Starting search for a Longarm Quilting Machine
 

I would like to have a longarm by the end of this year. I do not have a lot to spend. However I think I can do it with what I do have. I a even looking at used machines. I know to test drive as many as I can. Any of you ladies or men who have one have ay insiders knowledge about hat to look for? Thank you for any & all help.

I upgraded to HandiQuilter Avante and love the machine. It is very easy to use and the stitch quality is great. Attend a larger quilt show and test drive the various makes and models...that are out there, you will be better able to make the decision. Good Luck!!!!

When I was looking for a longarm I quickly found out that the better brands maintain their value very well, so finding a later model used machine at a good price was difficult. (I wanted a later model machine to take advantage of technical improvements such as stitch regulation.) I wound up with Innova and have been very happy with that decision. I also advise going to quilt shows and trying all the machines. Keep notes on what you like or don't like, and don't hesitate to go back to ask more questions.

And also take a good look at the frame. Some have jointed rollers, others have a single piece. I don't have a dead bar, but wish I did. Adjusting the quilt frame every couple of passes is a PITB. Also, look at the composition of the wheels and what they ride on. My wheels are steel, but ride on plastic rails, which get dented (don't know how!) and deteriorate. I can easily purchase replacement rails, but you have to just about disassemble the entire frame, including removing the machine, to do it.

If I were starting out, I would probably look for an entry level Innova such as this one, either new or used:
http://www.innovalongarm.com/shop/in...ge-detail.html

So *much* depends on your budget, it's hard to make suggestions other than to try out a variety of machines. Quilt guild shows are a good place to do this.

If your budget does not allow the Innova, then I would look for a used system. I ended up with a Voyager/Hinty setup purchased from a quilt guild member who was upgrading. Others have found deals on Craigslist and from the two online websites that list used machines for sale.

This question seems to come up on a regular basis, there is some good information in this post -
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...m-t221787.html

Also, do a forum search for "longarm search" and you will find a bunch of threads on the topic.

My main advice is to try as many as you can before investing. Everyone is different, and will need different things. When you see many machines you can identify the features you want and hopefully get the one that fits your needs best. For me the top two items were hydraulic legs and a stitch regulator.

For used machines, the best websites out there are House of Hanson and Longarm University -
http://www.houseofhanson.com/formerlyowned.html
http://www.longarmuniversity.com/machines_for_sale.htm

Good luck!

I also wanted a long arm and spent a lot of time test driving different machines. I found my dream machine ... an Innova. The price tag was hefty, and even though I could have afforded it, I'm a practical person and I wanted to make sure that I both enjoyed and could use (well!) a long arm. So I decided to purchase a used machine to play with .. and if I liked it and became good at it, I'd get the Innova later.

I got a used Voyager on a hinterberg frame. I DO like it, and I CAN use it well enough to finish a quilt. My problem is time. I've had the machine since October and I've only finished one practice quilt and one real quilt. Until I can find more time to quilt, I won't be purchasing an Innova :(

i have an innova ....used some others in the past ...glad i got the innova don't regret a minute .....

Thank you all for your advice. I am planning on test driving as many as I can. If you have any other words of advice please let me know.

The A-1 isn't as well known as some of the others, but many fine artists have used the machine - including Jamie Wallen. I wanted a long arm, but I am a thrifty soul. Was actually going to go for the Innova and the 5 days of training when the training center cut ties with Innova. Then, somehow, I saw an auction for an A-1 with 12 ft table. It has all the bells and whistles and I got it at a terrific price. So I satisfied the deal in me and got a great machine. During one of my trips thru a large quilt show I tried several brands and really liked the Gammil which surprised the heck out of me as I had used a Gammil Vision in a class and was underwhelmed. You just need to keep looking.
BTW, my machine was a repo, at an as is, where is facility. That generally means you buy it and don't come back to them if it doesn't run. In this case the machine was broken down so no test could be done, but was told it ran. Got it home - nothing - sent it off to A-1, it was set up with a computer - it couldn't have run for them. So she got a spa treatment and the company paid for it and she's perfect and my bargain got even better. But if it wasn't for my wonderful dh none of this could have happened.

