Can you buy a long arm quilting machine for $1000?
04-09-2012, 03:44 AM
#22
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Central Pennsylvania
Posts: 36
I started with a Mega Quilter on a frame like yours. If you're only going to do it as a hobby and can deal with doing just overall designs or small pantographs you'll be OK with this. I quickly became frustrated by the lack of space and the ability to do anything bigger including block designs. But it's hard to get a larger longarm for that price. You can get the above on ebay - just keep checking. If you want to spend a bit more check Craig's list and the different midarm-long arm companies websites - sometimes they have reconditioned ones as a fair price. Good luck.
04-09-2012, 03:56 AM
#23
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: South Ga.
Posts: 126
It looks like the machine on the frame in your link is a Janome 1600. I have quilted on one of these and the machine I used did not have a stitch regulator. It takes a lot of practice to learn how to get your stitches even without a regulator.
04-09-2012, 04:16 AM
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 4,116
Krisb mentioned the Brother 1500 which I use on my quilting frame. It works OK but has only a 9" throat so I have limited workspace and frequent adjustments. The longarms start at around $10,000.00 here, so I've only played with other peoples'. If you are prepared to adjust a lot and not get quite the same result as a longarm, then all of Krisb's suggestions would be suitable. Try to get one with a speed regulator and an easily accessible on/off button if you do go for the cheaper models.
04-09-2012, 04:29 AM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Texas Hill Country
Posts: 948
My first machine was from WOW Quilting Machines with a Hinterberg frame. I paid $1500 for the setup in 2003 and sold it for $960 in 2008. I now have a Gammill. Google WOW Quilting. They were really nice to work with. I had a lot of questions back in 2003 and they were very helpful.
04-09-2012, 04:40 AM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 957
I quilted on a Gracie Frame with a Janome 1600 & liked it better than the much more expensive machine on another frame. I think because I was so new at it & I felt I had more control over the Janome 1600 than the real expensive machine. For what I wanted to do it would have been fine. If you only want to do this as a hobby then I would go with the 1600 rather than put a whole lot more money into it. As I found out quilting is NOT a cheap hobby but I still love it. I ended up getting a much more expensive machine with an embroidery unit & a sewing table that the entire table raised & lowered electrically. This was much better for me because of my age. And I can have the table at whatever height I need it to be. And the machine does so much more. If money was no object I would have got the quilting frame too along with the Janome 1600 to use wih it.
04-09-2012, 07:12 AM
#28
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Enid, OK
Posts: 8,273
actually, you need to know what your frame will hold...not all frames can hold the larger machines! be sure to check allbrands.com and do the research into the machines/heads. If you have to buy a ton of add-ons to make it useable, it might not be a bargain!
04-09-2012, 07:16 AM
#29
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Enid, OK
Posts: 8,273
04-09-2012, 08:13 AM
#30
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sebastopol, California
Posts: 147
Judy I have a question for you. Why buy a frame before you have a machine? I also would love to have a long arm some day I always thought you would purchase the frame, the machine and all the goodies at the same time? Good luck on finding a machine i am sure one is out their with your name on it you only have to find it. ;~) No need to answer I found your answer on page 2 HHAHAHA happy quilting
Last edited by yippie; 04-09-2012 at 08:22 AM.
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