I'm dizzy and could really use some help Please!!

devbell · April 12th, 2009, 12:41 PM

I have allready gotten alot of information the very few minutes I've been on the site. I'm completely new to the business!! I'm sure I can make a good run at embroidery. The trouble is deciding on New or Used and then What software? I'm working on getting out of debt, so I don't have any money. I'm considering a used machine to get started. I've seen awesome deals on machines with computers and software. I've also read information from you all about not buying Amaya and SWF. -I won't. I've been told to Buy Barudan Elite XL, Pro or Tajima NEO Teft-c1501 or Toyota ESP 9000 or Zsk Sprint 2. One question is what about The Janome's, Ricoma's, Prodigys, Meistergram's, Brothers, Melco's, Babylock's and Bernina's and happy voyager's? Another question is how old? I see machines from the early 90s. Can they get parts for the older machines? Does the new software work with the old machines? What about the older toyota's, barudan's, tajima's? Should I buy those older models? Of course, I got a quote from Barudan with software, the stand, the machine, and all the bells and whistles. It was 20.000 without shipping! I will need training, but how hard is it to learn? Should I get the training? What about software? I don't want to buy cheap, and find out I need the big suite? I don't mind spending the money if I need to, but what do I need? How hard is it to digitize? Another question. I'm not an artist. Should I be worried? How hard is it to create your own designs? Do I need to be an artist for that? I live in Seattle, so repairs shouldn't be an issue. However, No one has answered me on how to look for certifed technicians so I know there will be a repairman available for whatever I buy. Thanks in advance for any and all help. Devin

SunEmbroidery · April 12th, 2009, 09:21 PM

If you purchase a used machine it would be good if the machine has been maintained recently by a certified tech. The seller should be able to show you the technician's signed report. Also make sure you see the machine run both flats and caps and be certain the quality is acceptable to you. I wouldn't purchase anything too old. I believe automatic trimmers (a must) were developed in the 90's so make sure you have those.

As far as training goes some sellers will offer to train you as part of the deal or for an extra fee. That should be really helpful. If you do that make sure they let you hoop and run the machine so you are comfortable before you leave. I suggest practicing on your own to gain more experience.

Embroidery isn't a quick money-maker unless you have connections and already have orders lined up. If you are already in dept it might not be the best choice.

New software should work with an old machine because you're saving a stitch file for the machine to read. The issue is getting the stitch file to the machine. Many new software/machine combos can send a machine file directly to the machine through a cable or the machine can receive date through a flash drive. Older machine won't be equiped with that so at some point you may need to upgrade.

The basics of embroidery aren't too hard to learn but its the problems that are difficult. When you have a new machine and run well-digitized designs things can go fairly smoothly most of the time but occasionally you'll run into a problem and with an older machine that will be more likely to happen.

Digitizing takes a couple of years to really learn the basics. I wouldn't buy digitizing software to start. Instead contract out your digitizing while you learn all the other aspects of running your business.

If you pruchase new the machine seller can supply names of techs. If you purchase used the seller may be able to give you the name of someone. If you join different embroidery groups occasionally technicians will advertise. You could also Google "embroidery machine technician".

devbell · April 13th, 2009, 07:56 PM

Thanks Jennifer! I realized after I posted, I forgot some info. I've been in retail and warehouse my hole life. I've allready got a customer for hats, shirts, and jackets. I can also get alot of fire, and police agencies because of a very good contact. I still need info on all the other types of machines, and again thanks everyone!!

papatedy · April 14th, 2009, 11:15 AM

ZSK, Tajima - the best embroidery machines. I use old Brothers .. also normal. Need to be an artist, you need to learn a few years. or you can order the design.

EmbroideryTech · April 14th, 2009, 06:31 PM

devbell,

Jennifer made some great points and all of what she said is pretty much true. The most important decisions come from the machine and technicians you choose. I am a machine tech that works on Tajima and Brother with 15 years in the business. I can't tell you how many times I have responded to a problem that another technician has been working or soaking the customer for too much money.

Stay with highly respected techs. They will do the best work and provide the best service. Price is not always the best sales point. I know techs that charge 70-80/hour and they will get you running. But I also know techs that charge 40-50/hour and they may not.

I have a network of technicians that I can refer to you if you are looking for someone. I am not sure your area and since you have not purchased a machine, you should just hang onto my info and let me know.

I also have used machines available for sale. Not sure your budget, size needs, etc Just let me know what you are looking to get and I can see what I have in that range. Also let me know your area (City, State) so I can try and keep shipping down.

