Advice on a used Bernina - Which one is the best?

[Lisa L.]

I am looking to purchase a used bernina, but I don't know which machine would be good. I like (Love!) to quilt and I would like a machine that would use the BSR. There are so many different types of machines, but I don't know which would be best, Any help??????

[Lisa L.]

I love my 440QE

[Teri L.]

The best advice I can offer is to head over to a Bernina dealer and sit at each one of the machines, talk with the sales person about the features of each and take lots of notes about the features then decide. While I might like a particular model, personally I'm heading for the 820 at some point down the road, the features in this particular model might not be what you need right now.
Most of all have fun!
Teri

[Margo C.]

Also, check with other quilters in your area who are familiar with that dealer! What kind of service do they provide after the sale???? It's important that if you ever have a problem with your machine that you trust the mechanic!

[Susan B.]

I just purchased my 7th Bernina. This one will eventually go to my daughter. (I sure don’t own all of them now! (grin). The newest purchase is an Activa 230, Quilter’s Edition, a sweet portable machine, that will use the needle punch attachment (unlike my 730 with the embroidery unit), but not the BSR. The Activa series is being discontinued because a new line of lower end Bernina’s is coming out, so it’s a good time to get a nice price on this series. I wouldn’t go lower than a 230 because key features get eliminated on lesser models, such as the free-hand system and foot-pedal control of the needle up and down, a feature which I love.

Do you free-motion quilt now or thread paint? Once you find a dealer, spend a while using their BSR to see what you’ll initially encounter in the learning curve. I personally have not been able to consistently use a BSR to my liking. Some folks love it. My dealer said that people who free-motion sew already have a harder time learning to use the BSR than people just learning. There have been other threads on this forum talking about the BSR. Use the search to find them.

You said you wanted to buy a used machine. Some dealers sell used machines that have been traded in for upgrades. Some of the older mechanical Berninas are real workhorses that stitch and free-motion quilt beautifully. You may consider joining the Yahoo group called Bernina Thirty-Somethings if you decide to purchase a used machine, for more advice. If you can, check out the machine carefully first before buying. Get a repair history. In some of the older computerized models, the computer boards go bad, but can be replaced. They are still great machines, but no BSR.

Because I’m selling a 930 to a friend, I’ve been tracking some of the auctions on Ebay for an idea of price. The old mechanical machines have held their value. You may consider doing some research on prices there.

When I went in to look for a new machine a few years ago, just before the 800 series came out, I got a great deal on my 730, thinking that it would be a long time before I really used the embroidery unit. I’m totally addicted now and it can be used for beautiful quilting.

If I had the money, I’d get the top of the line 830. Know what features you want, how much you want to spend, & don’t let the dealers pressure sell you. Take your time & as someone else said, have fun looking! Keep us posted on what you decide.

[Barbara L.]

Sue, great advice. I now own a 830 & 430 after selling 2 other machines (Husqvarna-Viking). I found a wonderful dealer who really listened to the type of sewing & quilting that I do. She was then able to match me up to my machines. I love my 830 but she, refered to me as BB (Big Bertha) is too big to take to retreats & if you don't intend to use the embroidery unit would be a waste of money. For retreats I wanted to get the QE440. Once again my dealer advised me to go with the 430 as I already had the BSR that came with the 830 & didn't need 2 embroidery units. My dealer saved me lots of money & built up loyalty.

I did my homework & made a list of all the functions that I really wanted in a machine & went on the Bernina site before I ever went to the dealer. Now I am very happy with my dealer& my machines & I love the switch I have made to Bernina.

[Sherry B.]

I agree with Teri about going to a Bernina dealer and test driving some. There are so many things to consider. You should check out the stitch width (I think it's 7mm and 9mm if I remember right). I love the wider decorative stitches on the 9mm but when it comes to really precise piecing, I go back to my 170 with the 7mm. And if you get a 9mm, be sure you have a straight stitch plate with a single hole when you are piecing. If you are looking for a lower price point, I would look at the 430 or 440. I have a 730 and love it but am really coveting the 830.

[Margo C.]

The feed dog widths are 5mm and 9mm. Sherry is absolutely right about the wider one being great for using the wonderful decorative stitches (you can get a much larger variety with those machines), and the 5mm width being more accurate for piecing. I have one of each. I use an older 180 with the wider feed dogs for decorative stitches (and the embroidery module) and a newer 630 with the narrow feed dogs that has a BSR and I absolutely love them both for different reasons.
And Bunny is right! Visit you dealer armed with a list of what you want your machine to do!

[Betty J.]

I have both an upgraded 200E (with the upgrade BSR, making it like a 730) "Victoria", and an older 1230 "Betsy". Victoria is great for the embroidery and fancy stitching. It's my machine of choice for free motion work of all kinds too. But when I need heavy-duty sewing or real accuracy, nothing has ever topped Betsy, because of the more solid original hook system that produces the 5 mm stitch. I do think, if I could only have one machine, though, that I'd choose Victoria, which really does everything, even the piecing, pretty well. I am also trying to decide about a new machine, though not until next year. I plan to purchase EITHER a Bernina 830 OR a long arm that is a little smaller than the humongous Gammill my sweet daughter in law owns. If I get the 830, I will sell Victoria. I lean one way one day and the other another... :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Sherry B.]

Betty Jo, if the day comes that I can afford anything, I've already decided on something like a Handiquilter. As much as I would love to own the 830, I can't have both and I know I want something for quilting. Won't be anytime soon, though.

[Sherry B.]

I have a 630 and absolutely love it, it doesn't have the extra-wide stitch, but I don't use the decorative stitches so much that that's an issue. I find it's very accurate for piecing, my dealer advised that the machines which have the 9mm stitch plate are harder to get an accurate 1/4" with. Several of my friends have the 440QE and it's a very good machine, but I prefer the touch screen of the 630 for ease of use. However, the 630 doesn't automatically come with a BSR, so if you're buying second hand, check it has one as it's an expensive add-on :shock: :? . You can also add the embroidery module to the 630 if it doesn't have it, it makes it a very versatile machine.

[Sherry B.]

I have a 435..anniversary edition Bernina and it has the 9mm stitch choice. It comes with both plates and it is very easy to switch between them. I don't have trouble with the 1/4inch accuracy except for operator error...which happens all too often.
Sandi in Florida