Input on Long Arm Quilting machines
 

I am looking for some advise about Long Arm Quilting. I have tested the Tin Lizzie Ram. I was wondering if any of you have one and how do you like or dislike it and why. I have been on other groups and not many seem to have that machine. Doing your own quilts seems to be what everyone is doing, i have been sending mine out to be done.
This would be a big step for me to have my own and move forward in making and using up all the fabric that I have at this point. What are your thoughts please email me Thanks Jean

if you have 'tested' the machine---how did YOU like it? before I purchased my long arm 10 years ago I visited every dealer I could find- test drove machines at shows, visited websites to see what all the company offered, what other customers were saying, what features were available on different machines. then I made my lists of pro's & con's, figured in costs, service, available tech support and chose the machine that was right for me at the time. even though now after 10 years I am considering going in a new direction with an upgrade I have been very happy with my choice- I spent months doing the research before the investment. if I had just gone by what someone else who had the machine said I never would have purchased my machine- because the people I knew with it hated theirs...but they never took the time to learn how to use it- and for some reason thought they could buy it, set it up, turn it on & suddenly quilt show worthy quilts...never considered there is a learning curve & you have to practice, practice, practice to reach that level.

Are you wanting one because everyone else seems to have one? Do you have the room to devote to a machine? I guess you do since you are wanting one. I don't have the room so it's not an option for me. I've read plenty of posts where the person has bought a long arm and was frustrated because of the learning curve. I'm satisfied to just send mine out or do it myself on my domestic machine. I know I wouldn't be as good as my long arm lady is, then I would have this big expensive machine sitting around!

Compare the price of a long arm to the cost of paying to have quilts done by someone else. If you can still rationalize the expense, and can afford it, then go for it.

I plan on getting a mid-arm (approx. 11" harp space) to put on my frame so I can quilt my quilts more easily than I now do with my domestic sewing machine (approx. 7" harp space). I know I'll never quilt enough quilts to justify the expense, but I really enjoy this part of the process. So if it works out that my future quilts - including the cost of all my equipment - average out to be $500 or more per quilt - at least I've enjoyed myself. And if I get good enough at it and end up doing a few "contract" quilts and make a little money, great!

I love my longarm. Test all the machines you can before you purchase so you will be happy with the machine and the frame is also very important.

Test, test, test, what one person likes may not matter at all to you. It is really important that you be comfortable with what ever you buy so that using it is a joy, not dread. I have an HQ16 and love it.

Have you tried a search on the board? (Search function is in upper righthand corner. Advanced search is especially helpful.) There have been threads about the Tin Lizzie and quite a few other longarms. I have seen quite a few negative threads about the Tin Lizzie, but I think these were about their older machines, not the one you are looking at. Here's one example of that kind of thread:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...ems-t7784.html

There is no substitute for trying out machines yourself. I tried out a few at a state quilt guild show a few years ago; it really helps. The machine that stood out for me was the Innova. However, I knew I didn't want to spend that much money right now.

Because I had researched machines so thoroughly on the net, I knew that a used Voyager 17 with Hinterberg stretch frame would fit my budget. Although I had not tried one out, I had read many positive comments about it on the QB and on other quilting forums. So, when a used setup was advertised at our local quilt guild (the owner was upgrading), I bought it and have been very happy with it. I was saving up to buy the same setup from http://www.hinterberg.com but it was less expensive to purchase it locally when one came up for sale.

I still am not sure if I want to pay $20,000 for my "dream" longarm. Maybe some day. Meanwhile, I'm very happy with my much more modest investment. It is helping me complete lots of tops!

I have the voyager tooo.I do like it.. but I want to sale it and get a bigger machine.. I Have no idea what to sale it for??

You asked about a Tin Lizzie. That's what I have and I like it. I have the Ram. I didn't test drive all the models like I probably should have, but I've been happy. I have a few suggestions: (1) buy from a reputable dealer who is close enough to fix it if something goes wrong, and (2) learn the whole process. Just sewing on a longarm is fun. Loading it and doing everything else is a lot more work than I thought it would be. I don't regret getting it, but I'm sure glad I didn't get it for a business. Watch the whole process before you decide.

I have a 2009 Tin Lizzie LS and love it. I quilt as a business and for myself. I also have the Quilt Magician robotics, but I honestly do mostly freehand work. Always had great service from my dealer. I bought mine as a demo model and added the robotics a year later.

Now if money wasn't a problem, I'd have gotten an APQS Millennium on a 12 foot frame. But that's a dream. ;)