Information about machine and frame
 

Hello,
Any thoughts on a viking mega quilter (9" throat) and 10 foot inspira frame. This also has stitch regulator with it that has never been installed. Would this be a good deal for $485.00? Are there any common general problems with either of them that anyone is aware of? Any info would be welcomed.
Thank you,
Sharon

If I remember correctly, the frame has a tendency to bow in the center and needs some extra support. I think the price is very good, but you'll have to be very limited in the space you can quilt. The throat space is small on the machine and you will be only able to do smaller sized quilts. Or you'll have to turn the quilt on the frame, which is a pain. However, you'll have to weigh out the price (good) vs. the limitations of the set-up.

I started with the mega 9 on the inspria frame. I did not have it long until I moved up to the 18x8. The 9 in does not have a lot of quilting room. I still have it and do all my piecing on it is a real work horse! I just did not think it had enough quilting room. Price is great and it just depends on how much quiling space you want. You also have to roll the quilt alot more with the 9.

Thank you for the information!

I quilt on a mega. Have about 41/2 to 5 inch quilting space. When I started FMQ it was a great beginner machine. I still use it, just use smaller width pantos. I would love a bigger machine but can't afford it so will stick to my mega. I have never had any problems with it. Mine will use any brand of thread and in 5 years I have never had to adjust tension (knock on wood). The price is great, I paid much more. Can't say about frame, mine is on homemade frame. I have done all sizes including king with mine.

I have a 12" Bernina Frame and I quilt full size bed quilts on it with my Bernina Aurora 440QE which has a throat space of approx. 7"-8". This means I have a very small quilting space - approx. 4"-5". If you don't mind doing 'row' quilting or meandering this would work for you. If you want to do elaborate block designs, then you will need a longer throat space. As far as that particular frame, I am not familiar with it. But if this is your first endeavor and you can get a machine and a frame for $485 it might be a good place for you to start and then graduate to a larger set up when you feel comfortable. Someone will buy your set up from you when you are done with it for that amount of money!

It's a fairly decent price, but if you quilt big quilts, there's really not much room to quilt once you start quilting and rolling the quilt, and if you use poly batting, you'll have even less room. I bought the same brand with the frame, the machine, at least the one I had, was a piece of junk, but would truly love to have the machine. I gave it back to the store and got my money back.

I want to thank everyone for the information. I was pretty sure it was a good price--going to look at it tomorrow. It is a 5 hour drive each way from up here close to the arctic circle!!!!! (I lived in Florida for most of my life!!!!). Predicting snow tonight, tomorrow night and "significant" snow on Sunday. Oh well---just deal with it.

I have the Pfaff equivalent of that machine, and I'm thrilled to have it! I don't know about the frame though.

My machine tends to be picky about threads, you may have to experiment to see what works for you. The comment about limited quilting space is a good one, but compared to most DSMs, it's still very generous.

I do know this machine is one of the heavier machines for the short-arm quilting, so the comment about bowing is accurate- I had mine on a New Joy Gold Standard until about 9 months ago, and at the full 10' length I had a lot of bowing. I bought a New Joy Magic frame, and haven't had any issues (but this frame will take an 18" machine, too).

$5485 is a fantastic price for a machine & frame, especially if you're not sure that you're going to like doing frame quilting. And if you don't? That machine is fantastic as a piecing machine or free-motion on a table. The one thing I would ask is if the person had their machine serviced regularly.

I have the same machine and it does have a small quilting area, lap to regular size quilts IF you quilt lengthwise!
Over the last few years I have been using it as a table quilter. I free motion with it and it is great.