it's going to be around $20K for the 24" I'm so out it's not even funny. I'd rather pay $17K for a brand new APQS Millennium...

My LQS is swapping out their APQS Millie's for the new Bernina. They allow you to rent time on the longarms if you have taken their certification class. One disadvantage to the Bernina is that the table size is not as long. I had to hurry and complete a king-size quilt (112" x 112") because it wouldn't fit on the new Bernina table. I think the table is only 108" in length. Regardless I was told that my quilt plus backing would not fit on the Bernina table.

I took delivery of a Q24 in early February and love it. The tension regulator is even better than on the 440QE and the 830. And the frame is incredibly solid, the machine glides like you are driving it through warm butter. the handles are an ergonomic dream, especially for my arthritis. Easy bobbin winding and tension adjustments, very intuitive controls. The poles are over eleven feet long, with a couple of inches beyond sufficient to accommodate the tension grips. I have not tried to put a king size quilt on it, but I think it would handle 120 inches just fine (assuming that's still ten feet). I paid $17.9k.

I got to test drive this machine about a month ago. Like PPQ I found the machine moved wonderfully. I posted a list of pros and cons but now can't find it so I assume the thread must have got deleted for some reason.

I found that the machine was too electronics dependent. It did not appear to offer any way for the owner to do their own maintenance or repairs (such as reset timing, adjust needle bar height, etc). The upper tension disks are not accessible, except to a Bernina Tech, so you can't tweak them manually, all tension adjustments are done via touch screen. The stitch regulator, while delivering a beautiful stitch and more responsive then anything I have ever tested, was laser driven as opposed to encoders that run on the rails. While this at first was very appealing to me, I am concerned that if one of those laser lights goes out you are SOL. I also wonder if Bernina recommends annual servicing on this machine like they do all their others. If so, that is one monstrous task to take a huge machine head off the rack and haul it off to your dealer, then schelp it back and reinstall it. Well I guess some people are ok with that but I would not be.
Some people will love all the high tech electronics, I feel it is way too much to go wrong and put you out of commission for much longer then if you had a mechanical machine with a similar breakdown, that you stand a chance of fixing yourself (like the aforementioned timing). Additionally I did not ask if the warranty would be voided if you quilted for hire. (entirely possible)

So, IMHO, this is not the machine for someone who quilts for hire. It will probably be a great machine for someone who just quilts for themselves and maybe a few friends and family but that is a pretty high price tag for limited use like that. You can get a VERY nice professional LA with stitch regulation, on any size rack from 10 to 14 ft for that price.

Edited to add, I am a huge fan of Bernina. My DSM is a Bernina and I adore it. So I am not trying to dis this LA. Just putting out the items I had concerns about as a professional LAQ.

also found my original post here (post #24):
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...t265660-3.html

I know this post is a couple of years old but I now own a Bernina Q24 and I love it. I have had no issues with using standard needles. I change them at the same rate I changed the round shaft ones. The machine is lightweight so I can easily quilt with one hand while holding a ruler steady with the other. I have the ruler package, the double needle plate & the back handles for pantographs. The only thing I don't have are channel locks. I quilt for myself & others but not continuously. Have had the machine for 5 months. There is currently no programmability. It is all freehand or pantos or templates. I ptetty much do freehand. I traded in a Tin Lizzie ESP18 & am Very happy with the Q24. The only downside is Bernina pricing for all the additions which is typical Bernina...

I just bought the Q24 and it was installed this past week. I have had training on it and it is fabulous--so easy to use and move. I went right into making feathers and it was a lark. I have a Bernina 880 so the move to Q24 is easy. I bought the pantograph kit and they installed it. It also has a stylus for using pattern boards--I have to explore that but did buy some pantograph patterns. I am now looking to buy the Qmatic when it is released. More to come--haven't had a chance to use my new machine but I have observed a handiquilter and there is no comparison. Threading the machine and winding the bobbin is a piece of cake. i did not want a Q20 as you still have to guide the fabric with your hands and pin your layers together. Loading the Q24 is much simpler and less backbreaking than the Handiquilter.

I am seriously considering this machine as I am a diehard Bernina fan but wondered how sturdy the frame is ..... I know the original frame Bernina brought out was flimsy so ... Also heard a few rumblings about the frame

I absolutely love my Bernina Q24. The stitch quality is beautiful.

I can find no fault with the Q24. Prior to purchase I researched the competitors in detail from a mechanical and automation standpoint. To me the Q-Matic integration is superior. Love Bernina's stitch regulation system (BSR) compared to the competition. Art & Stitch is very robust design software, whereas one can easily transfer designs back and forth between it and Q-Matic.