jimerickson

Have you tried vacuuming them. It might help. Jim

Helen: I just looked on e-Bay and found listings for 2 commercial units. Listing number 165674996748 "Tin Lizzy" unit at $90 plus shipping, and listing number 363815762528 SWF unit at $73.67 with free shipping. The units I have are like the Tin Lizzy one. I'm unfamiliar with the SWF unit, so I can't really comment on it. Based on another listing it seems the SWF unit is quite expensive new. If I were buying, I'd probably buy the SWF unit, but I'm sort of adventurous and a bit of a risk taker so it might not be the best unit for you. I know the Tin Lizzy unit will serve you well. I see a lot of Chinese stand alone winders at reasonable prices, but I'm a bit leery of quality control on their stuff. Might work great, might not work at all. Good luck. Jim

Helen: Don't buy another cheap winder. Save your money and buy a good one. I use a commercial winder and it has served me well. I have several that i've bought over the years. Some as complete free standing units, others a simply pieces that I put together. I bought all mine as used items. Paid as low as $10 (a really good buy at a quilt show rummage sale), and as much as $65 off e-bay. APQS's high end winder is high quality, but also high cost. Jim

Thanks Nigel.

I've seen posts in the past from quilters who sew binding on their quilts using their long arm. I'm looking for specific detailed instructions on how to do this. If someone would be so kind as to write them out, or direct me to a set of instructions, I would appreciate it. I wonder about how it's sewed, horizontal, vertical, or both. Post and lintel, or mitered corners. Batting trimmed to edge or plus 1/4 inch to fill binding. And so on. Thanks. Jim

Debra: There was a recent post here by someone looking for an original Ult 2 spoon foot. Owner had a ruler foot and wanted to change. Look for the post. Perhaps you can work out a swap. Good luck. Jim

Look on some of the sewing supply web sites, you'll probably find some. E-bay might have have some as well. Good luck. Jim

Looks like this is a question about a robotic system. Probably would be more effective if posted on the specific forum covering that system. Good luck. Jim

Deb: This is the right site, but most of the QP users hang out on the Face Book site. As for the long and short stitches, check your encoders to make sure everything there is working properly. Jim

Bonnie: On all the winders I have (4 or 5), the tension disks can be adjusted horizontally, and this controls where the thread is wound on the bobbin. Look and see if your winder doesn't have a similar adjustment. I think the screeching sound you hear is the "O" ring on the drive shaft slipping. Probably time to replace it. Good luck. Jim

What's wrong with the one you have (last legs)? If the motor is giving out replace it, or simply replace the brushes. I'm assuming you already have a commercial unit. If not, buy one. Jim

Exactly what "second floor" location do you have the machine set up on? Unless the building shakes easily, I can't imagine the location of the machine is causing your vibration. Look for some other issue. Jim

Bobbi: You might want to move (or simply list) this in the "machines for sale" forum. Probably get a lot more attention there than here. Good luck. Jim

Sounds like you probably found the problem already From your description, I'd have suggested you look at your encoders. Hope the problem has been solved. Jim

Well, maybe I'm wrong, but I thought they were made on the same platform as the Ult 2, or the Lenni, and my Ult 2 is 20 inch. Jim

I think you'll find that the throat on this George is only 20 inches, not 22. I think the late "square" throat Georges were the only 22's. Jim

I have a customer or two that are pretty week in their piecing. I use high loft batting on such quilts. Helps deal with "fullness". You might try that to help deal with one of the problems anyway. Good luck. Jim

I'm surprised it "falls off" in only one place. Examine the rail for damage of some sort. Tighten the wheels back up. As for new wheels or not; examine them for wear. Are the grooves nice and smooth? Is there any play between the hub and body of wheel? If you find any problems with the wheels, then yes, they need replacement. If the wheels look good, concentrate on proper adjustment. My guess is that you had them too loose to begin with. Good luck. Jim

Helen: I think you'll find your Lenni has a 20" throat, not 22". Don't want to mislead anyone. Jim

Are you asking about a sewing machine to piece with? If so, top of my list is an old Singer 301, followed closely by a Singer featherweight 221. If you're planning to do something other than piecing, maybe these aren't the machines you want. The quality of manufacture of these old Singers is something you don't see today, probably never see again. Sixty, seventy, eighty years old, doesn't matter. They just don't die. Jim

How things have changed! APQS used to always tout their "smart" bobbin aka L size. What's smart about changing your bobbin twice as often. If you have a choice, go with M. Jim

Lisa: I think there's probably a considerable interest in used QuiltPaths. If you have one for sale, post it on the machines for sale forum. Jim

Don't know which model you have, but I'm not familiar with a "side" wick. Mine are all on the top, and each one oils a different part of the thread take up assembly. A drop of oil every once in a while keeps it lubed. Jim

You might check to be sure the individual switch (the one you push) is good and functioning as it should. I know those switches on my Intellistitch powered machines are kind of a "consumable" item, and occasionally need to be replaced. Jim

You might start by listing it here in the machine for sale forum. If you look at some of the listings that are already there, you should get some ideas about how to post it. Good luck. Jim