Has anyone bought a Tin Lizzie 18 longarm quilting machine? How do you like it? What was the price range? Where did you purchase it?

I don't have one, but I saw this ad.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/art/617055287.html

Also found this info:
http://www.tinlizzie18.com/our_story.html


Hope this helps,
Sondra

I've drooled over that one and an HQ16, I tried out the HQ at the Houston Quilt show, it was wonderful, it would take about 7000 to get set up , of course they have financing but that's a big investment to find out if you got what it takes! I just don't understand why they are sooo expensive, they do anything but straight stitches, can't someone just use longer parts and make them affordable for regular people?! If I had a talent that would benefit people (like being able to build an affordable long or midarm machine) I would hope that a huge prifit would not be the most important thing to me. I don't have a problem with everyone making a living, we all have to do it but they sure would sell a lot of them if they were cheaper than a used car! If I live long enough to get some other things paid off and can still get around I hope to own one before I croak!

I agree, Kathy!
The prices of them are just amazing!
Hubby asked me if I would like to have one. Of course the answer is YES, YES, YES! But, with trying to get finances straightened out, dealing with whether child goes to college or not (she's now saying she's NOT going to go) and other necessities in life, a long arm just isn't in the picture.
I did show hubby some sites for them, along with the prices. His eyes opened REALLY wide when he saw the prices. I had to giggle a bit because I told him they were a bit on the pricey side.
One of these days I will get one, who knows when, tho.
I'm thinking of just snatching the one that my friend has. She's scared to use it. Her mom bought it for her and I'm also trying to convince her mom to adopt me and buy me one!

well if she's a chicken maybe you could offer to learn it and then teach her! that would help you know if you want to sink into debt for one! then you could tell me!

CarolTee:
I've never tried a long arm quilter but when I went to a quilt guild meeting recently they said many local quilters will "rent" time on their machine for people who want to learn. Before you invest you may want to look around and see if there are any quilters in your area who rent. I know several people at the meeting said it was a wonderful experience to go and learn and it helped them decide IF they really wanted a quilting machine or what they wanted in a machine when they get ready to buy. Good luck.

Funny you should ask! I met a lady today who bought a Tin Lizzie. It cost her 6000.00 to get set up. She loves it!

Bailey makes both a 13 and 15 inch quilting machine. They are much cheaper than buying a long arm and won't chock your budget, unless of course you want to go into business. I bought the 13 and am happy with it.

http://www.baileyssewingcenter.com/homequilter.html

I did a lot of research and chose NOT to buy a 9 inch arm machine. If you are interested in my thoughts, you can write to me at:
[email protected]

June in Cincinnati

Kathy I saw a web sit that does just that! They take your old machine or any machine and convert it. That is exactly what a Tin Lizzie is. Though not the same company. I did not price check the process of the company which advertized the conversion process, but they also do specialty application machines. But when I found it, I was yahooing for industrial long arm machines and singer. I just bought one (not a long arm) and wanted to see if I paid too much. I am also curious about the Tin Lizzie. And Bailey is a lot less than some of the machines. I'm thinking we should bombard Singer with requests for an inexpensive long arm. I can not believe of all the machine manufactures that they would not offer such a product in a market going so wild at the moment.

Does any one care to join me in an E-mail campaign to singer requesting a long arm machine for say, around a $1,000.00? I figure it wouldn't hurt to ask. :D :lol: :? :!: I am going to ask. I'll let you all know where to go to get your request in as soon as I know. In the meantime if anyone out there is allready on it please let me join your crusade.

Sorry, I would not want to ask Singer to make a quilting machine. I have learned the quality of Singer products, like many others, have declined. Even if they did make one, it would probably have a plastic case.

Be sure you know what you are after before you begin such a project.

June

I bought a Baily over a year ago, it fits on my Gracie frame. I love it. I would love even more if it had a deeper reach (longer arm), but since my frame will only reach just so far, I couldn't use a longer-armed machine anyway. I keep thinking that when I retire, I will buy myself a full 15-20 thousand dollar longarm with steel frame, etc.....but I know that when I retire, I won't be able to spend that much money on 'toys'. My best option, now that I own the Baily, is to purchase a better (larger, maybe steel) frame for the Baily. That should save me about 13-18 thousand dollars over my 'real dream'.

Thanks to everyone for all there input.

Thanks June for your email and pictures you were a great help. I think you helped me make up my mind

Thanks you too RuthiesRetreat3 your input also help in my decision

[b]OOOOOOOOOOPs
Just wanted to see if I could do this in color and larger font

Thanks to everyone for all there input.

