Will a frame fit??
06-01-2012, 12:04 PM
#11
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Location: East Tennessee
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The poles will come off and the side pieces the poles fit into. The poles will probably be the longest single pieces and they can easily be tied together and tossed into a pickup unless the base if the frame has all been welded together. It's not one of the ancient, oil dripping, cast iron behemoths but it does appear to be made specifically for the frame it is sitting on so putting the head unit on a different frame will probably need extensive modifications.
I can see the start/stop button on the right handle (front & back) but I would ask about a speed controller. It may be a "full-steam ahead" type. I doubt it has stitch length regulation or that a 3rd party product can be added for stitch length control. That is probably what most new users need the most unless they have the time & patience to teach themselves to self-regulate their stitch length. Some people seem to be able to just see/hear/feel the right movements & timing and people that learned on one of these older machines make the rest of us look incompetent--LOL. Unless you are truly determined to learn & have no problem teaching yourself--I would not buy this machine--much less lose a days vacation & rent a truck/trailer to go after it. Unless you live near Stover, MO and can drop in on the Nustyle folks often--I think you will be setting yourself up for disappointment. You maybe one of those "I can do anything or die trying" people and then it would be worth it if they are only wanting a couple hundred dollars for the setup.
I think you will be much happier saving your pennies for a more modern style of machine quilting system or even investing in one of the Juki/Brother/Janome/Pfaff/Babylock/Viking 9" straight-stitch machines & the $300 frame you found locally. That small setup has many more users that will be able to offer help & encouragement and you'll get a fine piecing machine if you later decide to upgrade or that machine-frame quilting just isn't your style.
The comment about the cardboard mockup made me think about something else. Do you have enough space in your home to setup a 12' frame? You'll need at least 13 x 4' of clear area and 14 x 6' would be better. My frame is currently setup at 10' and it is about 2' out from the wall on 2 sides so that I can get all the way around it.
I can see the start/stop button on the right handle (front & back) but I would ask about a speed controller. It may be a "full-steam ahead" type. I doubt it has stitch length regulation or that a 3rd party product can be added for stitch length control. That is probably what most new users need the most unless they have the time & patience to teach themselves to self-regulate their stitch length. Some people seem to be able to just see/hear/feel the right movements & timing and people that learned on one of these older machines make the rest of us look incompetent--LOL. Unless you are truly determined to learn & have no problem teaching yourself--I would not buy this machine--much less lose a days vacation & rent a truck/trailer to go after it. Unless you live near Stover, MO and can drop in on the Nustyle folks often--I think you will be setting yourself up for disappointment. You maybe one of those "I can do anything or die trying" people and then it would be worth it if they are only wanting a couple hundred dollars for the setup.
I think you will be much happier saving your pennies for a more modern style of machine quilting system or even investing in one of the Juki/Brother/Janome/Pfaff/Babylock/Viking 9" straight-stitch machines & the $300 frame you found locally. That small setup has many more users that will be able to offer help & encouragement and you'll get a fine piecing machine if you later decide to upgrade or that machine-frame quilting just isn't your style.
The comment about the cardboard mockup made me think about something else. Do you have enough space in your home to setup a 12' frame? You'll need at least 13 x 4' of clear area and 14 x 6' would be better. My frame is currently setup at 10' and it is about 2' out from the wall on 2 sides so that I can get all the way around it.
06-01-2012, 03:35 PM
#12
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,783
I would recommend using the frame which comes with the machine, even if it doesn't break down. My Gammill frame does not break down, and that is what makes it so stable. Stability is very important in a frame. I would also recommend calling them to find out the exact measurements of the frame, including the thickness at the thickest part, and make a cardboard mockup to use to try getting it into the house the way you think it will fit. Then you will know better if you can proceed. It's what we did. If you don't have large pieces of cardboard (remember you can't bend the cardboard at all during the exercise) you can get them from somewhere that sells large appliances like refrigerators, etc. And then ducttape the pieces to make your cardboard "frame". Good luck to you! Hope you can get it!
06-02-2012, 03:18 AM
#13
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: East Tennessee
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Confession is good for the soul!
I haven't spent much time dwelling on this but I do appreciate good advice. It's probably too early in the morning to try to put my thoughts down, but I'll try. It'll be rambl-y...
