Looking to buy cheap quality sewing machine

19 years ago

Greetings,

I am new here. I have a Sailrite Ultrafeed sewing machine that works great for heavy canvas work (it's intended purpose). But, I am having a heck of a time trying to get it to sew regular fabric. I have reached the conclusion that this machine is not suitable for this type of sewing (for me anyway - perhaps someone with more talent than I could coax it into good behavior on the lighter fabrics).

Now, I am thinking about getting a separate machine to do sewing on regular materials. I don't sew much, though, so I don't want to spend a lot of money. I don't want to buy junk, either. I would like to keep the cost under $100, preferably way under $100. There is a used Pfaff Hobby 1030 advertised in my price range and I wanted to get your opinion. I know Pfaff has quality machines - does that include the lower end of their product line?

Are there other brands I can trust for quality all the way to the lower end of their product line? Do you have any other advice for a novice buyer?

Thanks for your thoughts.

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Comments (2)

chelone
19 years ago
Yard sales!

You can find tons of wonderful machines in great condition at yard sales. And they're dirt cheap. If you have any sort of mechanical acumen you will be quickly able to discern if they've been abused or simply put away and forgotten.

Dime a dozen! and of vastly superior quality to anything new sold in "sew 'n' vac." shops.
cmc_97
19 years ago
For $100 new, you are on the very lowest end of price and quality or sewing machines.

If you can pick up a used machine for $100, it will likely be a much nicer model, just older. The Pfaff 1030 is probably a good deal. What is this model selling for new?

A used machine will give you the best bang for your dollars. I'm a Pfaff fan, but any used Big Name Brand would be a good bet: Pfaff, Bernina, Elna, Baby Lock, Janome, Viking (and probably others I've forgotten).

If you are handy and feel comfortable cleaning and oiling sewing machines, yard sales can be a good deal, but you have no idea how beat up the machine is that you will get. If you have to take it in to be serviced by a professional in order to get it to good sewing condition, that can cost $60 to $75 (depending on the machine, where you live, etc.) So starting out with a machine that has already been serviced is not a bad idea.

Buying a used machine from a sewing machine dealer is usally a good bet. The machine has been cleaned and serviced, and it's in running order. The sales lady at my Pfaff dealer told me they sometimes throw away beat up trade-ins; only the good ones end up on the sales floor. Basically, they just take the trade-in in order to make the sale. They don't count on making any money off the used machines. They have only a few used machines in the shop at any time, but they are good ones.

My local sew and vac guy (not a certified sewing machine dealer) has lots of sewing machines he's serviced for sale. They've all been cleaned, adjusted and fixed. I know he has an associate who hits the yard sales and brings him stuff. He does spend time and parts to get them up and running well, but he's probably not as picky as my Pfaff dealer.

CMC
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