Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?

[stitches4815]

We never regret getting a 4 head.  It was wise a decision.  We have had jobs where it would have taken forever if we had anything smaller.

[Homer]

see the other thing too is, we are mainly doing samples not full production runs. If a customer orders a few dozens t's and a dozen hoodies, I want to toss in an embroidered hat or hoodie. Once we get the order, I will send it out to my usual account. The numbers don't make sense for us to try and run dozens on a single head, it just doesn't add up. but for names and screwing around I don't think it's a bad move. trying to make a business out of a single head is a different story. I am excited to bust a move with this thing and see what we can do to upsell to our existing customer base.

I think my next move would be a 4 head, possibly a 6 depending on where we were in sales but before we go there, I need to order me up a sportsman!

[mk162]

go for 6.  we got an swf dual function 3/3 and it's great.  i love sewing either all heads on 1 design, or 2 different designs.  It really speeds up production.

[Denis Kolar]

I started with Tajima Neo2 about 2.5 years ago. I love the macine!!!
I think it is time to get a few more heads. I thought about re-doing one of the rooms in the house and make it a office/embroidery room, but I decided against it.
The reason was, I thought about buying an used 4 head Tajima or SWF. I have a big problem with my basement, I can not take down anything bigger than a single head, even the single head with a full size table/frame might be a problem.
In the end, I will be looking for another single head soon, and hopefully, another one by the end of the year. Three single heads should be enough for my needs, if I overgrow that, that will tell me that it is time to get out of the basement and rent a warehouse or a retail space.
I have heard that 3 single head machines could do more in 8 hours than a 4 head. That is because you can load one while the other two are running, on the 4 head, you have to be down while you are loading the shirts/hats.

[mk162]

Also, when you have a thread break, it doesn't stop the other heads.  That is the other thing I like about the 3/3.

We went from a 4 head and single head to a 3/3 and kept the single.

There are so many singles out on the market right now that we'd be lucky to get $2k for ours.  Might as well keep it.

[GraphicDisorder]

I started with Tajima Neo2 about 2.5 years ago. I love the macine!!!
I think it is time to get a few more heads. I thought about re-doing one of the rooms in the house and make it a office/embroidery room, but I decided against it.
The reason was, I thought about buying an used 4 head Tajima or SWF. I have a big problem with my basement, I can not take down anything bigger than a single head, even the single head with a full size table/frame might be a problem.
In the end, I will be looking for another single head soon, and hopefully, another one by the end of the year. Three single heads should be enough for my needs, if I overgrow that, that will tell me that it is time to get out of the basement and rent a warehouse or a retail space.
I have heard that 3 single head machines could do more in 8 hours than a 4 head. That is because you can load one while the other two are running, on the 4 head, you have to be down while you are loading the shirts/hats.

I had a 2 head and a single head in a basement before moving to my shop.

Built a ramp, tied them to my Diesel truck, backed it up with them strapped to the hitch.  Worked out, took them out the same way. 

[GraphicDisorder]

Also, when you have a thread break, it doesn't stop the other heads.  That is the other thing I like about the 3/3.

We went from a 4 head and single head to a 3/3 and kept the single.

There are so many singles out on the market right now that we'd be lucky to get $2k for ours.  Might as well keep it.

The Dual functions are decent, but correct me if I am wrong I thought they had a slightly smaller sewing field than the full size multiheads.

My machines all have the 500x450mm sewing field. 

[Denis Kolar]

I started with Tajima Neo2 about 2.5 years ago. I love the macine!!!
I think it is time to get a few more heads. I thought about re-doing one of the rooms in the house and make it a office/embroidery room, but I decided against it.
The reason was, I thought about buying an used 4 head Tajima or SWF. I have a big problem with my basement, I can not take down anything bigger than a single head, even the single head with a full size table/frame might be a problem.
In the end, I will be looking for another single head soon, and hopefully, another one by the end of the year. Three single heads should be enough for my needs, if I overgrow that, that will tell me that it is time to get out of the basement and rent a warehouse or a retail space.
I have heard that 3 single head machines could do more in 8 hours than a 4 head. That is because you can load one while the other two are running, on the 4 head, you have to be down while you are loading the shirts/hats.

