Mechanical vs. electronic sewing machine
 

I am at the point where I need to buy another sewing machine. The machine that I have is mechanical, very simple Singer about 12 years old. It is a good little machine that never had a temper tantrum. But, If it dies I will be in a pickle. I have never worked on an electronic (digital) sewing machine before. What are its pros and cons? I do not like overly sensitive machines that throw a fit if I use a thread that is not high end. I would be using the machine primarily for piecing and occasionally for quilting small projects. I have my Bailey for bigger quilts. The options that I like but do not have are automatic threader, thread cutter, dog feed lowering, and maybe a few decorative stitches. My budget is small, about $400. What are your thoughts - stick with the devil I know and buy a mechanical or join the 21st century and buy a digital machine? Help!

Can you even find new mechanical sewing machines ? I got my daughter a Brother sewing machine at Cosco last june (2011) for under $200. Nice little machine. She's just learning to sew & quilt. I just got myself a HV Topaz 20, but that was $2000. I was also using a very old Kenmore (30+ years old), but can't kill it. There are some Singers also that are pretty reasonable, don't know how reliable they are. Maybe buy a used higher end machine. Sometimes people trade them in for a better one or there is Craigs List, E-Bay and Sew & Vac repair stores sell used machines. Good luck.

I have both, but prefer my electronic, they make things easier for me. My brothers have never been fussy about the thread they use. Do you want it as you main machine or backup. for your price range I recommend the brother PC-420 off amazon. Its higher quality, more metal, and has a lot of nice features that you will love and not find on your mechanical, knee left, needle threader, thread cutter, pressure adjuster, lots of neat stitches

Something you may want to consider------------the electronics MAY die in an electrical storm. Now, if you don't sew 24/7, that may not make a difference. At any rate-----------keep the old work horse for times when it's rough outside.

I have sewn and I own both, and like them all, they have each their own qualities. Go try some out. I have my electronic machine on a good strip protecter and have never in 15 years had a problem with it.

I would take the $400 and buy the best mechanical refurbished machine I could. I received a 401 Slant-O-Matic Singer for Christmas in Original case with original manual and original box with feet and accessories for $198. Just think what you could buy with $400!!! Go to a 2nd hand store or a sewing machine store that deals in used machines!!

my local vac and sewing machine repair place always had a few sewing machines for sale. you might want to visit them, too.

I have both. Really love my old Singers for just plain sewing. They are so reliable. But the new computerized machines are awesome.

I would not buy a car without power steering...would you?

Computerized for me! (Electronic).
My 2 cents
s

Use a serge protector power strip. Unplug the machine during a storm.
S

I have an old Singer 401 slant o matic that I use everyday for several hours a day, doing all my piecing on it. Love that machine. It sews beautifully and is very easy to maintain, a real workhorse. I bought it at a thrift shop for 40.00 in a cabinet. I have a new brother (electronic) that I use maybe once a week, mainly for decorative stitches or quilting small items. For me the brother has too small an area around the needle and I have trouble getting my hands in there to thread or change feet or needles which is a pain. I just got a hopping/darning foot for the 401 and am trying it out for quilting. My other newer machine is a Viking Mega Quilter I have on a frame for quilting. Love that one too.

What you are describing sounds like a Janome Magnolia (not sure about the thread cutter). Janomes are not thread sensitive. No, I'm not a dealer.:) I'm just sold on Janomes.

If you do a lot of garment sewing, sometimes computerized might be better - I do heirloom and my Pfaff does have a decent pin stitch. And I can make up my own decorative stitches. But I can't adjust foot pressure. I can do top tension, and adjust the bobbin (vertical) but can't change the pressure. Pfaff is assuming that IDT will take care of it.

However, even most mechanicals come with some great stitches which shouldn't limit you. If I can get my hands on a zigzag machine, I can do applique, cutwork, couching, etc. which seems to surprise a lot of people. I look for older books with manual techniques. You can take a continuous quilt stencil and use the bean or triple straight stitch for a good effect on a garment. I use it for quilted sweatshirts from scratch. Just takes more patience.

I like vertical bobbins anyway, and most mechanical machines have that. You can also adjust foot pressure on some. You can adjust the bobbin feed far easier, too.

if it were a sports car, I'd not have power steering nor would I have an automatic transmission. This Mercury Marquis I have now is yet another story!

I would look at the machines that have feed dogs on the top and bottom. I think they are called pfaffs.

love both types of machines.
Test Drive them

ohhhhhhhhhhhhh the threading and changing feet. A few more pains down the road, and I'm going to be first classed mess.

