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222 Posts
Haven't posted in quite some time, but always reading. Started out with an Adler 267GK 373, added a TacSew and an old beast Singer 305 30" longarm. Got my use out of the longarm and sold it last spring with a tidy profit. Next to go was the TacSew. A great machine really but had a buddy of a friend who was looking for an affordable machine.
Kept the Adler, then had a lead on an older Pfaff 1245 and picked that up. Currently switching it over to a foot lift as the knee lift mechanisms play heck on the hardware holding my knee together.
I've been doing quite a few custom van interiors and that's when I realized how much I missed the longarm machine. The Adler has very little space in the neck, the Pfaff about an inch more. Fighting the bulk of some of the panels was time consuming and, due to my vast inexperience lol, was affecting the stitches.
The guy I bought the Pfaff from had a pre-China Consew 206RBL-18 he wanted to sell and gave me a heckuva deal on it. Having the foot-lift and a manageable length is really nice. Finding a used long arm in my area that is "newer" and affordable is darn near impossible.
So, thought I'd give my views on the 3 machines:
1. The Adler is definitely still my "go-to" machine. Built tough and does about everything I need it to do. Top load bobbin is definitely nice.
2. The Pfaff, for the short time I've used it, is on par with the Adler. Seems to sew a little smoother. Also has the top load bobbin. The Pfaff seems to be a little easier to find larger welting feet for, but otherwise parts are tough to find and more expensive than the Adler.
3. The Consew, does what I need it to do quite well and easily. The wife asked if I could just use it for all of my sewing, and I probably could. However, it just doesn't run as smooth. The side load bobbin isn't as easy to change, and took a little getting used to. It sits on a 5' table, so I had to take a day to rearrange the work space. About the only thing I would add to it, is that it does have a Consew CSM1000 servo, I'm probably going to add a needle positioner to it.
The decent factor is that for what I have monetarily in each machine, other than the Adler, they were paid for by the profits on various jobs and the machines I sold. If they've held their values this long over the years, I should be okay if and when I decide to downsize and sell. I've mainly been doing projects for friends, any cold calls I refer to the local pro's and even at that I do 3-4 projects per month.
Kept the Adler, then had a lead on an older Pfaff 1245 and picked that up. Currently switching it over to a foot lift as the knee lift mechanisms play heck on the hardware holding my knee together.
I've been doing quite a few custom van interiors and that's when I realized how much I missed the longarm machine. The Adler has very little space in the neck, the Pfaff about an inch more. Fighting the bulk of some of the panels was time consuming and, due to my vast inexperience lol, was affecting the stitches.
The guy I bought the Pfaff from had a pre-China Consew 206RBL-18 he wanted to sell and gave me a heckuva deal on it. Having the foot-lift and a manageable length is really nice. Finding a used long arm in my area that is "newer" and affordable is darn near impossible.
So, thought I'd give my views on the 3 machines:
1. The Adler is definitely still my "go-to" machine. Built tough and does about everything I need it to do. Top load bobbin is definitely nice.
2. The Pfaff, for the short time I've used it, is on par with the Adler. Seems to sew a little smoother. Also has the top load bobbin. The Pfaff seems to be a little easier to find larger welting feet for, but otherwise parts are tough to find and more expensive than the Adler.
3. The Consew, does what I need it to do quite well and easily. The wife asked if I could just use it for all of my sewing, and I probably could. However, it just doesn't run as smooth. The side load bobbin isn't as easy to change, and took a little getting used to. It sits on a 5' table, so I had to take a day to rearrange the work space. About the only thing I would add to it, is that it does have a Consew CSM1000 servo, I'm probably going to add a needle positioner to it.
The decent factor is that for what I have monetarily in each machine, other than the Adler, they were paid for by the profits on various jobs and the machines I sold. If they've held their values this long over the years, I should be okay if and when I decide to downsize and sell. I've mainly been doing projects for friends, any cold calls I refer to the local pro's and even at that I do 3-4 projects per month.
