Watson

For me, I really thought I wanted a stand up long arm. I rented time on one, I bought a machine on a frame and I discovered that no matter how much I wanted to like it,I just don't care for it.
I tried a sit down and I love it. Bought one and it's wonderful. I feel close to the quilt and I can see what I'm doing, control the fabric and go slow/small if I need to. With the long arm, I felt far away from the fabric and everything felt clunky and too fast to me.
I also have lower back problems, so standing for a long period, or even leaning over to thread could be a challenge.
Remember too that you may be great at FMQ on your sit down, but your skills may not transfer to the long arm.
Other people try the long arm and it feels fantastic, so please try it out a lot before you make a decision and decide for yourself which is the way to go.
Also, the dealer is really important. Really important. If anything goes wrong you can't just ship one of these things back to be fixed. (That goes for a sit down, too) You may need someone to come to your place, so keep that in mind when buying. I'd be inclined to go with a bigger name with a dealer nearby or even buy second hand with a dealer nearby.

Whatever you decide, have fun!

Watson

Still Sew N

Thank you! Thank you. Every response was great and I will read them again and again and new ones that pop up. Good advice, good suggestions. Thank you!

Dolphyngyrl

I sit on a stool at my stand up long arm so it's not an issues for me

Innov8R

Still Sew N--I, too, encountered the charming gentleman and his amazing Eclipse at a show. I loved that 20 inch throat and slick frame. I loved the fact that the inventor had worked on designing HQ machines before he branched out and with his Eclipse model. I almost went back to the show and bought one of his machines. It would have been a mistake. I was not ready. I decided to think it over. In the interim, I am getting ready. We are setting up a room for a LA and I plan on buying a starter machine before I take the big plunge. One might say "cooler heads have prevailed." If you are ready, maybe it is the right choice for you. I know the best plan for me was to think it over. If you go to the FB page for Eclipse, you will find that the show prices will be available when you are ready.

selm

You have received excellent advise here. I will add some practical considerations - You will need room for a longarm setup. You need floor padding on either of the longarm to ease standing for long periods of time.
As mentioned, sitting quilting and standing at a longarm are very different ways of quilting. When I first encountered the methods of sit down quilting I almost gave up on quilting as it seemed to complicated to me. To me longarm is the only way to quilt. Your experience with "arms falling asleep" could be because of your posture or tension when you quilt. You might not have this with the longarm.
Do lots of research as recommended here before you decide what to do. Good luck.

patricej

a friend of mine bought that brand at a show nearly two years ago.
since i discourage others from flaming vendors or products i am obligated to keep this simple.

do not walk away.
Run! Run like the wind!
Run like you were being chased by hungry lions, tigers and bears!
oh, my!

mosquitosewgirl

Sew....I bought an Artistic Quilter 18SD a couple of years ago. I fought with it and fought with it. While I could do small pieces, table runners, etc. I just couldn’t get it right. I was broken hearted and thought I had really wasted m money. And then I came across an opportunity to buy a used Grace frame. Moved my AQ18SD to it and I am happy as a clam. Have spent about 30 hours on it now doing FM, as well as using the templates. Love. love, love