Sewing machine trial results
Jul. 10th, 2005 01:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mmcnealyYesterday I went out and test drove several sewing machines. On a whole, the Bernina's look like good machines, the Vikings seemed shoddy and ill-made.
First we went to the Husquevarna/Viking dealer up the road. I tried out one of their mid-range mechanical machines and then a low end electronic. Both of them had lots of stitches, but the case seemed to be made of flimsy plastic and the machines didn't sound very sturdy when I used them. They also were $600 a piece, not worth it IMHO.
Next we drove out to the Bernina dealer. Its in more of a working class town than the retirement village that we seem to live in. The owner was nice and friendly, and they had a large number of Bernina and Pfaff machines. I got to test drive two mechanical Bernina's, the Bernette 90e and the Bernina Mechanical 1008.
The 90e is a good machine, has a nice selection of stitches and importantly has a variable speed selector slider. One of my biggest complaints about my current machine is how slowly it sews, the 90e sews fast when its at its maximum. It also has a nice selection of stitches and have everything I need. Retails for $500, with a 10 year warrenty on the electronics and 20 on the parts.
The 1008 is pretty close to industrial strength machine, solid metal everything. It went through my test batch of 8 layers of canvas like it was going through air, no stresses or strains. It has more stitches that the 90e, although the knobs to set the machine can be a bit difficult to figure out initially. It retails for $700, 20 year warrenty on the machine.
I didn't try out any of the Pfaffs as Matt was giving me those big puppy dog eyes that said "I need lunch!"
Conclusion
Currently I'm leaning towards the 90e as the 1008 is just a bit more machine than I need, and its $200 more. The 90e also went through the canvas quite easily, so if I want to sew a dining shade I could do that on that machine.
First we went to the Husquevarna/Viking dealer up the road. I tried out one of their mid-range mechanical machines and then a low end electronic. Both of them had lots of stitches, but the case seemed to be made of flimsy plastic and the machines didn't sound very sturdy when I used them. They also were $600 a piece, not worth it IMHO.
Next we drove out to the Bernina dealer. Its in more of a working class town than the retirement village that we seem to live in. The owner was nice and friendly, and they had a large number of Bernina and Pfaff machines. I got to test drive two mechanical Bernina's, the Bernette 90e and the Bernina Mechanical 1008.
The 90e is a good machine, has a nice selection of stitches and importantly has a variable speed selector slider. One of my biggest complaints about my current machine is how slowly it sews, the 90e sews fast when its at its maximum. It also has a nice selection of stitches and have everything I need. Retails for $500, with a 10 year warrenty on the electronics and 20 on the parts.
The 1008 is pretty close to industrial strength machine, solid metal everything. It went through my test batch of 8 layers of canvas like it was going through air, no stresses or strains. It has more stitches that the 90e, although the knobs to set the machine can be a bit difficult to figure out initially. It retails for $700, 20 year warrenty on the machine.
I didn't try out any of the Pfaffs as Matt was giving me those big puppy dog eyes that said "I need lunch!"
Conclusion
Currently I'm leaning towards the 90e as the 1008 is just a bit more machine than I need, and its $200 more. The 90e also went through the canvas quite easily, so if I want to sew a dining shade I could do that on that machine.
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-10 08:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-10 08:46 pm (UTC)