There's no doubt in my mind that the machine has been well-taken care of. I have been searching for a machine with a larger harp for several months now. I have almost exactly what I need to buy this set-up in savings just for this. I had a 9-inch harp (juki) on a Grace Frame and didn't like the experience at all and sold it. The machine I quilt on now is older and I love it but I'm afraid of what will happen when it dies. I do have a back up machine but it doesn't like to FMQ.
I really think I'd be happiest with a sit-down, but couldn't resist the pull of a long-arm. Our bedroom is 18' long and has an exterior door to the driveway, so as long as it fit through that door, it would fit in the room. I have a big sewing desk set up, but wouldn't need it if I had a long arm. Anyway, I have been obsessively scouring Craigslist and found the Nustyle http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/art/3016463557.html and contacted them about it. I came to the conclusion that it would be too expensive for me to transport and thanked Debbie for her time and wished her well and thought "that's that".
A week went by, and she sent me an email that said they really needed to get it out of the way and they are flexible on price. So, my mind went into overtime, trying to make this work. I really appreciate Beverly being honest about it because that's exactly what I needed to hear.
I went ahead and pulled the trigger and my husband ordered me a new Brother 1500 a minute ago. I just never had a new sewing machine and it's scary to spend that much on one when you have a perfectly fine $50 Pfaff!! And I don't want to mess with a frame with a small machine. I can rent my fabric store's LA for $8/hour and I think that's as close as I'll get to owning one! I really didn't want this 12' monster in my bedroom!! As much as I'd like a $1600+ machine, I'm going to get the $500 machine instead. I can't find anything used, which tells me that nobody gets rid of them!
There's no doubt in my mind that the machine has been well-taken care of. I have been searching for a machine with a larger harp for several months now. I have almost exactly what I need to buy this set-up in savings just for this. I had a 9-inch harp (juki) on a Grace Frame and didn't like the experience at all and sold it. The machine I quilt on now is older and I love it but I'm afraid of what will happen when it dies. I do have a back up machine but it doesn't like to FMQ.
I really think I'd be happiest with a sit-down, but couldn't resist the pull of a long-arm. Our bedroom is 18' long and has an exterior door to the driveway, so as long as it fit through that door, it would fit in the room. I have a big sewing desk set up, but wouldn't need it if I had a long arm. Anyway, I have been obsessively scouring Craigslist and found the Nustyle http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/art/3016463557.html and contacted them about it. I came to the conclusion that it would be too expensive for me to transport and thanked Debbie for her time and wished her well and thought "that's that".
A week went by, and she sent me an email that said they really needed to get it out of the way and they are flexible on price. So, my mind went into overtime, trying to make this work. I really appreciate Beverly being honest about it because that's exactly what I needed to hear.
I went ahead and pulled the trigger and my husband ordered me a new Brother 1500 a minute ago. I just never had a new sewing machine and it's scary to spend that much on one when you have a perfectly fine $50 Pfaff!! And I don't want to mess with a frame with a small machine. I can rent my fabric store's LA for $8/hour and I think that's as close as I'll get to owning one! I really didn't want this 12' monster in my bedroom!! As much as I'd like a $1600+ machine, I'm going to get the $500 machine instead. I can't find anything used, which tells me that nobody gets rid of them!
06-02-2012, 05:38 AM
#14
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: TN
Posts: 1,443
Ashley - didn't you have an almost new Juki TL98Q you sold because you didn't like it or the Grace frame? The Brother machine is almost identical, unless I'm looking at the wrong machines. I admire your enthusiasm, but the machine doesn't make the quilter, only practice and patience does that. If buying a fancy machine was all it took to make gorgeous quilts we'd all be rich and famous! I know you have patience because you hand quilt.
06-02-2012, 12:35 PM
#15
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Hahaha, yeah, that was me! When I sold the Juki, the lady (who knows more about sewing machines than I'll ever retain!) said that it was having problems but she could take care of them. I thought it was me. I have gone thru a few machines in the past year. I gained a LOT of confidence with my Pfaff and practice too. I'm looking for more room to work and another machine when Pfaffy dies. Or to keep her alive a bit longer. I certainly don't need "fancy" but I do want more room!
Ashley - didn't you have an almost new Juki TL98Q you sold because you didn't like it or the Grace frame? The Brother machine is almost identical, unless I'm looking at the wrong machines. I admire your enthusiasm, but the machine doesn't make the quilter, only practice and patience does that. If buying a fancy machine was all it took to make gorgeous quilts we'd all be rich and famous! I know you have patience because you hand quilt.
06-02-2012, 04:40 PM
#19
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