Hawaii Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 I have been practicing my rulerwork and have found that my expanded base bumps into the top roller and the leveler roller, limiting the area of my rulerwork. Technically,how high can these roller be raised/ or how long are those bolts that hold these rollers. We have already raised the rollers a smidgeon to accomodate the CL Giant templates. Maybe this is a question for Amy or Mark. I would love to have more working area. Another question, some of you have removed the top roller because you float your top and batting. What are the benefits/issues in doing this? And what the heck do you do with the extra roller bar? Thanking you folks in advance. Aloha, Barb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 ........pole dancing......? (from another thread--I didn't make it up!) I am sure you can raise both rollers enough to have clearance for the extended base. If you remove the top roller the only issue I have heard about is that you need to re-learn where the edge of the quilting field is, since so much fabric is within view. Also remember, that roller you remove has a nice straight leader on it in case you want to replace a stretched leader on another roller. Or you can trade out a leader to launder it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 SheriB removed her bar and floats her top. (That doesn't sound right does it?!?) I chose to leave my bar in place. I like having it to pin my top to. I find I have a more consistency in my overall tightness of the quilt sandwich this way. I plan to quilt alot of large tops though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 I wouldn't raise them too high that might cause issues with your quilt sandwich. Raise maybe 1/4" or 1/2" max??? Just enough to clear the roller with the extended base. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncutt Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 I've been thinking of taking off my top bar, too! Any pics, anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoleneK Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 I've raised 3rd roller bar about a 1/2 inch - the problem is the tension block (the black brreak thing that goes on the top/bottom bars to keep tight) the tension block doesn't fit as snuggly when the bar is raised. You can remove that bar, but you will need to do something with your break, like put a "fake" bar in the top notch of the break where the top bar was. I think you can use a heavy PVC pipe or a piece of "real" pipe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Originally posted by ffq-lar ........pole dancing......? (from another thread--I didn't make it up!) I have been trying to erase this image from my mind....trying avoid the nightmares it could bring...and now...here it is again :P:D;) You can raise your bars, the front one you can raise enough to clear the base. I think you need to be careful with the height on the leveler bar, you don't want it too high. It can cause problems with your tension...stitches, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizziesgirl Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 I dare not let DH read this post, he'll be taking the bar off my machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grannyju Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 When I ordered my Mille I ordered from APQS a little short bar that just holds the brake. Then we didn't install the top roller bar since I float all my quilts. Connie, the rep in Lewisville, has this on her machines. She called it the "Texas Hold-em". You might contact APQS about these. It works great! JULIE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Butler Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 I just used a piece of pvc in place of the bar. Works Great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Butler Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 another view/pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Butler Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Here's the pic of the bar removed, so I can float all my quilt tops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaii Posted April 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Omigosh. You ladies are something else & SheriB - your pictures make things very clear for a brake substitute. Linda R. mmmmmm "pole-dancing" - not with this aging body of mine. But seriously, can this roller be jerry-rigged to hold batting underneath the machine. I think I've seen pictures somewhere on this forum of someone doing that??? Mahalo (thank you) for all your input. Barb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Hi Barb, I think the roller is sooo heavy that rigging it under the machine to hold batting might not work. To replace the batting roll would mean taking the roller (or one end of the roller) from whatever bracket you design to hold it in place, then remove the old roll of batting and replace with another, heavier roll, and then lifting the roller back into the bracket. All while squatting/sitting under the table. Ouch! There are marvelous batting holders that have been shared here. I think all utilize either a length of PVC pipe or a wooden rod to hold the batting. Much lighter. As for what to do with that orphan roller? You will be happy it has been set aside and saved if you ever need to replace a roller that has warped from leaning on it or over-tightening the quilt top. Just a thought--to save your back from injury!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 To hold my batting, I used 1-1/2" metal conduit. It is strong and light enough even with 2 full rolls of batting. It is simply mounted below the frame on a set of hooks that my hubby welded to the frame. Works great for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busy Quilting Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 I have removed my top roller bar, as I am "vertically challenged" even with my table at its lowest it was in the way. I have wrapped it in an old king size sheet and it sits between the two legs just about level with thebottom of the table. Easily fits out of the way. My husband cut out a circle from an old bench top and inserted a rod (that goes through the eyebolt hole) that then holds my brake. To have a visual of where my stitching area ends I have a long selvedge cut from backing fabric, that I stretch from one table leg to the other. Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncutt Posted April 5, 2009 Report Share Posted April 5, 2009 Thanks, guys! Now how do you remove your thread cutter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Butler Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 1. Get a flash light. 2. Get a phillips head screwdriver with a long neck. 3. pull off the plastic round cover thingies on the left side of the cutter. 4. insert screw driver and remove 3 of the 4 screws. 5. the 4th screw, top, closest to the front of the machine, you need to unscrew the bolt inside the thread cutter opening at the front of the machine, and lower that arm mechanism. 6. NOW unscrew that 4th screw. Slowly pull away from your machine the thread cutter, until you can reach inside from the back and unplug the wire. 7. re-assemble the arm mechanism at the front of the cutter. Walla! Thread cutter removed. 8. Get some electrical tape, and tape your wire that lead to the thread cutter, tape it to the side of your machine, out of the way of everything. You now have a Freedom with All the Bells and Whistles, WITHOUT the thread cutter, and you've lost 3 lbs. Wish I could unscrew a few things on me and lose 3 lbs in 5 min. LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtreusch Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 Hi Sheri. I just love my machine now without the thread cutter. I should have removed it several years ago as I seldom used it and it was just excess baggage. Yea, I'd also like to get rid of some unwanted lbs in just a few minutes. If only it were that easy.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primitive1 Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 Is it possible that that extra roller bar could be used for a roll of batting under the table? Just a thought? Vicki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newellyn Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 I have removed my top bar and love it. I use my centering tape to remind where the end of my stitching area is. I have always preferred to float my tops, somehow being able to see it all hanging there helps me decide how I want to quilt it. Now if I could just remember what I did on the top when I get to the bottom, hmmm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boni Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Hey Lynda, take a digital picture of the top and all along as you quilt. Then when your top is out of sight just look at the picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elita@BusyNeedleQuilting Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Sheri, Here's a weird question: is your light on backwards or is mine? I guess they're just different years & they have changed the placement. The photo struck me as something not right until I realised what was the difference. Interesting. Elita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Hi Elita--it looks like Sheri re-positioned her light bar for better lighting on the quilt top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 Elita...Sheri DID move her light bar. I am wanting to do the same thing to mine...just haven't yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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