5 out of 5
Stars
I have had this
machine for a couple years now. My parents got it for me as a gift when my
se400 died so I could keep working on my orders. This is the Grand slam package
they got me. I have been looking into a second machine as I run a small home based
boutique style online shop where most of what I make is embroidered towels. I
have been swamped this year & am thinking that I need a second machine just
to keep up with the orders I’m getting. As I was going through the different machines
& the reviews on each machine I decided to check into the reviews on this
to see how they compare. I noticed several negative reviews that had nothing to
do with the machine & more due to personal or setup error. This is why I’m writing this review. I feel it
is important for others basing their decisions on reviews to have the most
information possible & I have a good couple year of experience with this
machine now. Yes sometimes you get a dud, this happens with any brand. If you
do, return it.. However there are so many things that can cause any embroidery
machine to go wonky that can easily be resolved with the correct information..
Because of this I recommend one very important thing…forums… forums… forums…
When I first got mine
I had already been experienced with the brother se400, & yes, this machine
has its own learning curve. (I do believe this is common with the purchase of
ANY new embroidery machine) I experienced many of the issues other negative
reviewers encountered, however, they were not a result of a bad machine. They
were in actuality, a matter of things not set right in my machine or the wrong stabilizer
or fabric your using, tension not right. There are so many little things from
the bobbin tension, to the stabilizer, the wrong needle, to the thread that
will case issue with your final product.. There are several variables that will
cause most of the issues I noticed other reviewers had. I would completely recommend
that even if you’re great on your prior machine to join a couple forums &
post in the section for your specific machine when you encounter an issue. The amount
of user help will get you through even the most difficult issue. I have even learned
how to service my own machine to an extent due to the extreme helpfulness of my
fellow embroiders.
I have also found
that Brother is extremely helpful as well if you can’t find a solution in the
forums. I had a serious issue with my bobbin tension at one point & no
matter how many times I tried to reset the tension on the bobbin case, I just couldn’t
get it to work. We all came to the same conclusion on the forums that is was definitely
a tension issue but just couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t readjusting
correctly. After not getting a suitable answer
from the forums, I decided to call brother. They told me that if I’m using
prewound bobbins (which I do) that sometimes that can cause a waxy buildup in
the workings of the bobbin case. They ran me through the process of cleaning my
bobbing case & resetting it & stayed on the phone with me until it was
done & working correctly.. I then went back to the forums & shared my
solution with my fellow embroiders for others who may have the same issue
I put this machine
through the test. As you can see from my pictures, I use it A LOT…Yes it has
its hiccups, But when it starts acting up, I just open up & clean out the
bobbin housing & thread run, maybe oil it up a bit close her back up and
viola… she is Perring like a kitten again. If you’re having an issue with your
machine… feel free to ask me about it, if I don’t have a solution, I can surly
direct you to someone who can. Don’t give up on your machine! With proper care
& a little TLC, this embroidery machine will last you
This grand slam
package it fantastic too. It gives you everything you need to start
embroidering right away. The threads are
high quality & the extra hoops are a wonderful addition to this machine. The
USB port is perfect for me as now I don’t have to connect my computer to the
machine. I have a stack of different USB drives all organized with my files.
Pros:
- Grand Slam Embroidery Package Included!!!! (A $1,170
Value)
- Built-In USB Flash Drive Port - Uses USB Memory Stick
- Easily Transfer Embroidery Designs to the Machine
without Additional Software
- 136 Beautiful Built-In Embroidery Designs and 6
Lettering Fonts
- Large 5" x 7" Embroidery Field - Create Big
Designs in a Few Simple Steps
Cons:
This, like any other
embroidery machine has its quirks, but once you get to know the machine, she is
good. There is not much troubleshooting help in the manual, just a basic list. There
are so many other things that can affect the outcome of your pattern that it
becomes necessary to have the wealth of knowledge & experience of other
users & sometimes brother itself, to fully troubleshoot the issue.
I would have no problem
recommending this product to anyone. I embroider a good 4 hours a day on an
easy day.. Times like now when I’m hit with the Christmas shopping rush.. I’m
running it almost 8-9 hours a day, sometimes more… this machine never lets me
down
Thank you for reading
my review! If my review has been of help
to you, please do me the favor of clicking the “yes” at the end of this review
where it says “Was this review helpful to you”
If you have a question, feel free to ask, I will do my best to answer
them.