Thanks,

devbell · April 14th, 2009, 07:58 PM

Thank you everyone. That helps. I've been looking at older machines around 2500.00. Sounds like I'm abandoning that route. Sounds like I'm looking for Toyota, Tajima, brother, Zsk, or Barudan. I'm in Seattle WA. I'm really tight right now, can swing around 2500. That won't do me any good without the software though. What would you recommend for software? I would be embroidering mostly clothing, caps, shirts, jackets, work apparal. Thanks!

dangig · April 14th, 2009, 09:14 PM

well your in luck. i've been in this business for a long time. and ill answer everyone of your questions accurately,
the first thing is buy a used machine, the new ones depreciate too fast, and sometimes the newest thing needs bugs to be worked out on them. so id stay used. now used is a big word.
so here it is. If you buy a barudan i recommend a Xl or a Zn, do not buy a turret head machine (the round ones) some of these older barudans are hard to find parts for, and if you can find a part its extremely expensive. so for used machine id go with the xl or the zn for barudan, if your going tajima, any tajima that has a white head is a good machine.
the tmfx series truly is one of the best machines you can buy, I own alot of tajimas and believe me its the only machine ive met where you can wack up a part and bang it back into its original shape with a hammer. for used part id go with tajima, infact i know someone a good friend of mine selling a 1201 which is a 12 needle 1 head tajima for 9500 canadian with your exchange thats rediculously cheap.

next thing

software, the only kind of software you need is a lettering software which i would go to equip-used.com or embroideryyellowpages.com and buy, dont try to tackle digitizing and embroidery at the same time. digitizing is really difficult when your trying to grasp how a machine works. the reason for the lettering software is because names are easy to make someone can teach you how to make a name in about 5 minutes, if your outsourcing your digitizing and you do lets say 600 names a year the digitizer might charge you $2.00 a name, if you add that up thats 1200 in the first year in names. when you can pick up basic used lettering software for about 500 bucks. your already 4 steps ahead of beginners when it comes to not buying a melco amaya machine BY ANY MEANS DO NOT PURCHASE THIS MACHINE. ALSO DO NOT BUY A RICOMA OR PRODIGY MISTERGRAM ETC..JUNK 100% JUNK i own 50 heads all barudan and tajimas ive owned 3 amayas they all broke, my machines do down once a year MAX! and theyre all bought used. Certified techs, i cant really answer that one, i do most of my repairs myself. the minor things,
Embroidery is not difficult, it takes practice and the biggest key is confidence, once you feel confident than everything comes together. also buy a hooping aid, do not try to eyeball a shirt, ive seen people who are really good at it and ive also seen some people who are bad at it.

so here it is my main advice to you.
buy some training not much because alot of the experience you will get in trial and error,
just basic how to run the machine. have someone show you how to make names.
buy a machine that is used, and do not spend more than 500-900 on software.

devbell · April 14th, 2009, 11:57 PM

Thanks dangig. That definitely puts things in perspective. You said to start with lettering, but wouldn't that leave out the graphics and logos? I know that you have to have a computer talk with the machine. Isn't that how you create the graphics and text? I'm still unsure how all the software works with each other. Can't get the dam salesman to answer any questions, they just have money on the brain

Devin

dangig · April 15th, 2009, 09:23 PM

actually if you can do lettering you can farm out the logos for now, which is the easiest thing to do. and all you need is a floppy disk drive in your computer you load your design into the floppy than put the floppy in the machine, you dont need a computer to read the disk. all you need is a disk with a file on it. The only system where the computer meaning your pc talks to the machine is the amaya. there are ways to hook your computer up to the machine but its much easier this way. instructions below

So it would work like this. if you had a tajima machine you would request your file to be .dst this is a file format for tajima, once you have a .dst file the machine will read it off the disk. ill explain basic operation here for you

if someone comes to you with a name drop you create the name in the software on your computer, save the file in the format for your machine. from there you send the file to a floppy disk and than walk over to your machine and load the disk.
for your logos the file usually comes in a email from the digitizer, which then you save to your computer load on the disk and than load into the machine.

you can read a design with lettering software, or download ambassador which is a free embroidery reader. trust me i spend 15k on software and i use it for names. i give all my other stuff out to the digitizer. think of it this way.

you give the digitizer the logo, he makes the tape and you sew it out. its simple and fast. im not saying down the line learn how to do it. but most digitizers are not machine operators. just like most machine operators are not digitizers. but names are important.