What scottiechick likes about this machine
I purchased this machine recently at the Sew Expo here in Washington State. I had been looking for a replacement for my beloved Viking #1+, and had been considering the Juki for well over a year, based on looking through the threads here on PR. I found it for a great price at the Expo, with some nice extras thrown in, and didn't hesitate to pounce.
I sold my Bernina 930 a few weeks earlier, with the specific hopes of purchasing this at the Expo, and I have absolutely no regrets! I LOVE this machine! It's so powerful and smooth.
Before I actually started a project on it, I was just playing around, edge stitching and top stitching my scraps and testing the stretch stitches on some knits- and it did an awesome job! The feed was straight, and it did an especially amazing job on the knits, without a walking foot. I thought my Viking did a great job on knits, but the f600 blows it out of the freaking water!
I have to baby my Viking and don't sew anything more than medium duty materials on it (still heart it, though!). On the Juki, I was able to finish a slip cover project that I had started on my straight stitch only Juki, and it powered through, with no problem or hesitation at all. Sewing heavy home decor fabric and Velcro is no issue for this guy (with the appropriate needle, of course). If I had purchased the f600 first, I probably would not have opted to buy the TL 2010q, because the power and stitch quality is great on the F600.
Thread cutter and knee lift! This was the main reason I was looking to upgrade from the Viking, besides the fact that it was 18 years old and computerized, and probably not going to last too much longer. both functions work well, and the knee lift stays in the machine throughout sewing (it was always falling out on the 930 - drove me batty!)
I was actually a bit apprehensive about the knobs versus buttons for stitch length/width, but I love them! I was specifically worried that the knobs would be too free-turning, and it would be too easy to go past your desired stitch length. The knobs actually have little 'stops' as you turn so it's not an issue at all. It's easy to move it up one length/width setting, and my worry was unfounded.
I love that it's so well equipped and they're generous with the accessories. If I bought a European brand machine with similar machine features, all of the extra feet, table, etc would have probably been hundreds of dollars on top of the machine price, not to mention the machine price likely being at least double. The F600 is pretty much one purchase, and you're set for 90% of the sewing applications a general sewer would encounter. Love that.
I like that it has the hard cover case that slips over top. My Viking had this and it's so wonderful, because you can use the machine cover as a dust cover while the machine is set up on a table (versus when the machine travels in a separate suitcase style case). The case is even better than the Viking, because it has molded foam inside for impact protection, and an external pocket for storage. Easy Peasy!
The feet seemed clunky when I was looking at them, and I was sure I would hate them. Having sewn with them every night for a week, they're growing on me and I actually really like that the general purpose sewing foot has a little button on the back that you can push to level the foot out on bulky seams without a hump jumper. That feature was a huge help sewing the slip cover I just finished. What scottiechick does not like about this machine
I don't like how far back the needle bar area is. On my Viking, the needle bar is right up front, and the front of the machine body is angled back, so it's easier to see everything. When I thread this one, I have to bend my head to all the way over to make sure I'm catching the last thread guide before threading the needle/
I don't like that the speed control slide doesn't control the bobbin winder. On other brands of machine I tested, the bobbin winder speed was also controlled by the speed slider. I would have preferred that, instead of one preset medium speed, as I like to wind my bobbins at a slower speed to minimize the stretching of the thread.
The 'auto' tension isn't the greatest, coming from a TOL Viking . I usually have to adjust it +/- 1 on the Juki and test sew a small sample. On the Viking, with the 'Sewing Advisor' you can tell it what fabric and weight you're sewing, and it makes adjustments for that specific situation. I almost never had to adjust the tension on the Viking, it was perfect, perfect always. On the Juki, I definitely have to do a test run, but it's not a big deal. Just not as good as the machine I came from.
The machine isn't terribly attractive. I almost didn't buy it because it just looks so homely online and the shiny plastic kind of makes it look cheap. Luckily, it's more attractive in person, and the plastic doesn't feel cheap to the touch, it feels sturdy. I'm so glad I got over the looks, because it's great!
After it's been plugged in for a while (not necessarily running/actively sewing, just plugged in and sitting), the machine starts to make a high-pitched (though very, very faint), "electrical" sound. This is really minor, and I can't think of a better way to put it. It makes the same noise my cell phone charger does when it's plugged in to the wall, but it isn't charging a cell phone. I can hear it pulling the electricity, with no where to put it, I guess. The Juki sounds the same. This is very minor, and I have excellent hearing, so I don't want to make it sound more serious than it is. It doesn't make me like the machine less overall, but I don't care for the fact that it makes a distinguishable noise that isn't there when first using the machine.
Hate the manual's layout. Not the information, but the 3 languages on each page, instead of an English section of the book, Spanish section, etc. Doesn't make sense, and makes it really hard to look things up when you want to reference them later.
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Other Viking/Juki owners found that they could use their Viking ankle on the Juki and continue to enjoy using their Viking feet. Nice review! Please update when you've logged some more time on this machine.
3/4/13 9:53 PM
I too purchased this machine at the Sewing Expo, but in Chantilly, VA. I LOVE IT!!!!! I'm a garment sewer. I've sewn on only Pfaff's for the past 30 yrs; however, the Pfaff 2140 that I purchased in 2005 did not live up to the standards of the first Pfaff I purchased in 1986. They simply are not the same company. It was in and out of the shop. So I set out to find a replacement. I too perused PR for information. I had never heard of the JUKI until I went to Expo. I was blown away---I googled the machine while there and decided to try it. I am TOTALLY satisfied!!!! I love the buttonholes especially. I've had my machine almost a year now and it has not dissappointed. It's sturdy and I love the knee lift!
3/5/13 7:18 AM
p.s. I have never experienced the noise you mentioned. I've taken this machine to a 5-day sewing retreat and it never made any unusual noises.
3/5/13 7:19 AM
LOVE mine too :)
3/5/13 8:48 AM
I love mine too and I've been using it almost a year now. Great power and accuracy. The only problem I've ever faced is that the metric guide lines and the inset screw holes on the sewing plate have sharp edges that tended to snag light materials....I solved that problem with a little rub with emery cloth and tape! Love this machine.
3/5/13 10:19 AM
This is what I call a review! I am very interested in this machine, although I am not in the market at the moment. When the day comes and my present sewing machine goes to the Great Sewing Machine Shop in the Sky, that this one will be high on my list to replace it, so I was especially interested in the things you do not like. I have really good hearing so that would probably bother me as well. Forewarned is excellent.
3/5/13 7:46 PM
You know what's holding me back from the Juki? It's speed. Do you feel like it's a lot slower than your TL2010q? Do you feel like you're waiting for it to sew?? Great review!
3/6/13 1:45 PM
I have the Juki TL 2010 and love it so much I suggested my sister buy the Exceed 600. She loves it also. We both thought the same thing about the print manual that came with the machine but if you go to jukihome.com and under sewing machines and find the F600 they have a great all English print manual for you to down load.
3/6/13 2:28 PM
Nice, thorough review! I love my f600, too, and have convinced 2 ladies in my sewing group to get one, as well. Like you, I hate the crazy a$$ way the manual is arranged. Otherwise, this machine is a best buy!!
3/8/13 6:59 AM
Nice machine and great review! :)
3/8/13 11:20 AM
I was surprised to hear the manual complaints, because my machine came with an excellent manual, one of the best I have! - all in English. I bought my machine online in 2012 from Ken's. Love love it too!
3/10/13 4:47 PM