Serger Machine Questions

[cinelu]

I've been sewing intermittently for 25+ years. I'm interested in a serger, but have never owned or even used one. My sister was having her hair cut the other day, and her hairdresser mentioned that her 80 year old mother was formerly a seamstress for a designer, and is in the process of retiring and selling her equipment. She says that her mother has a Singer serger for $80. I'm supposed to go look at it on Friday. Any tips as to what I should look for? Does this seem like a good price? What features should the machine have? In the past, I have sewn clothing. I am interested in learning to quilt and do more crafting. I am also intrigued by baby diapers, covers and all in ones.

Thanks for your input!!!

[LJH]

Depending on how well the machine has been maintained, $80 sounds like a good deal. I don't know anything about Singer sergers, but I have a 26 yr. old Baby Lock that's still going strong. I should add that

1.) I'm a maintenance fanatic and
2.) it hasn't seen much action since I started my quilting business a couple of years ago (you don't use a serger in quilting)

Get the manual! If she no longer has it, they're almost always available online for a few bucks, but you'll want the threading diagrams and oiling points. Get any accessories that come with, particularly the long, bent-end tweezers for threading.

Try it out with some scrap fabric. If the knife doesn't cut clean it'll need to be replaced but that's not a deal-breaker, they're easy to do. They sound different than a regular sewing machine so don't let that throw you off, it's hard to explain but if you've been sewing for years you know the sound of a well-maintained machine as opposed to a dry one.

That's it off the top of my head. Hopefully there are some Singer serger owners who can chime in with more specific info.

[DM]

There's NO WAY i'd buy ANY serger unless i saw it in action, and i don't mean for 30 seconds either. I'd want to sit down and sew on it, and i'd also want the seller to show my how to thread it, as some of those older models are a HUGE PITA to thread, and it's best to have someone show you how it's done. You really NEED the manual for a serger too.

Over the years, Singer has had MANY different companys build their sewing machines, some mfg's did a LOT better job than others. That's why some love their Singers, and others have nothing but problems with theirs.

Personally, of the older sergers, i like the Pfaff sergers best...

DM

[mtwildflower]

I have a Bernina serger that I bought in 1992 that is still going strong. I had about a year of frustration with it though when it wouldn't sew to my satisfaction, would skip stiches, or the tension would be funky, whatever. FINALLY figured out that I had one teensy little thing wrong in the threading on one of the lower loopers. It was in a spot that was hard for me to see and unless I really LOOKED at it, it escaped my attention...for a year. Argh. So simple and so my fault.

You defintely need the manual with clear illustrations on how that sucker is threaded.

I'd also sew a number of sample fabrics and use any additional feet she may have with it.

Personally, I wouldn't even look at a Singer anything....unless it was older. IMHO on Singers, the older the better. The quality of their machines has really suffered over the years and to me, that makes them unreliable. However, $80 is a hard price to beat. For that price, I'd at least give it a look and if there was nothing seriously wrong with it, I would probably buy it at that price.

[cinelu]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I will post the outcome.

[cinelu]

Well, the lady never called me yesterday. I called her daughter this morning, daughter said that mom had not been well this week, and she had a doctor's appointment yesterday. She assured me that they had not sold the serger yet, and that I would get the first opportunity on it. I'm waiting (rather impatiently). If not before, they are planning to have a garage sale next weekend, so maybe I'll have it by then.

[cinelu]

I talked with the lady, she said her mom tested the serger and it wouldn't work properly, so she's not going to sell it. Drats!!

[DM]

You are lucky she was honest. Sergers can be a very expensive problem...

DM

[afptl]

I have purchased 2 sergers from my local sewing store. We have a few sewing shops in the area, one high priced and the other reasonable when they get a decent serger in. I just kept calling them twice a month or so. I could thread the serger in the store and sew a test sample before purchasing it. No warranty, but that was ok. One was a Bernina 2000 DE which has been a real workhorse. Paid 325 for it used, but it has just worked wonderfully! My daughter uses it now.
the other one is an older Babylock. I only paid 175 for it. I like it too. A little harder to use than the Bernina, but not a problem for me. I think changing the needles regularly and decent thread (love the mettler/metrosene brand) really helps. both machines have differential feed which is nice for curves and other uses. Hope that helps!