Juki 2010Q - Comments & Questions after first week of use.
 

I really like this machine! The speed reminds me of a 383 stroker engine with a super charger. It's that fast and powerful! I've been using 50 wt thread top and bobbin and I've never seen such beautiful straight even stitches before. As other people described it, it sews like butter and very quiet.

I tried out the walking foot. I guess I got one of the good ones because it sewed perfectly and no loud noise, just a soft clickity-clack. The manual said to bring the pressure regulator to the top and I did. It was very smooth. I remember others complaining of the loudness, so I brought down the pressure regulator to 3 bars from the bottom, (factory setting?) and it was loud and clunky then. I brought it back to the top.

The compensating foot. I'm kind of on the fence about this one. While it gives me a precise and perfect 1/4" seam, if there is any fraying on the edge of the fabric, small or large, it will catch under the spring-loaded part of the foot and hold it there while my fabric bunches up in the back as it feeds through. I tried lightening up the pressure and no change. Other times when there is no frayness at all, it sews a seam perfectly. Anyone have this problem? If so, what have you done.

I cleaned out the bobbin area after a couple of changes and screwed back the plate. Immediately my thread starting shredding at the needle. I took off the needle plate again to check what was going on. As I was screwing the plate back on I noticed a little bit of play in it so I screwed it back on. I saw the needle was not centered in the needle hole, but barely rubbing off to the side. I had to unscrew the plate, pull the plate towards me and screw it back in, then I lowered the needle and saw that it was centered then.

FMQ, I didn't change any settings at all, same needle, same tension, lowered the food dogs and brought the pressure regulator to the top and I had perfect stitches on both sides. It was amazing!

Automatic threader, after a dozen tries and watching videos I finally got it working.

Oil, can I buy just regular sewing machine oil from Walmart?

I also just got the Juki and I LOVE it!!! My FMQ has already improved and believe me, I thought I just wasn't going to get it. I'm still practicing and haven't done the things you have yet.
Love the bobbin winder. Wound a whole bunch of bobbins I got on Ebay. If you need any let me know and I'll direct you to the place I got them- 100 for just a tad over 20 bucks .
Got the needle threader after watching Youtube- it's not the easiest but I finally have it down.
I watched The Crafty Gemini's 6 videos on FMQ with this machine. They were extremely helpful.
Glad the walking foot is working for you. I haven't used it yet. I don't do that style of quilting much.
OH- I got an awesome FMQ foot on Amazon for 12 bucks- it's larger and has an open toe. I prefer that, others may not.
I don't know about Walmart's oil- I don't shop there, just be sure it's good quality. That's important on any machine.
Have fun!! I am :)

Walmart carries Singer oil and yes it's fine to use. Congrats on your new machine.

Cari

i just loved the speed and stitches of my juki

Please do share where you got your bobbins. thanks! I've had my Juki for about a year and a half. I don't do FMQ on it because I have my Crescendo set in a cabinet so that just is better for me. I agree about the compensating foot - it is great for the right application but a mess for anything else. Although I purchased a separate 1/4 foot, I actually like and use the standard foot for piecing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-Bobbins-...gAAOSwt6ZWWRp2

Bobbins- I forgot where they are located but I'm in Ohio and got them in 2 days. Very happy with them and seller.

After 18 months, I'm still in love with my Juki. DH does the servicing for me, and after the first one he did at 1 year, he told me I use this machine so much he wanted to do the serving every 6 months. So the Juki just got it's second services, and DH reported there is no signs of wear on it (it just gets real dirty inside!).

I've never done FMQ with it, but love, love, love it for piecing and binding. I've never tried any other foot than the one that came installed.

BTW - I saw that Juki now has a clip you can install on the foot that disables being able to use the foot to activate the thread cutter. It looks like something that slips on the foot control so you can't press down with your heal. If they had that when I got my machine, I'd have gotten it in a heart beat. Now I'm use to it and rarely accidentally activate the thread cutter, and like having that ability.

However, if I was FMQ, I think I'd put it on just to be safe. It's not that big of a deal to have it happen when stitching a seam, but I'd hate having it happening while quilting.

The one item that has greatly improved my seams, is putting this guide on the machine. Since it's taped to the table, I can untape it from the machine, pull the table out so DH can do service, then put the table back and retape the part to the machine. No need to realign since it stays in place on the table. I have it cut so I can change the bobbin and oil without removing it.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psigtaqxhi.jpg

Cathy, where did you get that guide? I bought my Juki mainly for FMQ but that looks like a nice thing to have.

