Calling Janome 6600 owners
Sunny
please let me pick your brains.
1. How much did you pay? What did you get "extra" with the machine?
2. Is your machine tough enough to go a full year of fairly heavy use
before needing a service?
3. Would you buy it again?
4. If not, what machine in the same price range would you recommend?
5. If you already had another machine with all the extra stitches for
piecing, would you still buy the 6600 or would you get a fast,
mechanical straight stitch machine for quilting?
Ok, as you can see, I'm getting ready to do something stupid. But my
husband told me to fix the problem of having my machine fixed every
few months. He said to stop spending repair money and buy another
machine.
I'm just confused about what to do. I'm torn between a Janome 6600 and
the 1600 or the Juki that is comparable to the 1600.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr -- I can never make decisions. I really feel like
whatever decision I make I will regret. So I would like to get all the
data possible.
Thanks,
Sunny
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.
1. I traded a 3 y.o. Janome 4800 and paid $800 cash with the trade- that
doesn't tell you much, I know. After I made my best deal I insisted he
throw in the Accu-Feed 1/4 in. seam foot, the ruffler and the straight
stitch plate- he grumped and complained, but he did it. That said, I buy a
new Janome every three years, so he's sold a LOT of sm's to me and knows he
will sell me more in the future!
2. My dealer gives 3 yrs. of free service- as often as you wish- with each
machine sold. That said, mine is about 16 mo. old and I've had it serviced
twice. I do clean it and oil it very religiously in-between services. I
use my machine hard in spurts and starts. I will often sew for 14-16 hrs.
non-stop when facing a deadline. I just finished piecing and quilting and
binding a king-sized Warm Wishes in a week.
3. Heavens YES!!! I LOVE this machine! It's the perfect quilter's machine
IMNSHO
4. Zip
5. I don't do speed for speed's sake. The 6600 goes plenty fast for me- I
*like* accuracy which doesn't mix well with great speed. Even for long
straight borders or sewing multiple strip sets, I am just fine with it's
speed. For FM quilting, I set the speed control at just over 1/2 speed.
That's perfect for me to coordinate my hands and the sandwich movement. I
love the little hearts stitch for tacking baby/children's quilts. I like
the alphabet and the other stitches but don't use them a lot. It sews a
GREAT satin stitch which is something I do very often as well as the
buttonhole stitch- it has quite a few variations on the buttonhole stitch.
And the width and length adjustments are in very small increments to get
exactly the combination you want and need. One thing I LOVE is that I can
go full speed with the Accu-Feed engaged. With a walking foot I couldn't do
that cuz it would loosen the screw that holds the needle in place and I'd
have a heart attack when the needle fell out! Someone here always gripes
about the 'clunky' feet on the 6600- not a problem. The feet for use with
the Accu-Feed are larger than it's 'regular' feet- which it uses, too. BUT
those bigger Accu-Feed feet are still a LOT smaller that a walking foot and
it takes about 1.5 Seconds to engage the Accu-Feed. I seldom am not using
the Accu-Feed except for FM quilting.
Good luck in making a decision!
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.
"Sunny" <onet...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:bac34336-f02f-43c6...@p25g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
Marcella Peek
<bac34336-f02f-43c6...@p25g2000pri.googlegroups.com>,
Sunny <onet...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Those of you who have purchased a Janome 6600 in the past year or so,
> please let me pick your brains.
I think I've had mine 2 years now.
>
> 1. How much did you pay? What did you get "extra" with the machine?
$1,495. Came with the standard extension table and feet. Dealer threw
in the gathering foot.
>
> 2. Is your machine tough enough to go a full year of fairly heavy use
> before needing a service?
It has. I did have a circuit board problem but that was fixed under
warranty.
>
> 3. Would you buy it again?
Absolutely
>
> 4. If not, what machine in the same price range would you recommend?
Just remember that Janome makes Elna machines too. So, if you hate
Janome......
>
> 5. If you already had another machine with all the extra stitches for
> piecing, would you still buy the 6600 or would you get a fast,
> mechanical straight stitch machine for quilting?
Actually I had the Elna Quilters Dream (all the stitches) and the
Brother 1500 (more space, fast straight stitch) but this machine was the
best of both worlds. I use the Elna to take to classes. Haven't used
any of my other machines since I bought the 6600.