I myself have been trying to decide whether to buy a new portable, looked at them the other day, the fancy stitches, well my old 60's universal can do those and I don't have to trim my nails, I've been having fits with my Sons new stove with the touch panel. Have never replaced (knock on wood) anything other than the belt, bought some new feet and keep it oiled.

Use your knuckle.

Personally I won't have a machine without needle up/down or the ability to move the needle position. I had a Montgomery Wards 1958 mechanical. It was fine for garment sewing. It was not at all fine for quilt piecing. You couldn't sew a straight quarter inch seam on that machine to save your soul. The needled didn't move over so to sew a quarter inch seam your fabric was on only one feed dog. I bought a Pfaff and discovered it really wasn't me, that I actually could sew a straight seam.

ARE there even any electronic/digital/computerized machines under $400, that are any good??

Look for a vintage Bernina 830 Record or a vintage Bernina 810/807 Minimatic on ebay, craigslist, local paper, thru you guild, or at a dealer where it might have been a trade-in. You can find them for $500 or less occasionally if you take your time to search.

They will have an extension table for a larger sewing surface, needle up/needle down capability with toe tap, 5 needle positions so you can get a scant 1/4" seam, and a carrying case. The vintage 830 also has the knee lift bar for hands-free raising of the presser foot.

Remember that 30 years ago this is ALL the machine we had to sew on! The necessary stitches are there, but you won't have decorative ones.

Can't even tell you how many delighted sewers I've turned on to these machines; I have 2 of my own and use them all the time!

Jan in VA

Thank you all soooo much! I like mechanical because there is really not much to go wrong and I can service them myself. That is is One of many reasons why I bought a Bailey 17 - it is a stretched model 15 Singer. Love, love my Bailey. I also upholster our furniture and cannot have a machine that will whine at the sight of thicker, bulkier fabric. Thank you for giving me a wake up call. After all, I did learn how to sew on a dinosaur, 1892 Singer treadle which in over 100 years only needed a belt replaced.

The reality is no one machine is perfect for everything.

I sew on twenty year old Janome, which was called New Home when I bought. It is a dream of a machine. It was the school model when I bought it. It has never been serviced by anyone other than myself. I clean it once in a while and add a little oil. I clean out the bobbin area and put a drop of oil between the bobbin and case at every bobbin change and if I am sewing fast and for a long time I add more oil to the bobbin case. I use any and every kind of thread. I was at a sewing center not to long ago and they had one of these machines in thier shop for sale. I bought it for $75.00 and was glad to get it.

As long as you've never had a computerized machine you don't know if you are missing something I suppose.
I myself am sewing on a mechanical one and bought a second one ( exactly the same but much less used) as a reserve.
I can sew and eat and sleep with the old one so I don't want to have a computerized, and that is even more easy as I can't effort one that is strong enough as my old one...
So look at the amount of money you have and find out which machine you can buy with the features you want on it.....and be happy with it even when it's a secondhand mechanic again!!!!

I like this idea also try a repair shop. Often they have great deals on used machines.

I think it's really important to know what you want out of your machine. I notice that the newer, less expensive models have much smaller work areas between the needle and the motor than older machines. If you want more area, then you have to spend beaucoup bucks to get that larger area.

I have a late 60s Singer FashionMate and LOVE it! It is a work horse. I was taking a dart in my jeans waistband the other nite, and it sewed it like it was a piece of cotton. My machine straights stitch and zig zags, and I can move the needle L/R.

If I did a lot of machine embroidery, I can see the advantage of the computerized machines.

Personally, for $400, I'd be looking at CraigsList and dealer for trade ins to get the best of a vintage model that i could fine. I am not sure $400 would get me much on a new machine.

I love my old ones and I love my new ones. Gee, I am not much help.

I too thought I wanted a computerized sewing machine. Even tried one out. Then got to thinking how there's no way I can service it when something goes wrong. No doubt the newer machines can do more. Ended up making a list of what I actually want and will use in a machine. Yep, bought another mechanical one.

To each their own.

** Smiling about the car reference. My sweetie built me a 1939 Ford pickup. V-8, 5 speed manual transmission. He can work on it when something goes wrong.. which is rare. Our F-150 pickup with all it's fancy computer stuff is nice.. but we have to pay $$$ to have it worked on.

