quiltermidwife Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Hi All Can I pick your brains? I am trying to decide between the Hydraulic Lift versus the Motor Advance. What is your experience? Which could you not do without or do you think both are as necessary as each other? If I were to order one of them further down the line, which is the easiest, least bulky to order on it's own. Also is the Quilt Glide an easy add on? Sorry a lot of questions but thanks in advance. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann Wight Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 I have always had the motor advance and can't imagine being without it.....I don't have a hydraulic lift and have quilted without it for 8 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMALKB Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Definitely the motor advance..............that is the best thing ever. The hydraulic lift would be nice, but not something I would use nearly as much as the motor advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethDurand Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Yes, get the advance now, and if you are ordering a new machine, go ahead and finance the Bliss too. $1000 for a new machine vs $3000 down the road will save you a lot of money. Bliss is an easy install after market, but you'll be so happy to have saved $2000 down the road. The lift is going to be more diffcicult to install after market, you're going to have to take much of the table apart. However, I quilted without a lift for 7 years and was perfectly happy. I think in the long run, you're going to be happier now with the fabric advance becuase you can stop exactly where you need to be. This is especially important when you are doing pantos and need them to line up correctly. I've only ever had the fabric advance, but having played with machines that don't have them, I don't think I'd want to go there. Hope that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SYork Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Fabric advance for sure. I still don't have the lift but I would not want to give up my fabric advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachside Quilter Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Great questions, Chris! If you are ordering a new or used machine directly from APQS, they come with the newer style Bliss ready table, so to add the Bliss option now or later is $1,000 (plus shipping, freight, taxes, etc) rather than $3,000 to change the rails from the older style table to add Bliss. I bought my Millie because of the Fabric Advance feature; wouldn't be without it! That is something you use every time you load a quilt, advance from row to row, go back and forth from top to bottom of quilt when custom quilting, quilting borders, etc. The most useful feature in my opinion. Quilt Glide was introduced after I bought my 2008 Millennium. I sent my head back to the factory to have Quilt Glide added. It's a feature that I use for micro stippling and doing SID, and close quilting. It's easy enough to add after the fact; just requires a trip to the factory. I added Hydraulic Lift after having my machine for a few years. Love it, and use it a lot. It is easily added after the fact; $1,500 from factory, plus shipping, freight, taxes, etc. Easy to self install. Hope this helps!! Enjoy your new machine, whatever options you decide upon!! Vickie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Quilt Glide was introduced after I bought my 2008 Millennium. I sent my head back to the factory to have Quilt Glide added. It's a feature that I use for micro stippling and doing SID, and close quilting. It's easy enough to add after the fact; just requires a trip to the factory. I thought you couldn't add Quilt Glide to the older machines - not sure where the breaking point is however I have a 2005 Mille and was told you couldn't add it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachside Quilter Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 I thought you couldn't add Quilt Glide to the older machines - not sure where the breaking point is however I have a 2005 Mille and was told you couldn't add it. That's right; only can be added to 2008 and newer machines that have LED lights instead of fluorescent light bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeke Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 I've never had a table lift and probably never will, but I do have a fab. advance. Took it if off and put another fiction lock on in its place. I couldn't stand the noise and how slow the fab. advance was. Drove me nuts, mostly the noises . Zeke..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaC Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Purchase the factory fabric advance for sure. Lifts can be added later with Suspa Lifts purchased either from APQS or you can save money going aftermarket and building your own brackets/mount. I did aftermarket Suspa lifts for substantially less and my husband built the simple brackets and mount without taking my table apart. I would also purchase the Quilt Glide & Bliss up front. I have a 2005 Mille and those are two options I would love to have. Congratulations on getting a new machine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delld Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 If you have any back trouble. The lift is a must!!!! I was doing to therapy twice a week. With the lift I cna change the height of the table AND NO BACK PROBLEMS AT ALL!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltermidwife Posted January 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 If I am quite short (5ft 1.5ins!) will I have need of the hydraulic lift anyway? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltermidwife Posted January 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 It just raises the height of the table, yes? What would I raise it for if I'm short? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaC Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Chris, you will know if you want the table higher. I am tall, so I lower it when I want to sit on my saddle stool and quilt and raise it when I load quilts and to stand and quilt. I also change it's height like Dell does; when I start feeling fatigued. I also know when I want to raise or lower depending on if I am reaching to get to the back or if I crook my neck when quilting to get a better view. Start out with no lift and see if it works for you; you will be the best judge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMALKB Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 I am 5'3".........I have my table raised up about 5" or so, so my forearms rest at a 90 degree angle to my shoulders. I saw this tip online somewhere. This seems to be a good height for me. I do have a tall chair that I can sit on if I want to, but most of the time I stand. I do a lot of ruler work and sitting doesn't work that well. I rarely work from the back of the machine, so having that part higher or lower doesn't matter to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggienoella Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 I don't have a fabric advance yet but I do have a lift because my hubs quilts too and he's at least a foot taller than me. I'm thinking about getting the fabric advance. Thanks for the post. Joan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Quilted Petal Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 Fabric advance is a must! I don't have lift but don't think I would use it as much as advance. I has same questions prior to purchasing my APQS and was advised that I would use fabric advance multiple times on every quilt whereas quilt glide and lift may or may not be used. My Bliss system is also a dream, but never quilted without it so can't speak from experience on that one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Quilted Petal Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 Fabric advance is a must! I don't have lift but don't think I would use it as much as advance. I has same questions prior to purchasing my APQS and was advised that I would use fabric advance multiple times on every quilt whereas quilt glide and lift may or may not be used. My Bliss system is also a dream, but never quilted without it so can't speak from experience on that one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheagatzi Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 fabric advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenslug Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Fabric Advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoTech Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Fabric Advance is a must. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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