amyfaith Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 SO EXCITED to pick up my Ultimate 1 next weekend. I was in the right place at the right time and our front room will soon change from the Formal Dining to the Formal Quilting room! I am going to order the manual from APQS and I know that will help a great deal. The machine has been stored for the past 8 months. It was used for a company that quilted hotel bed spreads, so it has all kinds of sticky residue that will need to be goo-goned off, but I expect her to clean up nice. My main concern is that the frame is an older style with what looks like trampoline springs on steroids on each side that support the roller that takes up the finished part of the quilt. If anyone has a frame like this with advice on how to operated it - that would be great! It also has the old handles - they are actually sparkly and gold (just like the jelly shoes I wore as a little girl). Anyhow, my stumpy arms need me to come up with some handle extensions so that I can really utilize all of that throat space. I need to stop typing - I am just giddy about it! Any advise for this newbie with an oldie would be greatly appreciated. Amy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaB Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 Amy: We\'re all pretty visual people here, can you take a few pictures and post so we can see your handles, and quilt frame too....you know, a picture is worth a 1,000 words....:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramona-quilter Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 Amy, congrats. I know that you are floating on air. The APQS manual will be helpful for setup. This forum is also a great resource for general (and specific) questions and for trouble-shooting. I found an old photo of my first Ult I after I had cleaned it up. It had that wooden table and the big spring, which by the way, is set up correctly in the photo and those glitter handles. That machine got me started on longarming. <img src="http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n93/legcard/Blog%20Only/spring.jpg"> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnCavanaugh Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 Hi Amy, Congrats on your new find! Your frame will be a little different from the newer ones you might see on the website. It does not have a "leveler" bar to keep the quilt flat across the throat of the machine as you quilt. So, the take up roller will have to be adjusted upward as you advance your quilt, since the quilt will collect on that roller and will eventually rub on the machine\'s throat. The two springs you mention are there to make raising that back bar easier. They apply some pressure on the roller so that it stays where you want it to. On closer examination you should also see a black knob above each spring. Loosen the black knob, and that side of the roller support will raise up from the spring\'s pressure. When the support is at the height you want, tighten the knob again. Repeat for the other end\'s roller support. You\'ll want the two supports to be about the same height, so that the roller is a consistent distance away from the machine\'s throat. You should just be able to slide your hand (about up to your second knuckle) between the pick up roller and the machine\'s throat. I slide the machine along the entire length of the table and check the spacing to make sure the roller is close to the same height. (If I\'d ever get efficient I\'d just paint some numbers on those two side supports with the springs--but lazy is my middle name:)) Let us know how it goes. I still drive an Ultimate I on an old table (though not a wooden one like ramona-quilter:)) They are definitely work horses! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyfaith Posted February 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 I took a TON of pictures. I will have to get my husband to help me size them correectly to post. The machine looks just like the picture ramona-quilter posted, but it has the horizontal wheels/castors instead of vertical...and the table is all metal. That picture of the springs in the correct place is SO helpful. I\'ll get the DH to post my pics tomorrow =) Amy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smorris Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 Hi Amy I am pretty sure you can get the new handles for your Ult 1 if you want them. Just call Amy at APQS and give her your serial number and she\'ll let you know. My table had the springs too, give them and the frame they are on a good clean and you\'ll have no problems. You might like to change the wheels out when you have a bit of spare cash to the new ones with soft mounts. Those old Ult 1s run just as beautifully as the new machines. Have fun Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelalan Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 Check out the bike shops first, these are the same puff handles, and I also put on the side handles, very cheap.....:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grammie Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 I purchased a Used Ultimate I and I love love love it. It is a wonderful freehand machine. I had CQ on it but liked freehanding with it more as it seems so much lighter. I put my Milli on CQ and I freehand with my Ult I. Of course my Milli has the SR and When doing SID I like to use it. I have finally talked my daughter into learning and plan to train her full throttle once her College semester is up. She needs to make some extra money while working on her Master degree next year. I hope she falls in love with quilting like I have. Good luck with your Ultimate I. Best Wishes Grammie Tammie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyfaith Posted February 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 I have got to learn how to resize those pictures. My husband had to work today and pictures are a no go again today. I will post them as soon as I can. I have already gotten such great feedback without pictures. You all have made my buyers remorse go by the wayside in no time flat. I am confident that we have done the right thing and that I do not have an obsolete machine, but one that will serve me well for as long as I will allow her to! Amy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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