I only use my serger to overlock the edges of fabric for clothing.  I know there are special feet and needles and things that make it do different stuff, but I only ever need it for clothes.  I don't even serge-and-sew with it.  I run each piece of fabric through it separately, then sew them together on a regular sewing machine.  Had too many boo-boos that could not be easily fixed (or fixed at all) to try and serge-and-sew in one fell swoop.  That cutter is without mercy! 

Sorry to hear about your boo-boos, that is frustrating. Sergers are not for every sewing situtations. A friend gave me extreme sewing lessons & cured me of all concern about the cutter blade.

When my children were pre-school, nothing would beat a serger for all their t-shirt & sweatshirts. I could make shirts for less than a quarter. Now that they are grown, I find my serger wonderful for home sewing & repair. You can bring frayed bath towels back to life in minutes. I found a bolt of fabric .75 a yd & made tableclothes, table runners & napkins for Christmas gifts. Total cost for 6 hard to please women, $7.50. My last sewing project was window treatments, cost for 10 windows & 2 patio doors was less than $20.

Sewing machine companies began using plastic or nylon gears in their machines sometime after World War II. I've seen pictures of machines that the one area that got the most wear, the gears, were the weakest part of an otherwise all metal machine. I can only guess that this is when the idea of "planned obsolescence" came into being, because it would be difficult or impossible to repair those broken plastic gears. For these used machines I wouldn't spend the money either unless or until I could look inside to see what the gears looked like, if it in fact had gears. Any purchase of a used machine should have a good inspection first, unless you are buying it on someplace like e-bay, and then like anything there you take a chance of it not being what you thought it was.

This use of weak plastic parts hasn't happened in just sewing machines either. I've bought many different things new and found that plastic was in place on whatever part was the most likely to break, like hinges on a lunch box, or small gears on a kitchen appliance. Frequent use guarantees it will break in a few months.

 These old metal machines have been brought back to life with just cleaning and oiling, and they are still running strong. They have simple but very strong engineering that has lasted, in many examples, more than a century, as machines that were manufactured in the late 1800's and forward are still doing their job with no problems. The most common Singer class 66 machine,  and the class 15 machine use bobbins that are still sold in fabric stores today. The 66 uses a common needle, the 15x1, as do many other household sewing machines.  Care has to be taken in inspecting the wiring on the older machines, if it looks in good shape with no bare wires anywhere and it runs good too, then the machine will do the job. If in doubt about the wiring, have it inspected by a qualified person.

Edey

My mom said bobbin covers go walking as it were in stores.   I agree about plastic parts.  We had to replace the same part in our washing machine twice. it was plastic part that should have been metal.

I could never get the tension right with my serger even with a class. drove me nuts so it sits in the computer room. not that I have time for crafts yet.

I agree adjusting the tension of sergers can be a hair pulling experience. With my machine I found it was the quality of thread that caused the problem. Some brands had too many slub threads or thicker spots on the thread causing the tension problem.  I can only use Maxi-lock brand with success.

It is so dissappointing to find plastic or nylon parts. Should this be reason enough not to buy a sewing machine?

jan bee:

It is so dissappointing to find plastic or nylon parts. Should this be reason enough not to buy a sewing machine?

If you buy a new machine with the understanding that it has plastic parts and therefore that plastic will break down over time, you won't be surprised when it happens. Spending $100.00 for a machine at Wal-mart you should realize that it may only last no more than 5 years if you use it on a regular basis. If it does last 5 years that machine will only cost you $20.00 a year. Then you spend another $100.00 to replace it or whatever the inflated price is at that time. You would also possibly be getting the lastest innovation in design. However, buying an all metal machine that is well crafted will probably last you the rest of your life with regular oiling and cleaning. Have several metal bobbins on hand,  a spare belt or two, plus spare bobbin tire/rings, and you are set for many years of enjoyable sewing. Edey

You are right, I regular sewer should not buy a machine with plastic parts. But I won't tell a person who only pulls out the machine once or twice a year to buy a machine they can't justify. First, use a simpler machine for years & prove the money would be well spent.

I have a friend who does not have a sewing machine because the one she wants she can't afford. She refuses to put money into one that will only last 5-10 years. They have 7 in their family, clothes are never repaired. Her husband & children beg for a simplier sewing machine, they are willing to do the repair. When extra cash comes in they spend it on clothes to replace the ones that just need mending. I've tried exchanging my sewing service for babysitting, given sewing coupons for gifts & held repair clothing day with several friends. She refuses all repairs on our substandard machines & will condenm our sewing machine because it's not her dream.

I know she is not dealing with reality. But wouldn't a cheaper machine doing basic sewing functions help them get ahead to save for her dream machine? 

 

You know, Jan bee, my embroidery machine is a dream machine--one I may wind up upgrading in a few years if my business warrants it--BUT it was not at all necessary all those years that I was just doing basic sewing on my $200 Singer.  My Singer did just fine. 

Modern machines = lots of fancy stitches and helpful features (like self-threading features)

Old metal machines = machine that will sew canvas, leather and denim.

If you are not going to sew canvas leather and denim, get a modern machine for cheap; you are more likely to enjoy the fancy stitches.  Me, I both sew heavy stuff on occasion, and I like the fancy stitches, so I have both (plus the new embroidery machine).  But, for most people, a new $100 machine will do just fine for the occasional, light-duty stuff they want to sew on it. 

Amen to those good basic machines that last. Mine ran for 18 years, until the replacement parts were made by a different company & the timing was totally off.

I was just wondering-if someone can't afford the $200 Singer would a cheaper machine be better than nothing?