Will my machines survive!??
 

I have a concern about my sewing machines....we are in the process of moving to Minnesota from Florida (cuz I love the cold and I HATE THE HEAT....get those 2 answers out of the way of the enevitable questions, oh yeah and no I am not crazy) my concerns are I have 3 computerized machines that will be packed in a POD and shipped to Minn. They will be in storage here only for a day or so. Is the heat going to harm them? One is a Viking Diamond Deluxe and I would hate to have to replace it, actually I do not think my DH would shell out that kind of money for a second one, nor would I expect him to, in any event, any thoughts???:mad:

Is there any possibility that you could take the machines with you in your car? That would take away your worry. However, if you pack them real well and they are stored tightly so they don't bounce around, they will probably be okay. As far as the heat goes, I don't know if it will harm them or not. Perhaps you could add them to your homeowner insurance policy so if they are damaged, you can submit a claim????

How do you think machines get to the dealers?


Shipped...............................almost exclusively from over seas.

Do you still have the original boxes? I have a Bernina and two Janomes and am moving with the military to AZ from MD in June. I do not have the original boxes so we are planning on moving the machines in the car with us. I do not think the heat will bother them much since they do get shipped all over the world and I have never heard anything about not being able to ship during hot summers :) I am mostly worried about moving companies not being very gentle with them....they can pack all my fabric LOL

Definitely list them and take pictures for your insurance company.

I did keep the boxes, hubby is very neurotic that way...lol and they are surrounded by immovable things, the only concern I have (had) was the heat and alot of very valid points were made. I appreciate the input from everyone. I had considered taking at least one in the car with me, but hubby says I should bite the bullet and have faith...Thanks for quick responses!!! Love this board!!!

How do you think machines get to the dealers?


Shipped...............................almost exclusively from over seas.

When my husband was in the Army I shipped my machines right along with my household goods. I did my own packing tho. Remvoed the needle and put the foot down. Put pillows all around them and then let the packers seal them. I had no problems at all. Two moves were over seas and household went by ship, for days..... Still using the 1973 Singer Touch and Sew.:)
Enjoy your new home.

When I moved from Texas (:( ) to Florida in the fall of 2011, I put my computerized machine in a U-Pac, pod like, trailer. It did fine, but then again it wasn't as hot as Florida is in the spring, but had a lot of days that were hot. I did have to store it for a month in Jacksonville in December. Not cold weather, but not 90's. Again, it did fine. I have been sewing on it on a regular basis since then.

I'd take my diamond in the car!!!

Good luck in your move. I'm with you, I don't cope well with the heat - I'll take the cold anytime. If it gets too cold I can just stay in the house and be cozy.

I have a Diamond and I would be sure she is well packed, and take her in the car if possible.

It seems to me, percentage-wise, you are more likely to have an accident or theft while on the road during a long trip than you would be to risk damage with professional shipping. And if the machine is damaged, your shipper has to pay. Be sure to have a receipt or purchase estimate letter from your machine dealer to prove value in case of damage. When the machine is loaded onto the moving truck, walk it out with the mover and discuss its loading with the driver. He is usually the one who will be on the truck dealing with the positioning of the loaded goods. Become his buddy and he will watch out for it for you. After all, they are professionals at this; it's the worker bees that *may* give you problems.

Jan in VA

I, too, prefer the cold weather over the unbearable heat. I live in Oregon in the mountains where we get plenty of snow and cold. We can't plant anything until the middle of May or when the snow melts off Mt. Emily. We've had snow in June here.

I had my new Bernina shipped in July from overseas to me and it runs fine. I wouldn't worry too much about the heat. But I would add them to my homeowner's insurance

After reading your concerns with moving and your machine. One time I was going to a quilting class, was with my sil and one of her friends. We all got our machines out at the store, the friend was just about at the door and the handle broke on her machine and it hit the ground. It was an old hand me down, it still worked, not sure how well. Just a lucky thing it did not hit her foot or one of ours. You see anything can happen not always in a long move, just a simple outing for a class. Your machine will be fine. Good luck.

Personally I would think the extreme cold may be more harmful. Freezing the heat. We have noticed when machines are packed in cars the night before in cold weather they take awhile to sew correctly.

I would put them back in the box they were in when you bought them. If you don't have the original box then just pack them into another box. Use as packing as you can. I think they will be fine.
I'm with you, no way would I choose hot and humid over cooler weather. That is if I had a choice. We have a business and my Husband would never leave here.

I would take my Diamond in the car if at all possible. would not leave it in heat .

I've never moved with a computerized machine, but I've moved with my 1960's model Singer from Texas to California to Mississippi to Oklahoma back to Texas to Guam to Georgia back again to Texas to Maryland and finally back home to Texas again. The only damage it ever received was in my own house when I accidentally shoved it against the wall with the buttonhole attachment still on it sticking out behind and sort of dorked the needle bar.

Like any other electronic/computerized equipment, you're supposed to wait until they reach room temperature before you turn them on...let alone use them. :eek:

I've done several long distance moves, in the heat of the summer, and never had a problem with my sewing machine. You're using a pod where the machine will be locked inside, so that should stop any tampering with the shipment.

We had one bundle of brooms/mops disappear in one shipment, an area rug disappear in another shipment, and one box of books disappear in the third shipment. Some furniture that wasn't wrapped was damaged. The worst was the movers who rolled my pine table top down the asphalt driveway. One dining room chair was broken in each shipment.

