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Juki F600 vs F400 vs F300
JillyBean333   Intermediate MN USA Member since 2007 Posts: 933	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/10/12 9:55 AM Hi Everyone...I've been looking at these three machines a bit. Even though I'm in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area...the Juki site says the nearest dealer is 80 miles away in St. Cloud. How weird. Anyway, near as I can tell online the only huge difference is the stictch package and the F600 has dials for stitch width and length. Anyone know anything else? Prices online seem to vary quite a lot. Looks like one can get a factory serviced F600 for around $900. I dunno...obviously at this point I'm just looking and like I said will take my time and find something I like. Oh also, I'm not so sure about the thread cutter on the foot pedal...I can see myself accidentally bumping that thing constantly. I also don't tend to put my whole foot on the pedal as they show in the photos...so anyone have any comments on that whole thing? I'm kind of a purist or something...Actually that's one of the things I dislike about the D1 is having the auto presser foot up and down...though it is nice if you want to pivot. It's just one of those goofy things where you have the computer deciding how it should act, but you want it to act a certain way. Thanks. -- Edited on 2/10/12 10:01 AM -- ------ JillyBean http://craftysupreme.etsy.com
GrandmaNewt Intermediate NV Member since 2010 Posts: 155	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/10/12 11:07 AM Here is a chart to compare the 3 machines. Besides the differences you noted, the extension table, knee lift and many of the feet become optional on the f400 and f300. If some of those things are features that you want, you will have to factor in the additional prices to get them.
OBX Advanced Beginner NC USA Member since 2010 Posts: 116	Login to reply to this post In reply to JillyBean333 Like this post Date: 2/10/12 12:10 PM I have the F400 as I didn't need some of the extras that came with the F600. I did get the knee lift with the F400 and assume it comes with it. I didn't need the extension table or the extra stitches the F600 had. I'm delighted with the machine and love using it. I disabled the foot cutter as I could see myself accidentally hitting it. Actually, I don't like using any of the auto cutters as I can't stand the noise they make. Also, I'm with you on some of the auto features as I like to move some things on my own and when I want to. I ordered the F400 from a website as I couldn't find a Juki dealer anywhere within 200 miles of me.
M.S. Advanced OH USA Member since 2009 Posts: 968	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/10/12 1:09 PM The dials for stitch length & width would be worth the extra $$ to me. It would make the machine have a more "mechanical" feel & that's what I like. I wish I had a Juki dealer close by. I'd like to try one of their machines. ------ Pfaff 138-6 Brother PQ1500S Necchi 4795 US Blindstitch 718-9 Kenmore 16644 Janome CoverPro 1000 Singer 201-2......waiting to be rewired.
JillyBean333   Intermediate MN USA Member since 2007 Posts: 933	Login to reply to this post In reply to GrandmaNewt 1 member likes this. Date: 2/10/12 2:17 PM GrandmaNewt... Thanks for that chart. I'm really liking the looks of those. After I get back from my vacation I will entertain the idea more seriously and see if I can't find somewhere to look for them. It's nice that the thread trimmer on the foot pedal can be turned off as I'm not so sure I'd like that. Maybe. I could end up absolutely loving it. I would think there has to be somewhere closer to see one of those machines in person. The knobs are nice...and I have done much price comparing. I would possibly put in some extra $$$ to get that...but not sure. If we were talking an extra $500 for knobs probably not. All three do look pretty similar. Looks like a matter of deciding if all the decorative stitches are necessary. The F300 is billed as a Home deco machine...oh maybe because it will sew through thick stuff. Do all three machines have the same motor strength? Does anyone know? So hard to get info on the motor. ------ JillyBean http://craftysupreme.etsy.com
mkhpaintsew   Intermediate IN USA Member since 2006 Posts: 110	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/10/12 3:39 PM I have the F600. I love the knobs verses the push buttons. It's a breeze to change width and length with a turn of the knob instead of pushing the buttons several times. The lighting is very good. I think the 600 has more lights than some of the others. That was an extra plus for me. The thread cutter on the foot isn't hard, but occasionally I press with the heel of my foot (instead of the ball of my foot) on the pedal and cut the thread, but not often. Like anything else, you just have to practice and then you never think of it very much and it is not an issue. You can turn it off as mentioned, and there are other places on the machine that can be used instead to automatically cut the thread. The more I sew on my F600, the more I like it.
GrandmaNewt Intermediate NV Member since 2010 Posts: 155	Login to reply to this post In reply to JillyBean333 Like this post Date: 2/10/12 4:26 PM I am also liking these machines, been looking at them for awhile now. At the dealer closest to my house, the f600 is $1099, f400 $999 and f300 is 899. I can find huge price variances around on the internet, but it all comes down to just a few hundred dollars between the models. The motors are the same in all these machines as far as I can tell. While looking at these machines, I also like the knobs for the stich settings. The machine (brother pc-420) I am using now has a knee lift and I bought an extension table for it. Those have become "must have" items in any machine that I will buy in the future. I also know that Juki feet can get pricey. There are feet in the more expensive models of the exceed series that I know I will end up buying then its worth it to me to just get the higher end model that includes those feet. I have pretty much made up my mind that I want the f600. Convincing my husband that I need another machine is a whole different story tho!
Maia B Advanced Beginner IL USA Member since 2010 Posts: 1864	Login to reply to this post In reply to JillyBean333 Like this post Date: 2/10/12 4:51 PM "The F300 is billed as a Home deco machine...oh maybe because it will sew through thick stuff. Do all three machines have the same motor strength? Does anyone know? So hard to get info on the motor." Smart of you to look for the motor strength and other objective evidence, sometimes manufacturers label a machine series "Crafter's Choice", "Decorator's Choice", and "Quilter's Choice" or something similar, when it's the same physical machine, just with more or fewer features. Would work on me, since I don't do crafts and only decorate with quilts ------ Berninas 820 QE, Artista 630 PQE, Aurora 440 QE, Activa 240, 930 Record, and 731 Baby Lock Quest Plus, Featherweight 221s...
Soolip Advanced CA USA Member since 2008 Posts: 1663	Login to reply to this post In reply to Maia B Like this post Date: 2/10/12 5:16 PM "Motor strength" has very little to do with the actual piercing power of a domestic sewing machine. The small motor in a domestic machine is sufficient to move its mechanism, which is all that is required. Zig zag machines require a higher amp motor because there is more to move in the mechanism of the machine. Straight stitch machines, which often have motors with half the power, will often show more actual "power" when sewing. My guess is they all have identical motors. -- Edited on 2/10/12 5:17 PM --
JillyBean333   Intermediate MN USA Member since 2007 Posts: 933	Login to reply to this post In reply to Soolip Like this post Date: 2/10/12 5:38 PM Thanks Soolip! I wonder if any of you who own one of those models would be willing to do some test stitches for me and post them? I am really interested in the straight stitch...probably on just 2 layers of muslin...and then also on a couple layers of cotton. I like to see what it looks like on some thinner stuff because I do tend to sew linings for things out of thinner stuff. I'm guessing all three machine sew exactly the same too...I can't imagine why they wouldn't...but it's a matter of the features. I'll be on vacation for about 10 days or so..and probably won't get to hang out on pattern review much...but will be looking forward to the discussion when I get back. ------ JillyBean http://craftysupreme.etsy.com

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