Inspira quilting frame
 

I have one of these frames and am very unhappy with it. I contacted the Grace Co. to see if there were some fixes for it and was treated very rudely. Does anyone have an answer for this problem? The roller bars are so flexible that it makes my quilting crooked. Is there possibly something that can be done with this? Linda Gooden

years ago, i used to visit Yahoo Groiups and used to read about many fixes for many different frames. i don't recall which group i was in, but i just searched Yahoo Groups and there is one specifically for frames made by the Grace Co. you might try there.
[and as long as i searched it, i may as well join as i just got a new Majestic frame :)]

I got mine used from a dealer and they came out & set it up. Mine seems very sturdy. I'm not exactly understanding what you mean by the roller bars being flexible so your quilting is crooked. Can you elaborate?

The issue I have with mine is the track that the wheels run on deteriorates and although you can get replacement tracks, you have to disassemble the entire frame to install them. When the track is damaged, the machine won't move smoothly over those areas. I pretty much know where they are and just get a good grip on the handles when I get in that area. Other than that I haven't had any problems...

Is this the new Inspira frame? Could you post a pic showing the problem? I 'm not sure if it would be possible to get a pic ?

We've sold the Grace frames where I work, and the one thing that takes practice, is getting the tension on the bars right. If you tighten too much, it will bow in the middle. So, loosen up the tension on the bars, but add bungee clamps on the sides, to balance out the tension.

The roller bars are aluminum and when stretch out long l ength they bow in middle and make your quilting crooket. We used chainlink fence pipe and put over the other bar and scewed it to it an used duck tape to put the leaders on. We thank it is the top rail for the fence.

There's no excuse for being treated rudely. I wonder if the company realizes how much ill will that creates? Do they realize how many people read this board? It sounds like everyone who has responded has some sort of problem with these frames.

I just bought an inspira frame and during transport we lost one of the ratchet wheel off the pole and I called the grace company and they asked if I needed the whole end piece and I said yes I need everything the goes into the pole and the only thing they sent was the plastic end part so I will be calling them back again today and paying more shipping but if this helps to solve my problem so I can get to use it I will be happy. I do not know if there is somewhere to buy local but surely would love to.

The bars that the fabric is rolled on, I can't remember the technical term. They are very flexible and when I roll the fabric forward they pull in in the middle and my quilting is not straight. If I could find stronger bars, I think it would be much better. Very frustrating to have uneven quilting. I bought this from a quilt store and they refused to help me set it up so maybe I have done something wrong. Anyway it is no fun to quilt on. I went to a local quilt store and they told me the only thing to do was buy a different quilt frame. I can't spend another $2,000. Thank you for your response. Linda G.

I don't have it set up right now. Kinda gave up on it after 2 or 3 crooked quilts. I have had it for about 8 years, not new. The last quilt I made I had quilted by someone else for $90.

Thank you all for your response. I love to quilt, but have not done anything for quite sometime because it just isn't fun to fight that machine. I might see if my husband can help me put that pipe on the poles. I never used a quilting machine before I bought this one, should have researched a little more.

this is what I was told also. If you watch LA quilting videos from various manufacturers, they often tell you that you should have the quilt sandwich on the frame loose enough that you can poke a finger up from the back and grab it from the top. Again, watching videos, you can see the base of the quilting machine move under the quilt. It seems like it's too loose to work right, but it does. I also do not roll the top or the batting. Just get the backing rolled on smoothly, lay the batting on top & smooth, lay the top on the batting, pin the top, then baste. For the side clamps, I just clamp the backing.
This also might be a silly thing, but are the side legs exactly vertical? if they are bowed out where the feet are wider than the top this would put pressure on the top rollers and maybe bend them a bit?

I know of some ladies that use conduits instead of their poles, they were purchased at home depot/ Lowes and cut to length. Perhaps if you take a pole with you to get the right dimension then you are sure you have the right part. It is not uncommon for people that quilt a lot to have to replace their poles on various frames. The bend in the poles particularly the center of the pole is cause by over tensioning the poles when loading quilts. I just load my backing, then drape my batting and front over the back. I secure the top with a doing a line of stitching and then the other end I use white plastic C clamps to keep the quilt straight. If you are able to get two good poles you might be able to float your batting and top and use the poles that are not bent. Good Luck

jane

You may also be able to insert a steel or wooden or other rigid rod inside the pole to help straighten it out.