Does anyone know where, on internet or otherwise, how I can find a "reasonably" priced sewing machine for my Grace frame?
I'd like to find one with a larger than 8" wide throat; looking somewhere in the range of 13-15 inches on up. Thanks in advance for your help. From reading the messages on the board you ladies are a font of all knowledge.

What do you consider "reasonably priced"? Some of the people on board have a Bailey, which if I remember right, they've been pleased with it and the service and what I would consider reasonably priced. When I get a much bigger sewing room, I plan on getting a Bailey.

Sew and Vac. com

Try joining the homequiltingsystems group at Yahoo! They have a file listing sewing machines and frames for sale from quilters who are upgrading. They also have a file that lists which machine brands are available in each size. (I think 13-15" would be considered midarm.) Once you narrow down your choices, you can Google websites for cost info and search old posts for comments. You can also post and ask for suggestions, although the list owners like people to grub through the files for basic information first.

Edit: Okay, I went and checked their file. Bailey is listed as available in 13 and 15"; I know Bailey is a "stretched" regular machine. Comments on the list about Bailey have generally been very positive. Other brands: Handiquilter is 16", Gammill, B-Line, ABM, Innova have 18". I remember seeing comments from a couple of quilters who recently bought the Innova because they thought it was good value for cost.

Here's a link to the Bailey 13" with cost info:
http://www.baileyssewingcenter.com/homequilter.html

My "significant other" otherwise known as my spousal equivalent thinks that a used mid or long arm sewing machine can be had for under $1000. I found one site that had one for $599 but I couldn't find shipping. Thank you so much for your info; I'm noting it down and getting ready to troll the internet.

Thanks so much. You have given me a lot of ideas and pointed out some directions to go in. I'll start trolling the internet and hopefully come up with at least a starting or stumbling price.

Try looking at the Voyager 17. I don't know if that machine is too heavy for the Grace frame, but it is worth a try.

i'm a big tin lizzie advocate. 18" and i believe the grace will hold the weight.
BUT, how big a machine will actually be able to work on the work area of your frame. the frame has to have been built for the throat size. i can't use my frame, that now holds an 18" machine. for a 24" machine and still have space to work. the front end of the base of the machine would bump into the front roller. so there wouldn't be a lot of back/forth movement. try some machines, see what you like, go to their blogsites and see if anyone is selling. lurk for a while and see what they like and what they don't.. you get to learn a lot that sellers don't tell you.

I have the HObby Quilter.......now known as the funquilter by Nolting. I haven't had any problems with it thus far....

I know that the Voyager 17 is also a stretched machine. When they first came out I was on the waiting list for that but never got a call. I was impatient anyway and got the one from Nolting. I have mine on the Hinterburg frame.

Hinterburg, I believe, sells the voyager17 also.

Barb

my Bailey 15" is on a grace pro frame

I'm not sure how much weight your frame will hold - that will really make a difference on what machine you get.
There are a few out there though depending on your budget.
You can also keep an eye on craigslist. That is where I just got my Voyager from.

There is also a homesteader that is just beautiful - another stretched machine but boy it is beautiful. If I had the money for one I would have done that one possibly.

I have a superquilter proflex frame that my Voyager will be sitting on - sadly, the woman that traded it in for her Nolting did not include all the pieces to the stitch regulator so I have to wait for either her to send them in to Nolting or for Nolting to give up waiting for her and to replace them. They did say they would get them to me in a "reasonable amount of time" whatever that is. I'm sure I'll get the pieces in by the time I get back from vacation on the 11th of Oct... then I can get to practicing!!

But for now it looks really pretty sitting on my floor lol.
I might have my husband put it together anyway so I can play with it next week although I do have other projects I need to get to...

Whatever machine you get I'm sure you will be happy with it.
Do try to get the longest neck you can afford. A lot of people get a 9" neck and are disappointed or outgrow it very quickly and then you'll be looking for the next bigger thing...

There are a couple of quilter's "for sale" web sites, but require membership. You might check with say Gammill, who is a long arm manufacturer, for used machines. Also there are many of their dealers around the US who have used machines. I got my first short arm from the Gammill people in West Plains, MO. Jan in KS