Zora Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 My machine was just delivered Monday, and it will be a couple weeks before the drywall is done in the room where she is to live. Meanwhile, I am trying to figure out what I will need to do the heirloom quilting that is my ultimate goal. I gather a base expander is essential, as are micro-drive handles (which I already have.) So that leaves the base expander still to be acquired. Are there different base expanders for the Millie, or is the Hartley expander the only one? If there are others, which one do you experienced quilters prefer? (Web links would be greatly appreciated for anything other than the Hartley.) Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
April W Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 I just ordered one for my Gammill from Donita Reeves at www.lovetoquilt.com They have them for APQS, Gammill and other machines. It is so much bigger and sturdier than what came with my machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 I have Donita Reeve's Ruler Mate and love it. I leave it on all the time except for when I need to deep clean my machine. They make them for machines with or without a thread cutter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 offtheedgequilting.com also has base plates Goodluck! Kelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bekah Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 Lynn I have the Hartley base expander and have learned to really like having it on my machine most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 I agree the expander is a must. Both the Hartley and Ruler Mates are great bases. Just be sure to get the correct one for the LA with or without thread cutter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doodlebug Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 i have to agree with kristina. i had the hartley for 4 years and got along with it...then i donita put hers out in the market and i just recently got it and i LOVE it...the diference (to me) was huge! the only regret i had is that i didn't get donita's sooner...i do 'finer custom' (i don't like the word ''heirloom) quilting and the diference between the two is amazing....the ruler 'snags/hands up on the lip of the hartly base and it 'wobbles', you don't even realize donita's is there.... so to answer your question- i like donita's s ruler mate base... *my 2 cents* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bekah Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 thanks for your "2 cents" Shannon. I am thinking of switching, have to decide first about taking my non-working thread cutter off first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seakitten Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 I just used my new Ruler Mate base for the first time yesterday. A HUGE improvement over the Hartley, in my opinion. One thing I notice, with the thread cutter, is that threads can get caught up in it, & cause the cutter to stall, in a way that doesn't happen with the regular throatplate. I know lots of people remove, or do not have, the cutter, & I am starting to think they are on to something, but I kind of like mine. Question for any who have done this: can you remove the cutter, & still use the base that is made for a cutter? I am also finding it to be a very tight fit under both the front roller (belly bar) and the leveler bar. Still, not half as bad as the Hartley, which would not go there at all. Should I try to raise these bars, & if so is it hard to do? Lynn, I would not hesitate to recommend the Donita Reeves' Ruler Mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 I have had my ruler mate baseplate on since I purchased my Millennium. Never once had a problem with the thread cutter. I use mine all the time and can't imagine life without it. I did raise my belly bar and leveler bar a bit to accomodate the added height. Just make sure that these 2 bars stay level to each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doodlebug Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 i don't use my thread cutter either, but hesitate to remove it for 'balancing' issues. it's not in the way....my philosophy, why fix something that isn't broke.... it's not hard to rasie the rollers....they're just screwed into the frame....using a big allen/hex head wrench, take the bolt out that holds it to the frame, and twist the bolt it slide into to raise/lower it....it's like the feet on a dryer....just make sure the same distance is bewteen the frame and roller on BOTH ends of the frame.... should be some mention of this in your manual.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zora Posted July 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Thank you all for your input. Shannon, I guess the term "heirloom" quilting is a holdover from quilting on my domestic machine and reading every word Harriet Hargrave has ever written. I will definitely check out Donita Reeves' Ruler Mate. It seems to be highly praised. I have heard the "hanging up" complaint about the Hartley. Myrna Ficken said she put a washer under hers to raise it to the proper height, as otherwise it sits just a bit too low. For those who have the Hartley, maybe that would help eliminate the hanging-up problem. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellysuequilter Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Thank you to everyone for your view points. I found this all very enlightening and am now ordering the RulerMate, I'm hoping it will be steadier than my Hartley base is currently. I agree about the wobble I'm not liking that to much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 If your Hartley base expander is not stable it is not properly installed. We have used the Hartley for years and sold many of them. I would think you would want to remove any base plate when not in use (the Hartley only takes a few seconds). Why put more unused weight and drag on you machine when it is not in use? I have seen the other base plates and they appear to be fine also (the owners are pleased). So the bottom line is like many items, there are many good ones available and it is mostly a matter of preference. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smorris Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 Judy If your HF base isn't stable, have you put in the little grommets on the side of the machine? There are two holes on the left and right front sides of the machine that fill the gap between the sides of the base and the sides of the machine? Sue in Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimmiequilts Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 I have the Hartley but don't use it so much since it limits the space I can quilt. I never thought about moving the bars. I just ordered the Ruler Mate since it looks smaller in area and most of my ruler work is not huge spaces all at once. I think there is a need for both and time will tell! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnQuilts Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 I have used both the Rulermate and the Hartley base. I used a Rulermate on my Liberty; when I upgraded to a Millennium, I decided to try the Hartley base. I really like it. Mine is very sturdy and does not wobble at all, and I like the convenience of just slipping it on and off and not having to screw and unscrew, although that certainly didn't bother me when I was using the Rulermate. But now, it's nice not to have to. But both bases are very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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