I seem to be basting gun challenged. I've had 3 basting guns in 3 years and I wear them out. My dh is a very good mechanic and he says these are unfixable.

I've had Dritz, "Quilter's Basting Gun", and Prym. (I think Prym and Dritz are the same)

Can you recommend a basting gun that will last me more than a year?

Thanks,
MJ

never used one before, sorry , good luck

Dennison is a good brand, but you have to make sure you get the fine version. It has a finer needle and smaller tacks than the regular gun (I think it's the 1/4" tacks). I'm pretty sure this is the right one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=200375902421

Here's another website for it:
http://www.teppisonesupply.com/servlet/Detail?no=144

thank you for the information. I just bought it.

Purplemem, I just bought one last night and looked at the insert. They are guaranteed for two years-just send them 3.00 for postage. You can do this every year and have a new one each time!!Save your receipt!

Do you like using the Dritz? That's what I bought last night but have never used one. Do you feel they keep the fabric in place for a nice quilting job?

I've never used one....do they do well for putting a quilt on a quilting machine? So I wouldn't have to use so many pins?

they seem to not work for me either. I happend to get ahold of a catalog for store supplies and they have tagging guns in there and I think I am going to get on of those~ the little tags I think are pretty cheap too!

They are an alternative to pins for basting. You do have to be careful to position them so you don't machine sew one by accident -- makes it difficult to remove later.

They can be awkward to use unless you can figure out a way to add space underneath the quilt sandwich. Quilters who use a gun often use that eggcrate stuff that is often used to cover overhead flourescent lights. That way you can just point the gun down, with the point coming out of the backing, and pull the trigger to insert the tag. The 1/4" tags are the ones preferred by most quilters, I think. People using longer tags sometimes use a technique that inserts the gun needle into and out of the top (like a pin) before pulling the trigger, so that both tag ends are on the top of the quilt. This makes a tighter tack that holds the quilt sandwich in place better if the tacks are so long they allow movement between the layers.

I actually prefer spray basting now to tacking, but tacking was a great improvement for me over safety pinning!

thanks -- sounds complicated.. I think I'll use the spray glue, too! I'm used to it.

I had to go to tacking because my lungs are so severely damaged I can't use any sprays, incl hairspray.

WineWoman, I had the Dritz gun and it was satisfactory. This time I bought the Dennison Taching gun with the microtachs. I wasn't worried about the holes, but I'm hoping the gun is more durable.

I much prefer this to thread basting and basting pins.

Hugs,
MJ