I had a 2 head and a single head in a basement before moving to my shop.

Built a ramp, tied them to my Diesel truck, backed it up with them strapped to the hitch.  Worked out, took them out the same way. 

I thought about building a "storm" exit from my basement, but that will run me around $4000. There is no any other exit from basement except the main basement entrance in the house. I think that I would rather have another single head instead of the door.
And through the house, I get into the basement from a hallway on first floor. Right across the basement door, there is a wall that will prevent me to turn around any machine that is bigger than a single head. I could knock out the wall and bring the machine down, but I do not know how my wooden steps would like that

I'll stick with the singles for now.

[Denis Kolar]

Also, when you have a thread break, it doesn't stop the other heads.  That is the other thing I like about the 3/3.

We went from a 4 head and single head to a 3/3 and kept the single.

There are so many singles out on the market right now that we'd be lucky to get $2k for ours.  Might as well keep it.

The Dual functions are decent, but correct me if I am wrong I thought they had a slightly smaller sewing field than the full size multiheads.

My machines all have the 500x450mm sewing field. 

Also, I have heard that there are some issues with the vibrations and machine movement. I guess when you are doing hats on one side and polos on the other, the different pantograph movements and vibrations mess up the machine.

Brad, I guess you are a perfect person to dispute this.

[GraphicDisorder]

Also, when you have a thread break, it doesn't stop the other heads.  That is the other thing I like about the 3/3.

We went from a 4 head and single head to a 3/3 and kept the single.

There are so many singles out on the market right now that we'd be lucky to get $2k for ours.  Might as well keep it.

The Dual functions are decent, but correct me if I am wrong I thought they had a slightly smaller sewing field than the full size multiheads.

My machines all have the 500x450mm sewing field. 

Also, I have heard that there are some issues with the vibrations and machine movement. I guess when you are doing hats on one side and polos on the other, the different pantograph movements and vibrations mess up the machine.

Brad, I guess you are a perfect person to dispute this.

Heard that from several dual function owners as well.  I always wondered if they had the machine on wheels still though.  Didn't seem to me like it would be possible to cause issue but I have heard it more than once. 

[mk162]

Our machine has wheels, but it is jacked up off the floor and doesn't sit on them.

We've never had a problem with vibrations, maybe because it's a 3/3 it's heavy enough to prevent that.

We also don't sew hats on it, for some reason we can't get them to look good...and I hate sewing them anyway, so we send them out.

As for the sewing field, I really don't do much over your standard left chest size.

[IntegrityShirts]

What about the Melco Amayas?  Anyone have one or a few?  Seems like they have a different style machine more geared toward external computer control rather than hardware/software built into the machines?  For some reason they look less durable, maybe because they look smaller?

That's pretty cool that you can get a 3/3 split machine on one cart like that.  I'm most definitely looking used when I do buy but would like expandable options.

I like the idea of networked single head machines but obviously I have no experience using them so I have no way of forming an opinion.  For that network reasoning I also like the esp9100's by Toyota.

SWF and Happy seem to be the most affordable in the 15 needle machines.

[mk162]

I have not heard good things about the Amayas.  Maybe they have gotten better.

[JBLUE]

What about the Melco Amayas?  Anyone have one or a few?  Seems like they have a different style machine more geared toward external computer control rather than hardware/software built into the machines?  For some reason they look less durable, maybe because they look smaller?

That's pretty cool that you can get a 3/3 split machine on one cart like that.  I'm most definitely looking used when I do buy but would like expandable options.

I like the idea of networked single head machines but obviously I have no experience using them so I have no way of forming an opinion.  For that network reasoning I also like the esp9100's by Toyota.

SWF and Happy seem to be the most affordable in the 15 needle machines.

I have been told by several embroiders to stay far away from both of these brands. Nothing but problems. I should clarify that it was Amaya and Melco that the warned me about.

[IntegrityShirts]

Update! Picked up a t-e1501c to get me going. Anybody have a manual for this thing? I where do you get your thread? Which bobbin size do I order the M or L? Needles? What's good?

Sews ok but thread is really old and brittle and breaks unexpectedly. Going to try new thread then a service if that doesn't work!

Single head I know, but snagged it for 3k so not a bad deal.