Intangibles of Choosing a Singlehead Embroidery Machine: Part 2

July 19, 2010
By Steven Batts, Contributing Writer

When selecting a commercial singlehead embroidery machine, it helps to know which options are important and what affects its price the most.

When you buy a car, you know you will pay more for certain features than others. A larger engine adds a lot to the cost. A better stereo system adds a little bit of cost and — depending on what you need the vehicle for — various things are more important. If you haul objects, you need a pick-up truck. If you haul kids, you need a mini-van.

You also assume certain things are included. Warranties are standard, although the lengths may vary. Air conditioning should be a standard feature (especially in the South where I live), but many dealers want to add a lot more for it or try to lure you in with a price on a model that doesn’t include air.

These same principles apply when you are buying an embroidery machine. You just need to know what parts add cost to the machine and what should be included in the price so you can make an informed decision.

Cost Factors
Depending on how you intend to use the machine, certain features will be more important to you than others. Some things are always good but can be trimmed with budget constraints.

The number of needles a machine has is one of these factors. More needles is always good — not just because you can do designs with more colors, but also because when you’re changing over between jobs more needles means more likelihood that you already have the needed color on the machine. You also can keep more common colors on the machine besides just black and white. My advice is to get the most needles you can afford, or are offered, with the type of machine at which you are looking.

The two biggest cost factors in machines are the footprint (which refers to its overall size) and the field size (how large the sewing area is).

For the most part, there are two main categories of machines when it comes to the footprint: full-size and compact. Full-size machines tend to have large field size, more needles and, more importantly, heavier-duty components. They are designed to be run anywhere from eight to 24 hours a day. As a result, they are large, heavy and difficult to move.

Compact machines usually have smaller field sizes, although this is not always true. They are relatively light (typically less than 200 pounds) and don’t take up a lot of room. The trade-off is the duty rating. These machines are rated for up to eight hours a day and may struggle with heavier loads, such as thick winter jackets.

Compact machines make sense for many shops because the primary types of work done in a typical embroidery shop are left-chest designs or ball caps. Both of these can easily be done on a compact machine.

Here is where you evaluate what you will be doing with the machine. If you will be traveling, the lightweight, compact machine is for you. If you embroider on a lot of thick jackets, you will have to spend a little more and get a full-size machine.

What to Expect
When shopping for anything, there is an old saying that tells us to “compare apples with apples.” This also applies to embroidery machines. You don’t want to get suckered in with a price only to find it doesn’t include certain critical things.

For singlehead embroidery machines, a stand should always be included in your package. Some machines have built-in stands, but many are “table-top” machines — even though some would break any normal table on which you would set them. Unless you plan on building a custom cabinet for your new machine, make sure the price includes the stand.

The same goes with a cap frame. There are very few embroidery shops that don’t do ball caps. However, they are a staple of nearly every embroidery shop, which means you need a cap frame. If it is not included in a promotional price, make sure it is added before you compare prices with other brands.

Variables
There are a few variables between embroidery machine brands and distributors. One is how training is conducted. They may give you a manual and an interactive CD. Some have regional training centers you can attend. Some will send a technician to you. Usually, they offer you a choice of training options with costs based on the level of service.

Other variables include the length of the warranty and the number of hoop sizes included. The number of hoops can often be negotiated, but the length of warranty usually cannot.

Hopefully this has explained some of the things to look for when selecting a singlehead embroidery machine. Now you should be able to “compare apples with apples” and figure out the best machine for you and your operation.

Steven Batts, a consultant with 17 years experience in the embroidery industry, owns Righteous Threads, Greensboro, N.C., which offers digitizing, embroidery and machine maintenance services. Steven regularly leads seminars at ISS shows and is an industry speaker and consultant. For more information or to comment on this article, e-mail Steven at righteousthreads@gmail.com.



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