Which is the best brand of embroidery machine to buy?

We would recommend Tajima, Barudan, Toyota, SWF and Melco.

But first of all you have to tell us what you are looking to do, and your budget. Of course, the best machines are more expensive. Melco, SWF and Toyota are on the more inexpensive end, and you can find one head--and up to 4 head--Melco and SWF machines in the $4000-$7000 range.

As for the Tajima and Barudan you can find them in the $5000-$8000 range, with software and everything.

Tajima is by far the best, as many of our customers have stated in one of the polls we have in our blogs. Click here to find some prices on Tajima machines.

If you are going to do any type of embroidery (ie. caps, polos, flags, jackets), the best option is a Tajima machine or a flat head machine, as the Melco, SWF or Toyota machines. Or the Barudan machines that came after 1995.

If you are doing flat garments (ie. polos, flags, jackets), Tajima and Barudan are the best because of the large sewing area and the quality of the embroidery.

Do the used Tajima or Barudan embroidery machines have the same features as the new embroidery machines?

Yes, they do have the same features.

You have to keep in mind that even the first machines from the 1970s make the same stitches as the machines from the 90's as do the machines just coming off the assembly line.

Take into account some specifications:

• Speed: has only been increased less than 25% since the 1970s. The machines from the 1990s have the same speed as the brand new machines.
  
• USB Drives: there are new solutions for that, and a USB drive can be installed in any machine, no matter the year or the brand.
• Number of Needles: most machines come with 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 or 15 needles, some are brand new some are used, it depends more on what you are going to do.
• Sensors: the thread brake sensors and bobbin sensors have been in the embroidery machines for quite a while (10-15 years now).
  

Also when buying a used machine you can get the same as with a new machine: training, software, thread, USB drive to load designs, and even 1 year warranty... what else do you need?

For more related posts about used and new embroidery machines, please refer to:

>>Used vs. New Embroidery Machines
>>Embroidery - The Best Time To Buy