Ready to purchase a long arm & quilting frame - need suggestions on how to select one
#21
I would think that you should try out the ones that you think you would like and then decide which one works best for you. Go on line and read about the different ones and decide which ones you want to try. What works for one person does not always work for someone else.
Pat
Pat
#22
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: At my laptop
Posts: 280
I have watched this video as well. Please rewatch it. The stitch quality on the top is lousy, who knows what the bottom looks like. I would think in a selling video, one would put their VERY best foot forward. Well, the top stitches are loose. The man doing the video makes claims that just aren't true. This makes me question how lagit the rest of his statements are. Just sayin
#24
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Born Nashville, TN - currently in Newbern, TN
Posts: 209
I have a longarm...but if i was shopping today...i'd be here early monday morning with a check in my hand...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soGt7kmW0aI
Good luck on your quest, just check out the machine you choose thoroughly. Search online to find everything you can on it, and you should be okay. There's alot of good machines out there, new and used, it just depends on how much you can afford.
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SW Minnesota
Posts: 1,120
I bought a new APQS Freedom in November and have done approximately a dozen quilts on it already and love it. I quilt for customers and had a Tin Lizzie 18 before this and had to replace parts 3 times on it in the 10 months I had it so I switched to a heavier duty long arm since I do quilting for customers. If I was only doing quilting for myself, I would not spend the money I spent on the APQS. If I was only quilting for myself, the Tin Lizzie would have been fine--as it probably would've taken me 10 years to have those three problems with the parts as I quilted many quilts on it in the 10 months I had it. Other people on this Board have Tin Lizzie's and have had no troubles with them. I think with every brand, there can be a lemon--just like when you buy a brand new car--you can get a lemon. Good luck with your decision. Make sure you try every kind that you can as you may base your decision on "the feel" of the machine. FYI--when I was going to buy a different long arm in November, the Handi Quilter Fusion was my second choice--but I went with the APQS because of the "feel" of the machine for me when I quilted with it. The different brands of long arms have different styles of handles --even the APQS had long arms with different style of handles and I bought the one that I liked the feel of the handles for me.
Last edited by aborning; 01-04-2012 at 07:12 PM.
#27
I see you had a chance to play with a Nolting? I have one, the Fun Quilter, and love it. I also have the Side Saddle computer system with it.
The Noltings are made in the USA. Gammill used to be made by the same company as the Nolting, but moved its manufacturing over seas.
The reps for Notling are very helpful - at the shows, in person and on the phone. I was able to have ours delivered, set up and brief lesson on how to operate it by our rep.
Things to look for ---- stitch regulator, a frame that fits your space and the size quilts you want to be able to longarm. I have the 12 foot table. I also have hydraulics on mine so it is easy to move it if I want or need to.
The Side Saddle computer system is easy to learn and to use. It is easy to attach to the LA and to disconnect it so I can do computerize designs and free motion easily on the same quilt.
If you have any questions send me a PM or contact me via email.
Phyllis
QuiltingGrannie
Quilter's Pantry
The Noltings are made in the USA. Gammill used to be made by the same company as the Nolting, but moved its manufacturing over seas.
The reps for Notling are very helpful - at the shows, in person and on the phone. I was able to have ours delivered, set up and brief lesson on how to operate it by our rep.
Things to look for ---- stitch regulator, a frame that fits your space and the size quilts you want to be able to longarm. I have the 12 foot table. I also have hydraulics on mine so it is easy to move it if I want or need to.
The Side Saddle computer system is easy to learn and to use. It is easy to attach to the LA and to disconnect it so I can do computerize designs and free motion easily on the same quilt.
If you have any questions send me a PM or contact me via email.
Phyllis
QuiltingGrannie
Quilter's Pantry
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 471
No matter which LA you purchase make sure that you haved GREAT support. I have a Tin Lizzie that is close to 2 years old and have had way too many problems with the encoders and electronics on it. The real problem has been a total lack of company support. I have changed encoders 4 times and I would never buy this machine again. When my bobbin winder stopped working I was informed that most people chose to buy a seperate bobbin winder anyway. Machine is doing great now but for how long, who knows. It is not worth the frustration.
#30
Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Western PA.
Posts: 2
I live in the sticks and can't get off the farm for long. I did not try any long arms before purchasing.....just did months of reading and research on and off line before making a decision. In November I purchased an APQS Millie with the blissed frame, and quilt glide. The machine is extremely user friendly, and I've been having a ball using it. One of the big reasons I went the APQS direction is because their customer service track record is top notch and their forum members are very generous with tips and pointers even if you're a newbie. I agree that if you have the time and opportunity to try a number of long arms, you should try as many as possible. As for me....I'm thrilled with the machine I chose to buy.
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