Starting Up

[eyelady]

Hi. I live across the pond in the UK. I've recently started making leather handbags and purses which I'm really enjoying. I've been using an old domestic Janome with a walking foot and have a Brother B755 Mk3 but am struggling getting even stitches which is frustrating! I'm looking at getting either a flatbed machine with a walking foot and needle feed or something like an Adler with a cylinder arm. Please can you advise on what will be most useful? Will I eventually need both? Thanks- I'm a bit confused by the huge choice and all the jargon!

[dirtclod]

I would get the cylinder arm machine. In my shop i have cylinder arm, flat bed and post machines and the cylinder arm machine is the handiest to use for everthing. You can get or make a flat bed attachment for one if you want. My machine is a Juki Pro 2000. Never have used a Adler or seen one but i hear good things about them. One more thing i would the longest arm they have. Mine is 16 inches long and the extra room comes in real handy. John

Edited May 9, 2010 by dirtclod

[eyelady]

Thanks John- that's a great help. I'm looking at getting a used machine. There seem to be some ancient machines for sale that look like they'll go on forever, but I don't want something that's going to give up after a few months. Are there any things I need to be looking out for when buying a used cylinder arm?