Always insure for REPLACEMENT COST. Never the $.60/lb or depreciated cost.

I just moved from Miami FL to Tucson AZ using pods my machines are fine. I packed them in my sewing machine bags and made sure they would not shift! I hated Miami & the heat but love the heat here!!

You will love Minnesota! Yes...we have the cold season, and the heat season, but we also have what's referred to "road construction season" It starts in the spring, and goes until everything freezes...just remember, in Minnesota you "can't get there from here"....without a lengthy detour!! Hope your machines arrive in one piece!!

If it were me, I would take them with me, certainly the Diamond. I lived overseas and took my now old Husqvarna
with me on the plane. No problem

First Welcome to Minnesota. I love it here but then this has been my home state for most of my life. I don't know an answer to your question but I wanted to say hi and welcome. BTW summer is coming and it will be hot here as well.

I live in Corpus Christi and it gets really warm down here. If my machines can withstand the heat in the attic for a period of years, I'm sure yours can withstand the heat in a POD for a few days. IF you don't have the original packaging box for the machines use some old bath towels or even some large scrap pieces for packaging. When I moved down here in 94, I used my linen bath towels, face cloths, hand towels for packing. Face cloths are great for in between dishes (or better yet your kitchen linen). If you use newspapers you have to wash the print off the dishes. Save the landfills. Mug rugs are great for large serving bowls.

they will be fine. I had my sewing machine in my attic. hot and cold and it was fine...

We moved a lot during my husband's career. Most of the time we had to ship our household contents-including computerized sewing machines-into storage. Sometimes this storage lasted 3 months. We never had problems with our belongings being safe-except for our painted wood rocking chair which got broken every time we moved! I'm like you in that I love the cold and snow rather than heat and tornadoes.

I lived in Florida and moved to Iowa back in 2010. My 4 computerized machines were in storage for 4 years all in Florida. It was supposed to be in an air conditioned unit but as I noticed some plastic such as small kitchen appliances, even my microwave had turned yellow so I know it wasn't A/C'd. Anyway, they made it thru like champs. I have the Viking Designer 1, Babylock Ellegante, Elna 945 and Babylock Evolve and they all work fine.

Also, when they were unloading my stuff, I noticed my Viking D1 down on the bottom of the pile with all those heavy boxes on top. I freaked out but as I had everything in its original boxes, they made it. Other items such as furniture were not so lucky. Had a brand new gas grill that its wheels were ripped off and an antique end table split into 2 among a few items.

Good luck on your move and I agree totally with you, like, not love the cold but hate the heat.

Suz in Iowa

We've made the same move twice while married - TN to Guam and then back; then Alabama to Guam and back. Shipped a different machine each time and never had any problems at all.

If your concern about the heat and mositure for the machines, put some charcoal in a old nylon and store it with the machines. That will help control the mositure. We were told this years ago, when we traveled to and from Guam with the Air Force. It worked great and we did not have any damage for the shippment took three months to get there. Also take plenty of pictures and add the machine to your homeowner. That should be done for everyday too. Good Luck.

On the sidebar note- I moved back to Iowa from Florida Fall 0f '08, I can't wait to get back to Florida, even being born and raised in Iowa. I actually like the humidity, it's the no-see-ums that eat me alive!!
I would be tempted to put the Diamond in the car with me, but I have to agree leave it to the professionals. mho;)
When you get a chance try to visit the Quilt show in Des Moines.(Oct's)

If it were me, I would pack one machine - in fabric of course - if you don't have the original carton, to take with me, just in case the POD doesn't get there when you do. But that's just me, I wouldn't want to be without my machine for long, but then I'm obsessive.

Car insurance probably would not cover the machines if anything happened to them there (including theft), whereas the movers are supposed to have insurance. Be very careful how they list them, however. I have found through a number of moves that there are unscrupulous people who will make up a long list of bogus scratches and dents for anything they think might be valuable. They know that in the frenzy of moving, and while they have several people working in different rooms, it is very hard for you to monitor everything at once.

Computerized things like to be cool, but I think that's mostly a factor while they are running. It might be that the plastics would be more vulnerable to high heat than the chips. If the machines are closer to the bottom and center of the pod other items around them will provide some insulation. Keep in mind that these machines were probably shipped around the world in pods before you got them!

I live in FL and when it gets too hot, I can just stay in the house and be nice & cool. But, I do love Rapid City in the summer.
We lived in ND for many years prior to moving to FL. When we moved, I lost a hand made crocheted bedspread (made by my grandma).It was taken out of a box and because I stored the boxes for 3 months while our house was being built, I couldn't even claim theft. So, that being said, I would just make sure your machines are insured.
Good luck.

Welcome to Minnesota. Seasons we have Winter-Muck-mosquitoes-Fall.

Muck is spring when the roads that are gravel are slippery and so are many driveways.

Summer is the mosquitoes. Bring bug spray.

You will love it here.

I just got one of my Janomes back from Italy. It traveled with no problems. The Air Force doesn't hire the sharpest knives in the drawer to pack, so it was in it's case, wrapped in many layers of brown paper. it works fine anddoesn't have a scratch on it. Go figure!

If I take mine on a trip and they get hot or cold, I just let them set at room temp over night before I try to use them.

Yes, I know it gets hot...however the season is nowhere near as long as it is in Florida. I grew up in Minnesota as well, wintertime was always my favorite. You never found me inside in the winter, the summertime, you never found me outside. LOL. Thanks for the welcome...much appreciated.