This is all very interesting and informative - thank you everyone.
I've been sewing a very long time (my mom taught sewing when I was growing up and I'm retired). I'm am interested in getting an industrial for heavier projects - bags, dog toys(!), repairs on outdoor equipment for Scouts, etc. My brain is swirling with all the things I have in mind. :-)
I was shown a machine that I think is a TechSew. The manufacturer wasn't clearly marked, but the model number was "2150MX".
It is a cylinder bed triple walking foot that does both zigzag and straight stitch. Needless to say it was rather pricey ($3495 new from a local dealer). It was mounted to a Consew table, but I can't find anything like it on their site. The only thing I was really told was "it took us a year to get this one". (Ok whatever on that.) The seller ran it briefly on zigzag, unplugged it and walked away.
It looks an awful lot like the Techsew, and the closest I can find online is a Techsew 2150-2 for $3999.
Here are my questions:
Do any of y'all have or have used a combination zigzag/straight stitch cylinder bed machine?
Good idea/bad idea?
Run far far away because there's too much to go wrong with it being a "combo" machine?
Would it be better to have separate machines - one zigzag and one straight stitch?
TY-
Frances