Regarding the problems you've been having. When you say your bobbin
"jumps" do you mean your clear plastic thread bobbin or the case that
holds the bobbin? There actually shouldn't be much room for your bobbin
to move vertically. Some of the people on the yahoo group for Janome
6500/6600 who have had the problem have discovered that they were not
using the correct Janome bobbins for the machine. Double check that one
because the bobbins can look quite similar.
For other people who've been having what they perceive as a jumping
bobbin problem it's really been that the needle thread has jumped out of
the take up lever. Threading the lever from left to right (so the
thread crosses itself) has solved that problem for everyone on the list
who was having it.
If it's the case that is jumping it is likely a worn out spring. That's
a very easy fix for a good sewing machine mechanic.
marcella
Taria
half dozen folks here that run 6600's. I would encourage you to sign
up to the Yahoo group for 6500 and 6600's:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Janome6500/
They have a file on prices folks pay for their machines. Remember the
dollar value will probably have prices up a bit these days.
1. $1599 +tax with the wheeled trolley thrown in. (not a real bargain)
2. No
3.NO
4. I think I am like John, I prefer a mechanical machine. YOu might
go back and read his msg. on machines not long ago.
5.definitely go for the larger harp,faster straight stitch machine.
My biggest problem with the 6600 is the Janome company itself. My
machine has a bad controller. The shop I bought it from went under
so I basically have no labor warranty. To get my controller replaced
I need to drive an hour away to the next dealer and pay for the shipping
on a new controller. If they don't have one there I need to pay and
then make a return trip to collect it. I said forget it. SO instead
when my new machine does not stop I unplug the controller from the
machine head and it stops. It is intermittent so nearly impossible
to know when it will happen. The folks in NJ at Corporate were less
than helpful. I was pretty surprised at the rotten attitude. I had
been warned by other unhappy Janome buyers but was unlucky to have
to find out for myself.
The 6600 is slower than the 1500 or 1600 stitches per machines. I think
it tops out at 1000. (I don't get a consistent speed since my
controller is wacky so it is tough to judge the exact difference) I
have a Brother 1500 and it really was a wonderful machine. I should
have just stuck with that but I wanted the buttonhole type appliqué
stitch. I think just about all the big companies have larger ss quilt
type machines out now but Bernina. Try all that you can. Unless you
are running over a lot of pins or breaking needles you should not
need a lot of service on a machine. Even though I am not thrilled
you might enjoy a 6600. Lots of folks do. I wish I was one of them.
HTH, Taria
John
I have also heard that there are a few problems with the 6600. Most
people love their machines, and wouldn't use another mfgrs machine on
a bet. That being said, the few problems that are out there, point out
the inconsistencies of all sewing machines. They are great if they are
working but they are the devil, if they are off. Your problem sounds
like a mechanical one with the bobbin. I don't know the fix, but the
online support groups mentioned are often a great source of
information. Somebody has gone through the problem you have, whatever
it is, and has come up with a fix. I personally had problems with a
Bernina computerized sewing machine that almost put me off of them. I
traded it in on another, better computerized Bernina, and have not had
any problems. The machines I prefer are mechanical, and they are the
ones I use most often. There is one less group of items to go wrong
when you use a mechanical machine. The trade off is that you don't
usually have the vastly greater number of stitches and features that
are available on computerized machines. They are what I started sewing
on, so I am comfortable with the choices they offer. If you started on
later model machines, and you utilize all of the multitude of stitches
and features on them, then you might find mechanical machines
limiting, when it comes to features. Life is full of compromises. I
don't think I could live with one machine that supposedly does it all.
I know that in the machinery world. multi-purpose machines are at best
a compromise that do done of the various things that they do as well
as a dedicated single purpose machine does. That, at least, has been
my experience with machine tools for woodworking, and other shop
skills, and I believe that it applies to sewing machines, as well. If
you would look inside a modern sewing factory, you would see various
dedicated single purpose machines, doing one thing and then passing
the item on to the next machine operator. If it would be more
efficient to do it otherwise, then they would do it. I think that
speaks volumes as to the suitability of single purpose machines. The
only thing that makes the multi-purpose machines viable, is if cost or
space is a consideration. There again, the rule of life being full of
compromises takes over.