I'd love to know where that guide came from also. I regular quilting template is too bulky

this is the one I have - I bought it based on another recommendation someone else posted, and really like it. I've been using it since December last year, and have not removed it from the table since. Though I have refreshed the tape a few times (just did yesterday). I use painter's tape to hold it down. It does not start to roll on the edges, and does not leave much residue to clean off when I remove it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks so much. I use painter's tape for so many things. It's great stuff

this looks super!

Thanks for the commentary on the Juki. I've wanted to get one for a while but we pay so much more in U.K. It's a big expense. I'm going to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham on Thursday and Juki have a new model of the TL2010 on a frame so I'm going to check it out and hopefully bring one home with me.

You are very welcome Cannyquilter! I hope it might help you. How exciting for you going to the Festival of Quilts!! I would be coming home with more than a machine. I wish you the best of luck in finding what you want. Let us know!

Well they have some type of table top frame set up so I'm hoping that will be suitable, I mostly make lap Quilts and baby Quilts. I'll let you know when I get back.

Canny- have fun!! And I do hope you come back with one. You won't regret it :)

Cathy, what about the little oil hole to the right of the stitch plate? In the manual it points that out as one of the holes to put a drop of oil in when oiling/cleaning?

I emailed a dealer about the walking foot on this model and she told me that they have tweaked the design of the walking foot. Tweaked is my word but basically that's what she said. I have got to try one out.

I'm really sad tonight. I went to try this machine out (actually, not the 2010Q but the newer model 2200 mini), but with my arthritic hands, I simply could not get the bobbin in with that awkward side orientation. It really seemed like the perfect machine for me, because I want a mechanical and don't need fancy stitches. Now I'm not sure what to consider next. The same store carries Baby Lock, but the mechanical Jazz has a very low throat, and the few reviews I was able to find were not good.

She has that seam guide on with painter's tape so it can be easily removed for that oil hole you mentioned, Canny

About the oil hole. I marked it with a pen, and DH heated up a nail and melted a hole there for me. I was just thinking I should have him use something a bit larger and make it bigger for me.

Have you considered a Singer 201? They are a nice straight stitch no-frills type machine with a drop-in bobbin. The weight of it may be an issue if are looking for something portable.

Thank you for the suggestion, maudeflanagan! I will look into it.

The awkward bobbin area seems to be in the high speed straight stitch machines. My Brother 1500 has a very awkward bobbin to get in and out. It's frustrating.

That's an awesome idea!! The 201 has a very large harp. It would be wonderful for quilting!

The Singer 201 harp is 8"

"That's an awesome idea!! The 201 has a very large harp. It would be wonderful for quilting!"

It also seems to have the same kind of bobbin that I had trouble with on the Juki. All the powerhouse machines from each major brand use this kind of bobbin. *sigh*

So does a Featherweight have a side bobbin. The Juki might be the easiest to deal with since the cover folds up almost to the foot. I had to remove the bobbin cover on the Brother 1500 as I couldn't get at it. The Juki is sitting in a SewEzi table and no problems whatsoever.

I'm back and I've bought one. A Juki TL 2200 QUP mini. I got £100 off the price and some extra bobbins, 10 in total. It's getting delivered on Wednesday . I also purchased machine quilter frame, just the 6ft but it has the capability of buying extra poles to extend it. shop.machinequilter.co.uk. I won't be getting that until about mid September and have the option of collecting it (about a 3 hour drive away) and she shows me how to set it up, get the tension correct and have a play for about 3 hours so I'm comfortable with how it works so "it doesn't just sit in the corner " quote from Martha lady who was selling the frames. I'm so looking forward to it, I had a little play with the set up and felt really comfortable so can't wait to get started. I'll be watching out for more posts to aid me. Thanks

Canny, I'm so happy for you!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you have lots of fun! :)

Hi Canny!! So happy for you and your new machine! I heard the 2200 QVP and just watched a YouTube video of someone unboxing it. It looks almost like the 2010Q with the same dimensions but with this one you can hookup a frame, just like you said. Very nice machine and congratulations!!

I'm really excited to get the machine. I'm just finishing off a baby quilt so will quilt that when I get it. It will be interesting to see how the walking foot compares to my brother machine. I'll have to wait a month or so for the frame but I'll let you know. Thanks all for your input and encouragement.

Hm, I don't have a problem with the bobbin at all. The machines I grew up with all had the side bobbin. I prefer it to the top load bobbins. One of the reasons I bought this machine and the fact that the tension is on the outside of the machine. Love my Juki.

Love mine, too. My regular sewing/embroidery machine has a front loader bobbin. Pfaff 2170. All my Pfaffs did. Do not like toploaders, and I've had a couple.