Favorite long arm machine
#31
Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ooltewah, TN
Posts: 47
Feline fanatic-- Thanks for the feedback on the Bernina longarm. I have 2 Innovas with AutoPilot and have a longarm quilting business. One of my customers purchased the Bernina LA for $30K and still brings me her custom quilts. The Bernina is intimidating to her and she is afraid to use it. I know nothing about it, but I have a Bernina sewing machine which doesn't give you access to the tension or the ability to do minor maintenance when needed. That would not be a good thing for a longarm. Also, being able to add various options you want is an advantage with Innova. They all have issues from time to time and unless you have a Bernina dealer that will make house calls in a reasonable time frame your going to be up the creek in no time.
#32
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: northern minnesota
Posts: 2,480
Pardon the resurrection of an old thread. FF, if you are still here, can you elaborate on that comment? How do you get trained on the maintenance? I'm looking for a machine and I'm very technical and mechanically capable, however not on sewing machines. With the least instruction I'd be able to DIY some maintenance and that ability sounds very attractive to me, particularly on these high dollar machines. Thanks, Scott
#33
Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 8
Scott--I have a Gammill,but am guessing most long arm machines companies do this too--Gammill has a variety of maintenance videos on their website. Also the Gammill FaceBook group has many that know how to trouble shoot and the company owners and dealers are also on the site answering questions. they have a new mentoring program also that links those that have been quilting for awhile with beginners. Also, at larger quilt shows you can often find long arm maintenance classes. And my owners manual does a good job of giving me info I need (although it's old and the pictures are blah!)
#34
Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 8
Thanks all for the input. There's a used Innova with Navigator that I've considered. It's a long way away and I'd have to go get it and break it down. Even though I'm very mechanical, that may be daunting, particularly away at someone else's home.
There is an Innova dealer near our home and my wife is renting time on their machines. So she's familiar with that brand, but not married to it so to speak. We don't intend to get one for business use, but being technical, I would like to get one that is computer controlled/automatic. But the Innovas have been the most expensive, used in that category. And I know less about the other brands.
I'm not clear on the difference between Innova's Navigator and their Pilot Mach 3. I do use and have built non-sewing CNC machines that are run by "Mach 3" software, I expect that's the same thing the Innova Pilot is using, at least under the hood. Anyone know a summary of what Pilot does that Navigator does not?
What are typical stitch counts that would be considered high usage, medium usage, barely used? Or maybe what's an average stitch count on a Queen quilt?
Thanks to all of you who chimed in so far. I appreciate the input on this research very much. Glad I found a friendly place to ask questions.
There is an Innova dealer near our home and my wife is renting time on their machines. So she's familiar with that brand, but not married to it so to speak. We don't intend to get one for business use, but being technical, I would like to get one that is computer controlled/automatic. But the Innovas have been the most expensive, used in that category. And I know less about the other brands.
I'm not clear on the difference between Innova's Navigator and their Pilot Mach 3. I do use and have built non-sewing CNC machines that are run by "Mach 3" software, I expect that's the same thing the Innova Pilot is using, at least under the hood. Anyone know a summary of what Pilot does that Navigator does not?
What are typical stitch counts that would be considered high usage, medium usage, barely used? Or maybe what's an average stitch count on a Queen quilt?
Thanks to all of you who chimed in so far. I appreciate the input on this research very much. Glad I found a friendly place to ask questions.
#35
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: kansas
Posts: 6,407
Scott, in answer to your question on comparing the used Gammill with used Innova, I think both are excellent machines, made for industrial use. My Gammill is a 2006 Classic Plus--mean 28" harp and stitch regulator, not computer guided. It's easy to maintain and I think the frame/table is the sturdiest in the field (at least from what I've seen by taking lots of LA classes at major shows on other machines). They hold their price. Classic Plus can be retrofitted with either the Gammill Elevate (tablet, predesigned programs on their Creative Studio offerings, which you can check out on their website) or their Statler--which is considered the deluxe computer set-up--you can either use the predesigned programs or create your own. If you are running a business and want high turn-over a computer driven machine is smart--you can crank out a lot of edge-to-edge pretty fast! I do almost strictly custom work (rulers and micro quilting) so my handguided works just fine for me--but I like that I could computerize on the machine I have. I know lots of Innova owners like the Lightening Stitch regulator on their machines--I don't know if that's standard or extra $$. I will say that when I've used Innovas at shows I thought the frame was not as heavy duty and I didn't like where the on/off button is--even though I'm average height I had to walk to the back of the machine to use it.
#37
Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 8
Scott, in answer to your question on comparing the used Gammill with used Innova, I think both are excellent machines, made for industrial use. My Gammill is a 2006 Classic Plus--mean 28" harp and stitch regulator, not computer guided. It's easy to maintain and I think the frame/table is the sturdiest in the field (at least from what I've seen by taking lots of LA classes at major shows on other machines). They hold their price. Classic Plus can be retrofitted with either the Gammill Elevate (tablet, predesigned programs on their Creative Studio offerings, which you can check out on their website) or their Statler--which is considered the deluxe computer set-up--you can either use the predesigned programs or create your own. If you are running a business and want high turn-over a computer driven machine is smart--you can crank out a lot of edge-to-edge pretty fast! I do almost strictly custom work (rulers and micro quilting) so my handguided works just fine for me--but I like that I could computerize on the machine I have. I know lots of Innova owners like the Lightening Stitch regulator on their machines--I don't know if that's standard or extra $$. I will say that when I've used Innovas at shows I thought the frame was not as heavy duty and I didn't like where the on/off button is--even though I'm average height I had to walk to the back of the machine to use it.
Last edited by shorton; 07-21-2020 at 07:46 AM.
#38
Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 8
With any of these machines, Innova and Gammil in particular, how does one tell how much use they have had? Is there some kind of hour meter, or stitch counter? I've seen stitch counters mentioned in other brands at least. Surely there's a way to look at a used machne and know if it's had the bearings run off of it in a production or business enviroment vs some private owner who can just afford one and does their few quilts at home (low use). ?
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