KJ
this is an instance where one of these would be useful? I'm a gadget nut
and tried to order these from another vendor but when I told her I had a
Bernina, she said not to bother, I wouldn't need it. Perhaps Sunny does.
--
Kathyl (KJ)
remove "nospam" before mchsi
http://community.webshots.com/user/kathylquiltz
"John" <fixedg...@columbus.rr.com> wrote in message
news:1ec839a3-2361-432a...@27g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
KJ
These slick space age washers eliminate the backlash in the bobbin when
changing directions at high speed. Backlash creates "birds nests" in
free-motion quilting and embroidery. Just drop a Little Genie in the bobbin
case and replace bobbin. Fits longarm and domestic machines. Designed by
author, teacher and award winning quilter Sharon Schamber.
The "changing directions at high speed" caught my eye. Maybe this really
could help Sunny.
--
Kathyl (KJ)
remove "nospam" before mchsi
http://community.webshots.com/user/kathylquiltz
"John" <fixedg...@columbus.rr.com> wrote in message
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Pami
By all mean get the 6600. I had the same problem my old machine died. The
machine cost close to $2,000 but they had more in there for more $$ so for
what you get it's a nice machine. I got the plastic table...bed or whatever
they call it with mine.
Janome is a very heavy machine. I finished my son's denim quilt on it no
problem.
Martha Stewart also had a new Singer Curvy on her show the other day that
looked nice as well.
http://www.sewingideas.com/curvy.html this machine doesn't look bad for the
money. Martha use the pink one.
Pami
Anne Rogers
> The 6600 is slower than the 1500 or 1600 stitches per machines. I think
> it tops out at 1000. (I don't get a consistent speed since my
> controller is wacky so it is tough to judge the exact difference) I
> have a Brother 1500 and it really was a wonderful machine. I should
> have just stuck with that but I wanted the buttonhole type appliqué
> stitch. I think just about all the big companies have larger ss quilt
> type machines out now but Bernina. Try all that you can. Unless you
> are running over a lot of pins or breaking needles you should not
> need a lot of service on a machine. Even though I am not thrilled
> you might enjoy a 6600. Lots of folks do. I wish I was one of them.
It's funny isn't it, but there does seem to be a huge element of
randomness in sewing machines. I haven't used a Janome 6600, but I do
have a near bottom of the range Janome, I moaned about it a lot, but
the moans weren't actually to do with the machine, just that I wanted
stuff it didn't have, so the fact it sewed a great stitch on stretch
fabric was rarely of use to me, it had no features of use to a
quilter, but I was able to use it sucessfully, I initially said I
wouldn't buy another Janome, but when I analysed it further, I
realised it was the features not the manufacturer that was the
problem. I ended up buying a brother, mostly because of the location
of the shop and the excellent service I've had their (they were able
to get bulbs for my Janome, even though they don't sell Janome and I
needed european ones, not US ones and with no fuss whatsoever, they
had them in the store within 48hours, with no work on my part). The
brother hasn't been as good as I had hoped, and has needed to be
replaced, but again, I can't fault the store, I'd buy another machine
from them, just not a Brother!
Anne
Polly Esther
Berninacs don't need it, okay. Does make sense though. Polly
"KJ" <KJo...@NOSPAMmchsi.com> wrote in message
news:rVeYj.170713$yE1.145549@attbi_s21...
Taria
the Grand Quilter both have a bobbin spring inside the bobbin case
that collects a lot of lint. Cleaning that out every bobbin
change helps tension a lot.
Do the newer Bernina machines have the bobbin case with the
small thread hole in the arm? For satin or fussy stitches that
gives the bobbin a little extra tension that makes the front of the
stitch is really nice looking. My 'new' 830 and old 930 both have
that.
Taria
John
Yes the Bernina bobbin cases have the hole in the little arm for
passing the thread through. It does seem to help in certain
applications like Embroidery.
John
Lenore L
got a second bobbin case on E-Bay so I could have one to adjust. I have it
but haven't done anything with it yet.
"Taria" <tariaw...@verizon.net> wrote in message
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