New 4 head advice

By martimu on Feb. 10, 2011
Forums: 
Embroidery and Digitizing

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

Location: 
United States
Robert Young's picture
Submitted by Robert Young on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 09:51

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.

Modern Embroidery Designer
volant-tech.com
volantfineart.com

Submitted by martimu on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 12:10

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!

Submitted by martimu on Thu, 05/19/2011 - 12:41

university embroidery wrote:
Wondering which machine you chose to go with, and how it's been going?

Been going rather well.

I did however send the 4 head back to Tajima.... to get an 8 head!

I'm very very pleased, it stitches beautifully and is easy to use.

It has also helped me become better at embroidery. If we get problems with things that I used to blame the machine for I now have confidence that it is something else. This means I can go back on the digitizing, my thread choice, or backing choice etc etc to troubleshoot.

We've been running it all day everyday since we got it and are so busy at the moment I could run a second if we had the space!

It has also been great for me as the UK distibuters have offered me very good support, and although I've only had a couple of questions I've had an answer straight away.

Big thumbs up from me. I also liked the fact they didn't belittle the direct competition . They spoke very highly of Bauradun machines too.

That usually means to me they have confidence in what they are selling if they don't have to push their stuff at the expense of other.

Cheers

Martin

Submitted by Flint54 on Thu, 05/19/2011 - 16:39

Been running a TFMX-IIC1504 since 04/2006. Have only replaced 2 hook assemblies that were damaged by operator error. One drive belt due to wear, it was still good but decided that we wanted to replace it on our schedule and not it's! :D Also had to replace the floppy drive under warranty. Only other items that we have replaced have been the trimming knives, we use after market knives and get better service from them at a better price than the factory parts. Rugged machine so we also purchased a single head TFMX and two of the TFMX 1502s (2 head machines). No major malfunctions on any of them just consumable items, great service and support. Can't say much more than that. ;)

shellyky's picture
Submitted by shellyky on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 07:45

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.

Submitted by repogolfer on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 12:19

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

Submitted by martimu on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 13:00

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

Submitted by Earl Smith on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 13:12

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

Submitted by martimu on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 05:58

dgeorge wrote:
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

Submitted by martimu on Wed, 02/16/2011 - 08:38

Thanks again all.

Machine is being installed as we speak.

Looking forward to reporting back (if people are interested) on how we get on.

Martin

Submitted by dgeorge on Tue, 02/15/2011 - 05:59

stay with TFMX
but look around your area about technical service.
time to time you will need

Submitted by dgeorge on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 15:45

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

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