Thanks June for your email and pictures you were a great help. I think you helped me make up my mind ]

Thanks you too RuthiesRetreat3 your input also help in my decision

hello[b]

If this doesn't work dah........... would someone tell me how to change color and font size

I GIVE UP

I sent Singer an e-mail at [email protected] and told them we wanted a long arm, 16" for around $1,000.00. Haven't received a reply yet.
Since that was Sunday I'll wait until tomorrow to send another. Any one want to join the campaign? :!:

Caroltee, good ?, I would like to know that too!!

If one bad apple spoiled the whole tree I'd never have another Singer. The Ingenuity that I have now has been a big dissappointment, but.... I'm using my mother's very same modle with no problem. Mine is waiting to go to the shop AGAIN. I do still have faith in the company, they've been around forever and if they build an affordable mid/long arm I'll buy it.

I purchased a Tin Lizzie 18 at the Road to California Quilt Show in January. I'm still getting the bugs worked out. I had a little problem with the bobbin when it first arrived, it may have jiggled loose when it was shipped. But I called the man that actually makes them and he was able to tell my husband how to fix the problem. So far, I've quilted two small quilts on it and they both look nice for not knowing what I'm doing. Actually, my 7 year old grand-daughter quilted most of the second quilt yesterday and she loved doing it. I quilted free motion on the first one and on my grand-daughter's we pounced on a daisy pattern. I haven't been able to use the laser since the machine has no handles on the back to where a person could stand back there to follow the pantograph. I didn't get the wooden frame that is shown in the advertisement, mine came with the metal frame. Hope this helps!

azam, can give us an idea on how much money it cost?

My husband's down payment on a car! Approxiamately, $8,000.00. But, I was able to get zero % interest for one year, that's helpful.

I purchased a Tin lizzie and like it a lot!! It just seized up on me when I changed top thread and used the connected bobbin thread. It's a very smooth machine if the quilt is elevated off the sewing platform by 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch as the manufacturer suggests. I have installed 10 foot conduit on the frame that comes with the machine so I can sew on a quilt a little over 100 inches. That's all I want to tackle. I have laminate flooring in the room it sits in and just pull one side out a little so I can access the pantograph side easily. I have it on sliders. Any unevenness can be alleviated by using two levels of sliders. I made mine out of a kitchen rug that I bought at KMart which resembles the expensive sliders at the hardware store. Just put two together with double stick carpet tape. You can cut it with scissors. I hope I can resolve this sticking dilemma so I don't have to call a repairman. I have the part that makes the stitches even but it only works as good as you are smooth and steady at driving the machine. Total price was in the 6K prlce range plus tax.

Susan, I would buy the new Phaff quilting machine with extended table. That's a honey of a machine.

I recieved a reply from Singer which basically thanked me for my interst and told me they have no longarm machine in the works. Something about production availability. Sounds like a crock to me.

What do those Pfaffs Run? I guess I can google it.

I have a dumb question. What makes the patterns on the Bailey? Is it in the machine or do you have to draw your own pattern? Would love to be able to do my own quilting but don't want to spend time drawing quilt patterns on tops.

There are several ways to make the pattern. I choose the one where I can stand in front of the machine and control the movements of the machine. I believe the best way to describe this, is, that it is hand guided free motion. It is similar to the way you would move your quilt through the opening of you domestic machine...your hands move it in the direction you want to go to create a design that you have 1) drawn on the fabric or 2) created in your head and move the fabric in the direction to create that design.

Using a Bailey or any mid arm machine, the same is accomplished only the quilt is stretched on the frame and you create the movement of the machine over the top of the quilt to create the design.

The other method that some people choose, is to use the pantograph, a design laid out on the frame , then using some pointing device (the Bailey comes with a laser) you follow the design while controlling the machine from the back, stitching the design on to the fabric.

I treed this in the beginning and did not like being behind the machine and not able to see what is stitching on the quilt.
I prefer to do my own type of free motion where I control the movement to create a design that is more random and creative. Maybe I should say it is an original design and non one copied from a stencil or a pantograph.

The Bailey is a simple, no frills machine and does not come with computer assistance. What fun would it be to punch a button and program the machine, then walk away and let the machine do its work. Cost for these machines are pretty high. Bailey is one of the inexpensive ones, created so the average home quilter can do this machine quilting without investing a fortune in equipment.

It is all a matter of choice.

If you have further questions, please feel free to ask.

There are videos available if you wish to search for them.

June in Cincinnati