Heavy Duty Machine
 

I have a Bernina 630 machine and a Janomie. I am trying to make a basket with 2 1/2 strips with batting inside. When I use my Bernina I always get an error message -main motor failed - check hoop system. I can go for a while but it comes back on?? I know it needs cleaning but am quite a ways from a dealer, so will have to wait. Where can I get a heavy duty machine and what kind?

What size needle are you using? I would try a size 16, see if that helps.

Consider buying a Juki TL210Q machine. It is extremely fast and powerful and easily handles multiple layers. You should also be able to buy it for $1100 or less.

I have a Brother 1500s that I paid about $600 for. It is a basic machine, goes forwards and backwards, but is built for the heavier stuff to. I used it do my quilting on before I got my longarm. Now I use it as work horse! It goes about twice as fast my Bernina. Great for doing bindings.

How heavy a duty do you mean?

Sewing leather saddles?

A lot of time sewing quilting type things?

8 layers of heavy denim?

Are you cleaning the machines at all? There's a lot of cleaning you can do without the dealer, and if you haven't been doing it the machines may be clogged with lint. Sewing through batting and a few layers of fabric shouldn't be a problem for these machines.

It's amazing how much lint can be brushed out from the bobbin area and under the feed dogs!

The Juki 2010Q is my recommendation too! I have sewn through 6 layers of denim without a problem.

I have had students that told me they were never told to clean out the lint in the DSM. No wonder the DSM stopped sewing. The dust bunnies were have litters of babies in her bobbin case !! :)

I agree. My 1500 will sew through 8 layers of fabric without batting an eye. It could very well sew through more; I've just not tried it. I bought mine gently used from a fellow quilter for $400. I own 7 machines and it's my favorite.

I'm really surprised that your 630 can't handle the job. They've got a heavier dc motor and are chain-driven. "Check hook system" usually means there's a thread tangle under the feed dogs or tangled in the hook. Or there may be something tangled in the take-up lever. Those are all things you can take care of yourself. Rotary hooks often get thread tangles. If you remove the needle plate, you can turn the hand wheel and look in to see if there's a thread tangle. I use a Havel's seam ripper and tweezers to get the thread out.

An old Kenmore is always great for heavy stuff. I find them every-once-in-a-while at the thrift store for $10 - $25. But they usually need a serious service. You want one with the feed dogs with teeth, not XXX cut into them--they just feed better.

Good Luck!

The cheapest, high quality, HEAVY Duty machine you can buy is the Jeans Machine....it's very very good!!!!

Sorry, should have said the Jeans Machine is by Toyota. It's only about $300 in Australia so would be half that in the States. Very heavy duty!!