Years ago test drove them all and ended up biting the bullet and getting the Statler Stitcher. Please consider looking at used machines. Many dealers take machines in on trade, I see them occasionally on eBay and Craigslist and on other sewing sites. There are some exceptional deals out there. Bets of luck.

I totally agree. I love my Avante. I tried them all at a quilt show and found it was the best for me. I am petite and do not have a long length to my arms. This was perfect for me. Easy to use.

I bought a Viking Megaquilter 18x8 from www.Sewingmachinesplus.com - they even let me put it on "lay-away"!! This is the same machine as a Tin Lizzie or a Pfaff 18x8. I LOVE this machine!! It has a stitch regulator, and that's pretty much all I need. I could have gotten a robotic system with it, but wanted to learn the machine first without haven't to add the robot as another learning curve. It's been three years now, and I still don't have a robot - I don't feel the need for one, simply because I enjoy the creativity from "doing it myself".
There are SO many brands out there, I suggest that you go to one of the larger shows and "test drive" as many as possible. I "tested" even the higher-end brands and did not like the "feel" of them. So, I wouldn't go just by our comments here - you are the only one who knows what is comfortable for you. Testing them all "side by side" as it were at one of the big shows will be a good comparison for you. Before I bought mine, I spent most of one whole day at a AQS show trying 15 different brands - multiple times - to decide what I liked and what I didn't.
Just my thoughts... but I do love my machine.

I'm a hobby quilter and have no desire to make money off quilting, the most basic longarm set up is baileys. I quilted on one for a year til my friend moved. Does the job for me!

How about the Bailey(http://www.baileyssewingcenter.com/)? Very affordable, compared to other brands, they have a great reputation and customer service.

Join different Yahoo groups that are for the different longarm machines you are considering. Remember that these yahoo groups tend to have mostly those with issues posting to them. I am on several longarm groups, including TinLizzie18, Gammill etc. I think I left the Innova group...but still am on APQS, and a couple machine quilting groups. Why, when I own a TL18LS 2009 model, do I still belong to the others? Because they all have posts dealing with tension, stitch issues...and what is tried and found to work on one machine, can work on another brand.

I started the TinLizzieLongarm yahoo group when TL company closed their yahoo group. I show as the owner, but every member owns our group...I just happened to start it. We have about 1,000 members, but, only about 1 to 2% ever post. Why? Because the other 99% aren't having issues. Those who reply to the "help needed" posts are those of us who have had the same issues (usually tension, or other user error type issues), or are dealers & can help troubleshoot & resolve some issues...very few are ever issues the company has to get involved with. Usually a dealer or their tech can resolve the issues.
TL company has really stepped up their customer service...they have finally realized they have to stand behind their products, especially if the dealer/techs aren't able to help. Innova is good, so are most Gammill dealer/techs....just a matter of what you can afford. I've seen some Nolting lovers out there also.
The main issue I've had with my TL18LS was when I had loaded the bobbin wrong (wasn't in all the way)...it stitched a row of Qbot auto stitching...the top thread wound around the bobbin hook area for that whole row...threw Lizzie out of time. I already knew how to time a machine...so retimed her myself...but had my tech check it... and broke encoders twice...my errors.
Another thing to remember...these machines are NOT home sewing machines on a frame (not true longarms anyhows)..you will have a learning curve (again, join a group for the machine you end up with), be ready to learn how to do some troubleshooting on your own, and for techs over the phone. A dealer within driving distance is nice (if they know how to fix the machine)...but good company support is key.

Find a way to try the different machines if you can...I went with the closest dealer (no longer in existence)...I was going to go with another brand, but a local (70 mile round trip) dealer had the TL18LS on sale...so I bought from her.

HandiQuilter is another good brand. Most true longarms are good brands...just depends on what you want in the way of bells and whistles.
I paid about 6K for my TL18LS in 2009 & then a couple years later 1,500 to add the Qbot robot. I call my setup my "poorman's statler"... and I love it!