First of all, you get what you pay for. If you buy an electronic for under $400, it will most likely have poor quality parts that break easily. I have all Vikings that I paid well over $3000 for. I love them all. I also have antique Singers that I rarely use. But they are there if I want them. I have a treadle for power failures. I love everything about the electronics, have them cleaned yearly, and never plan to change to any other brand. They have embroidery capabilities, which the Diamond is set up for all the time. I use the Topaz 30 for my quilt constructing, love the larger harp on it and the Diamond. I keep the walking foot on the SE. The nice thing is that they all take the same feet, and can go from one layer of fabric to a very thick seam without ever bogging down. I love the needle threader, thread cutter, etc. Viking has a new machine out that has those features too, not the large throat though. But it is $800. So I suggest you save a little more money and get a machine that may cost more, but will be longer lasting. I was told that any machine under $400 is considered a "thow-away", WalMart machines being an example.

Go to several sewing machine dealerships and try the electronic machines. That should give you some idea of the features you like best and what you really need for your purposes. You already know about the mechanical machines. I like the mechanical machines for the heavy lifting, most of them have all metal parts and take the pressure better. The electronic machines have a lot more "handy" features that make piecing and quilting a lot faster and more fun.

I have several cheap mechanical Brother machines and an embroidery only machine for $300 . All are good machines.
My every day machine is a Viking Sapphire that cost $1100 when I bought it years ago. I love this electronic machine.
No thread cutter but love the needle down and auto foot start and stop feature. I use coats and clarks thread with no problems and Connecting Threads thread with no problems.
I would not buy a cheap electronic machine but my embroidery is electronic and it was cheap. Havent had it but a few months so dont know how well it will last.

I have a 6430 Viking - refurbished and in great shape and have around $00 in it. It was top of the line and I take it to any classes. Love it. I also have a Pfaff 1473 that I bought new in 1989 and it has been serviced ONCE and I use it almost every day - has almost 200 decorative stitches and a needle threader and I can do writing with its 6 alphabets. Do not discount the oldies but goodies.

:) When I bought my Singer 9005 (1990 with 5 stitches plus buttomholer), I was angry at my former machine and bought something very simple but not cheap -- now I wish I had bought one with more stitches as I would like to have a blanket stitch and a few fancy stitches -- my machine isn't tempermental and works great except on thick things -- I would check out top-of-the-line used mechanical machines from a sewing machine store (Kenmores and Singers as well as others) -- the emachines sound interesting but some seem to have problems -- good luck!!

I have 5 Singer mechanical machines: 15-91, 221, three 301s. Love them all. They never break. I use them for piecing quilts and quilting.

I have a fancy Janome Horizon which is a great machine, but I rarely use any of the features. I have my Mom's old Singer, but can't remember the #. The Singer is a workhorse that has never had a problem in 60 years. I remember when she got it and I learned to sew on it. My favorite was my Kenmore limited edition which DH bought for me for our 5 year anniversary. I gave it to my niece when I got a fancy machine. She sold it at a garage sale for $20. In my guild lots of the gals are getting Kenmore machines esp to carry to classes.

My budget is small, about $400. What are your thoughts - stick with the devil I know and buy a mechanical or join the 21st century and buy a digital machine? Help!

Tashana..I'm surprised no one has mentioned Juki...I bought an older TL98E off Ebay for under $400. Granted I took a chance, but heard so many good things about Juki, it was worth it.. LOVE the thread cutter and needle up/down, etc on this machine..the only thing missing is the auto threader, but I've gotten used to that, as it doesn't pull out the thread when starting to sew like my Janome...I never realized what is was like to sew on a real machine.. The TL98Q has the auto threader. It might be something to consider. You can't go wrong, at least from my experience....It was too fast for me, so I wedged a piece of yard stick under the foot pedal. Now it's perfect.....
Hope you get what you want in a machine...It's fun to review, and read as much as possible.....

For a lot less than $400 you can buy a used Elna, Bernina or a Singer 403 or a Singer 503 an old Pfaff. If you don't want to work on one buy one that someone you can trust has gone over and made in working order - then expect to pay more than you would if you find one and fix it yourself. Some of us love the old cheap Japanese deluxe machines. The new machines ALL have plastic parts and stamped metal no matter how much you pay. Look at all the pictures on here - there are tons of older machines well loved by QB members.

I have a Brother SE 400 and it embroiders and has all the things you are asking for. I love this machine.
It costs less than $400. I bought mine at Wal-Mart.

I have both--everything from a very high end Janome to a 1907 Singer treadle. I love them all. If I was interested in fancy stitches and embroidery, I would look for a computerized machine. If I wanted a work horse, I would definitely go with a vintage Singer. I have quite a few and each one is set up for a different task. I use my 15-91 for free-motion. I use my featherweight, my 27 treadle or my 66 treadle for piecing and repairs. I use one of my Janomes for buttonholes, decorative stitching or machine embroidery. I have several Japanese made 15 clones that are workhorses. What you get should be dependent on your needs, wants and budget. Just decide what you want it to do and go from there.