Originally Posted by ejpkam

So I had it all set up to purchase a tin Lizzie 18 on steel grace frame then chickened out. It wasn't the price that was a great deal4,999 new it was the unknown lol. I kept getting such mixed reviews on the tin Lizzie & that made me nervous & the fact it was being shipped to my house & we had to set it up yikes"". So to make a long story short I'm gonna go with th handiquilter sweet 16 and I feel really good about it!!

Originally Posted by aborning

I had a Tin Lizzie and truthfully, I had trouble with it 3 times during the 10 months I had it. 3 times it was down a week while I waited for parts to come to get it up and running. I felt like I got a lemon because so many people have them on this Board and love them. I also quilted about 70 quilts in that 10 months time. But I felt like I should not have had to have parts replaced (a stitch regulator encoder, a stitch regulator circuit board, and 2 stitch regulator cables) with only quilting 70 quilts. Since I do quilt for customers and will continue to, I sold the Tin Lizzie and bought a APQS Freedom. I have quilted about 40 quilts on it since I got it in November and I have not had any troubles with it thus far. If I ever down grade--I ill be buying a HQ Swwet Sixteen sit down. That is what I was going to buy originally --just for my own use--but my husband knows me well enough to know that I wouldn't be satisfied until I actaully had a long arm. And he was right. Good luck with your Sweet Sixteen. I'm sure you will love it.

Originally Posted by #1piecemaker

the thought of having one shipped to my home and me put it together turns me off entirely! I want someone who knows what they are doing to put mine together and show me how to run it!! I will be purchasing soon too. So, thanks for the info!

Originally Posted by margecam52

I have a TL18LS (LizzieStitch regulator). The TL18 you looked at...has a stitch regulator of sorts, and you know what...I have to put my Lizzie in the original stitch regulated mode to use my Qbot... had I known that, I would have gotten the TL18 machine.

I've had my Lizzie (my 2nd longarm) since 2009 & truly love it! We have a TinLizzieLongarm group on yahoo. The TL machines don't have any more or any fewer learning issues, mechanical issues than other, much more expensive machines.

the TL products use the same bobbins, needles, etc. as the Gammill machines. They are a very solid machine. I am not affiliated with TL company, just love my lizzie.

Originally Posted by topstitch

You so made the right decision. I question anyone who states that the Tin Lizzie does not have more problems than other LA Machines. But another big issure is when I had many, many, problems with my now 2 1/2 year old TL, I got no support from the home office. They did not answer my e-mails or my phone call. Probably because I wanted a new machine from the beginning of my problems. A Viking Tech. finally took my TL apart and got it working great by replacing most of the electronics, at my expense of course. Now I like it a lot, but no one should have to spend 2 years going through what I went through. I have stopped so many people at different quilt shows from buying a TL. I just take them aside and tell them my experience. I will never stop trying to guide people away from the frustration and grief that lasted 2 years. I only wish the TL big wigs knew what I was doing maybe then they would finally contact me.