I also bought this machine and from sewingmachine plus ,also love it .

I would go to the nearest biggest quilt show and test drive them all just like you would do when purchasing a car.

too bad you aren't in the Midwest--I know of a 3 yr old KenQuilt and a Prodigy(little older) both on 12'frames, both24" throats and the Prodigy with hydraulic adjustable table for sale. The KenQuilt is being sold so the owner can buy a bigger machine(!) and the Prodiy due to health reason. PM if you want contact info.

stay away from sewingmachineplus, bad service bad deals ,they sold me a very old quilting machine used, sale person lie t me and told me it was only 2 years old ,seller and that seller was trading it in for a newer update quilting machine, I found out later from handi quilter ha the machine the sold me was about 5 or 6 year sold ant the machine as only worth $2,500.00, where sell person sold it to me for 5,000.00, they wll not give me back my money and take back there machine ,sellperson got crazy on phone with me telling me I got a good deal . I called handi quilter and they also agreed that I should get my full money back. shame on those people working there so be very careful buying from them

Look long and hard at the frame ..It makes all the difference. after I bought a used machine I had to upgrade the frame .
Machine worked fine but the frame was pretty basic. I needed one that adjusted up and down and at angles .

I love my Babylock Crown Jewel Longarm! The frame is steel, Majestic frame. I have added Creative Touch for computerized! Love it! I have had it for about three years and have had no problems with it! Do attend a quilt show that has a large representation of Longarm quilting machines and try all of them, more than once! What feels right to you is probably what you should get. A local dealer is a great find too! Check with others about their customer service. Big difference if they will service your machine in your home or if you have lug it in!

I have a Juki machine with a Pennywinkle frame.... I really like it, but......if I had my choice I would get a Baby Lock Crown Jewel.
I am thinking I will try and sell my set-up n then save up for the Crown Jewel.

I got a machine from sewing machine plus and am very happy with it. I haven't had any problems. When I ordered it, the sales person was a quilter and was very helpful with information and other parts I may want in the future. Delivery was fast, instructions were clear and I am having a ball:).

I too hae been looking for a long arm, so I attended a lot of shows and fairs where the vendors were and I really do believe that the Innova is the one for me, Compare all the features and ask for brochures, then do the comparisons from a list of features that you want to have. Hope this helps some

Where is the Baileys website?? It says the domain has recently been listed. Has Baileys gone out of business?

I love my Handiquilter Avante. I was fortunate enough to have 2 friends that had Handiquilter Sweet Sixteens that let me try them on a couple of quilts before I bought my Avante. I was all set to buy the Sweet Sixteen but the dealer said the Avante's were just coming out (at the same price) so I got that one instead. I've never regretted it. I've done a kingsized quilt with no problems. It does everything I need it to do and I have a wonderful dealer.

I thought about getting a longarm and did all the research. I went to Paducah quilt show and spend all day testing out every brand of longarm, mid arm, and sit down systems and talking to the reps. I soon learned that the best of the best brands were the best. Gammill, APQS, Nolting. The rest didn't come close to the quality. Many were cheaper but I knew I would be settling and always wishing for the better one. I have't bought one because I know I will not get my money's worth as I found I didn't like machine quilting as much as I thought.

ann31039-Bailey's is still in business, here's a link: http://www.baileyssewingcenter.com/test.html

I just purchased my longarm after monthes of research and trying several brands out and meeting several dealers. I bought a demo model 2013 Gammill Vision. I chose mine for a few different reasons. 1. I had heard and continue to hear great things about Gammill 2. Out of all the dealers I met with, my dealers happen to be awesome and thats what I was looking for. 3. By purchasing a demo model I still got 3.5 years warranty on my Gammill but didn't pay a 'brand new' price. 4. They say when you try out the didfferent machines, you'll know it when you find yours, and I knew it. Mine kind of said "BUY ME!" Lol. Good luck and enjoy the process.

quiltingshorttimer---could you please PM me, I tried to PM you, but it tells me you are not accepting PM's.