New 4 head advice

martimu · February 10th, 2011, 05:47 AM

Hi All and thanks in advance for any advice!

I've been running a happy voyager now for about 4 years and are now having the business to move to a 4 head.

I'm struggling to get independent advice. I've naturally looked to the Happy HCR as we are so familiar with the voyager.

The person we have bought from previously will do both Tajima and Happy, he believes the latest Happy is every bit as good as the Tajima if not better. We have a another supplier who does just the Tajima a who says that the Tajima better (not a great surprise).

Our top priority's are stitch quality and ease of use (given we are used to a happy it does influence me somewhat), but our customers are hot about quality rather than quantity.

We are going new so it would be the Tajima TFMX-IIC1505 Vs the latest Happy HCR 1504.

I can find no reviews or comparison and it seems like the Happy was updated last 2008 and the Taj 2005? but not sure if this makes a drop of difference

Does anyone have any experience with these machines for comparison?

Many thanks,

Martin

shellyky · February 10th, 2011, 07:45 AM

I do not have experience with those machines, i own swf--but ive always asked techs and other people with machine experience "whats the best"....and always heard the following: in order from best to worst was: tajima, barudan, swf...then everything else....some say barudan is the best. no one has every specifically mentioned a Happy to me.

repogolfer · February 10th, 2011, 12:19 PM

I would have agree with everything kellyky said except I would put tajima's 2nd and barudans 1st. You wouldn't go wrong with any of these 3 as far as I have seen.

Jon

martimu · February 10th, 2011, 01:00 PM

Thanks guys,

Do any here actually use a Happy that they would compare?

I can only really go for these two brands as due to my good trading history with the suppliers in the UK I get decent terms.

I think though from what I've gleaned from the mine of information on this forum that Tajimas are up toward the top of the list.

Cheers
martin

Earl Smith · February 10th, 2011, 01:12 PM

Barudan and Tajima are definatly the top two. SWF Ive not seen running and the Happys Ive seen have been noisy but they do have a good name.
If its quality of work you are looking for then Barudan and Tajima are the ones to go for. IMHO.
Ive just finished 100 thick jackets with a 52,000 stitch design on my Barudans. Every one came out perfect and the customer complemented me on the quality.

But I would go for the one ( Barudan or Tajima) who has the best supplier, backup and so on.

Just my thoughts.
Earl

dgeorge · February 10th, 2011, 03:45 PM

You can not compare Happy with Tajima.
Are totally different machines-mechanical &electronics.
TFMX is last Tajima model.
My opinion : TFMX

martimu · February 11th, 2011, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgeorge

You can not compare Happy with Tajima.
Are totally different machines-mechanical &electronics.
TFMX is last Tajima model.
My opinion : TFMX

Thanks for this, may be a stupid question by why can't you compare? I can understand internal mechanics may be different but in terms of finish and ease of use.....

Still my main thing will be the stitch quality and it is looking very much like there are satisfied Tajima users here!

I'll do some more investigation at this end

Many thanks again for all the responses, nothing beats speaking to people who use the machines day in and day out.

Martin

Robert Young · February 11th, 2011, 09:51 AM

I would think that in today's economy that it is totally a buyer's market and you can get the best terms from any of the suppliers.. if they want the sale, and they do, they might argue but I believe in the end they will offer what the competition does for you.. so choose based on other criteria other than ease of buying... like dependability, quality and maintenance proximity.

Personally the Happy machines, especially the multiheads are so LOUD compared to the Tajimas, Barudans or Swfs.... Not sure what is the difference and doesnt speak to the three criteria I mentioned, but just an observation of mine.

martimu · February 11th, 2011, 12:10 PM

I'm off to visit Tajima guys on Monday to see one at a customer in its working environment. I can also run the logo for our most feared client and see how it comes out LOL!

Robert I appreciate it is a buyers market and I will always negotiate, but I also don't want to nail someone to the floor on price and then get the consequences on the support side.

Very interesting point about the noise though as we are in a small workshop and office noise will make a difference.

Cheers all and have a good weekend!

martimu · February 14th, 2011, 10:36 AM

Yep Tajima is very good from what I've just seen!