Author Topic: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?  (Read 12313 times)

Offline stitches4815

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #15 on: February 21, 2012, 06:30:16 PM »
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.


Offline Homer

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #16 on: February 21, 2012, 07:51:56 PM »
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!
...keep doing what you're doing, you'll only get what you've got...

Offline mk162

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #17 on: February 21, 2012, 11:17:14 PM »
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.

Offline Denis Kolar

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #18 on: February 22, 2012, 08:01:21 AM »
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.

Offline mk162

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #19 on: February 22, 2012, 08:11:01 AM »
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.

Offline GraphicDisorder

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #20 on: February 22, 2012, 08:40:43 AM »
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. 
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Offline GraphicDisorder

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #21 on: February 22, 2012, 08:42:16 AM »
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. 
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Offline Denis Kolar

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #22 on: February 22, 2012, 08:47:38 AM »
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.

Offline Denis Kolar

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #23 on: February 22, 2012, 08:49:55 AM »
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.

Offline GraphicDisorder

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #24 on: February 22, 2012, 08:55:35 AM »
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. 
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Offline mk162

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #25 on: February 22, 2012, 09:18:08 AM »
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.

Offline IntegrityShirts

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #26 on: February 23, 2012, 01:40:10 PM »
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.

Offline mk162

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #27 on: February 23, 2012, 02:51:02 PM »
I have not heard good things about the Amayas.  Maybe they have gotten better.

Offline JBLUE

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #28 on: February 23, 2012, 04:04:46 PM »
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.

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Offline IntegrityShirts

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Re: Machine differences? Specs, reliability, etc?
« Reply #29 on: October 23, 2012, 09:22:05 PM »
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.