beginning serger: brother vs. singer vs. white

Posted by Aay P.-M. on June 11, 2006, 9:46 pm

Hello everyone...
I'm going to buy my first serger and have a pretty tight budget so I
narrowed my choices down to a factory-refurbished Brother 1034D and
Singer 14SH654. I've found both for about $200 including shipping. A
lot of online reviews & consumer reports seem to say that specific
Brother model is reliable and easy to use, while a lot of message
boards seem to think that brother sergers in general are crap despite
their high-quality sewing machines.

I can't seem to find too many opinions on the specific Singer model I'm
interested in anywhere, although a friend says Singer in general is
pretty reliable and many accessories are interchangeable among
different the singer machines. Also, the Singer I've found offers a 25
year mechanical and 2 year electrical warranty.

But in the course of all this research, I've seen a lot of rave reviews
for the White 2000. The cheapest one I've found is $300 - is it worth
the extra cash? Also, the White 2000 lacks a free-arm unlike the Singer
and Brother. Does anyone find that the free-arm makes sewing sleeves
and other tubes that much easier or can I manage without?

If anyone has advice about these three machines I'd love to hear it...

Thanks!
APM

Posted by Pat in Arkansas on June 11, 2006, 10:28 pm

Aay P.-M. wrote:
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I still have an OLD Singer serger that was not top of the line when I
bought it, but still churns along nice overcasting.

The free arm is really handy for a lot of things and it would be on my
list of features, for sure.

I have Brother sewing machines (2) that I love, but I too have heard
the sergers are not too whippy.......I have no first hand experience
with them, though.

Posted by Kate Dicey on June 12, 2006, 3:39 am

Aay P.-M. wrote:

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The only serger I've seen with a free arm is the Huskylock. I don't
know anything about the others, but for the sort of things I do, the
free-arm is necessary. Much will depend on what you want to sew.

I'd run a mile very fast from any Brother serger.

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Posted by Sharon Hays on June 12, 2006, 7:56 am

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I had 2 Brother sergers. One I had for about 2 days then I exchanged it for
the second one. Kept the second one for about 24 hours and took it back to
get my money back. I cannot say "piece of crap" in any more stringent of a
tone. You could not pay me to use another Brother serger. Not even if you
had Bill Gates' kind of money.

After I got my money back for the Brother serger, I bought a White. Not the
model you asked about. But I did pay about $100 more than the Brothers.
Wonderful machine. No free arm on mine either. It hasn't slowed me down
any. It's done fine for me for several years. It's done everything from
chiffon to denim and upholstery fabrics.

I stopped reading consumer reports, etc. years ago. Now I find someone who
has actually Used a thing before I trust someone who's only "tested" it.
There's a big difference there.

Good luck

Sharon

--
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of time and just annoys the
pig.

Posted by Phaedrine on June 12, 2006, 11:19 am

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I could not agree with you more.

--
I fear me you but warm the starved snake,
Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your hearts. (Henry VI, Shakespeare)

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