This thread has a lot of responses and some very good info: http://www.t-shirtforums.com/embroidery/t104123.html
What type of machine do you use?
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Hi,
My machines can stitch up to 1000 or 1200 spm, I dont remember. I never run them that fast though. Always stitch between 650 and 850, depending on the garment. I really like my machines, never have any major problems, stitch out nicely and are affordable. Seems as though Tajimas are a really nice machine as well, just cant afford them
Happy to help,
Kim
My machines can stitch up to 1000 or 1200 spm, I dont remember. I never run them that fast though. Always stitch between 650 and 850, depending on the garment. I really like my machines, never have any major problems, stitch out nicely and are affordable. Seems as though Tajimas are a really nice machine as well, just cant afford them
Happy to help,
Kim
Thanks Kim. My wife wanted me to ask about them because we are moving to Florida and want a company close by if we need help or service.Hi,
My machines can stitch up to 1000 or 1200 spm, I dont remember. I never run them that fast though. Always stitch between 650 and 850, depending on the garment. I really like my machines, never have any major problems, stitch out nicely and are affordable. Seems as though Tajimas are a really nice machine as well, just cant afford them
Happy to help,
Kim
They're located close to us now. We went there for a demo last year. I liked them a lot, but they are not the cheapest and we need a good machine with a low ticket price. The Melco is nice and the price is right for us. I think we want something in the same price range if we don't go with them. I have a Brothers, but for the price of their new 6 needle, I can get 9 to 15 needles, 16 with Melco, and not pay a whole lot more.
Q1. I have two commercial machines both 12 needle - Happy single head HCA1201 & SWF multi head 1204
I like the Happy because it built like a tank made to run 24/7. The SWF was bought based more on price, it has done the job and I have no major complaints with it.
According to the thread counters on the machines, in the time I have owned them I have done
HAPPY - 36.5 million stitches
SWF - unsure exactly how many stitches, the counter only goes to 10 million then back to zero
I know I have clocked it a few times though, probably getting close to 500 million stitches
Speed isn't everything. You can only hoop so many garments in a given time. With the multi-head, I run it at around 700spm so I have time to hoop the 4 garments for the next run and trim the previous run before it finishes the current run, if that makes sense.
While both machines are capable of 1000+spm my usual production speed is around 700 (650 for caps, 750 for shirts).
Think of it this way, your car can do 120mph - do you drive it that fast? No, it will breakdown more often if you do, wear and tear is increased, costs go up as you need to repair it more often, same with you embroidery machine.
Q2. Have owned both for 10yrs...built to last
like most commercial machines these days.Q3. Depends on your budget, location, service locations etc. Happy, Tajima, Barudan, ZSK, SWF, Melco are all good machines, today most machines are the same, only minor differences in capabilities. Make a list of what types of jobs you do now and what type of jobs you want to do in the future. Once this is done, look for a machine that does most if not all of this.
If you are only doing small designs (left chest) and no big back designs you won't need a multihead machine with 500mm head spacing 360mm or smaller will do, This means you will have a smaller machine (length wise), this will free up valuable floor space in your workshop. So there are a lot of things to consider, with price being number one for many.
Q4. 12 needles in most cases will be enough.
Some will say 15 is better. This will depend on the designs you stitch.
Most of my designs are corporate or business logos - max 6/7 colors. Some weeks I go the whole week without changing colors.
But, if you do the custom onesies market where lots of colors in a design seems to be the norm, you will want to consider the 15 needle or more machines.
Q5. Depends on final use of item being embroidered. I use both Rayon & Polyester.
Polyester - is a synthetic fiber derived from coal, air, water, and petroleum - excellent washability and color fastness, also I tend to experience less thread breaks when using it compared to rayon thread - I use it for garments that will be "abused" when washed e.g. Hospitality uniforms
Rayon - more colors, more sheen, but color fastness is not same as Polyester thread.
If you want an eco friendly option, this could be the way to go - Rayon, a textile material, is composed of cellulose obtained from cotton linters or from the pulp of trees such as spruce.
Also, keep the number of colors you have on hand as low as possible, thread has a shelf life...it doesn't last forever. After about 12/18 months it wil start to deteriorate and you will start to have issues when stitching with it.
if I haven't used a color for 12 months, I throw it out.
On a side not: I use to keep 130 colors in my stock range, today I have that down to 67. I hope to have that down to 40 odd by the end of the year.
I also now charge for non stock colors, non stock means, if they don't like the brown I have and want me to get one "one shade" lighter, I charge them, has helped reduce the number of times I have to order a color in for a job knowing I will never use it again.
Hope that helps
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