Questions about my new singer xl420

[Embquilt]

Hello,
Hubby surprised me with the Singer xl420 sewing/embroidery machine while out shopping on Black Friday.

I am wondering if anyone on here has it or any of the similar models. The dealer told me that I am supposed to only use singer needles and cannot use any prewound 15J bobbins. This advice seems to differ from what I've read. I would love any advice offered

My other baby is a Piaf 7570. She sees beautifully but the embroidery unit is like a dude (sorry fellow dudes on the board) - it's finicky in its old age. But my experience with this machine is the prewounds worked the best for embroidery (as long as they weren't cheapo crap).

My dealer mostly sells Viking but also singers. I am just seriously questioning their advice on needles and bobbins,

Thanks,
Lisa

[K. McEuen]

No clue. I don't really trust any new Singer, but you should be able to find this info in your manual.

[Iris Girl]

Sorry no help here. I am a Pfaff girl and love my Pfaffs. Would not own a singer (newer models but would love a treadle or featherweight) or viking, do not trust them at all and have had no luck with viking dealers. Not my kind of people or machines.

[songbird857]

I have a viking embroidery machine and it really doesn't like prewound bobbins. What it does like is husqvarna bobbins wound with bobbin thread :-)

[Embquilt]

Thank you songbird

[Genny]

Hello,
Hubby surprised me with the Singer xl420 sewing/embroidery machine while out shopping on Black Friday.

I am wondering if anyone on here has it or any of the similar models. The dealer told me that I am supposed to only use singer needles and cannot use any prewound 15J bobbins. This advice seems to differ from what I've read. I would love any advice offered

My other baby is a Piaf 7570. She sees beautifully but the embroidery unit is like a dude (sorry fellow dudes on the board) - it's finicky in its old age. But my experience with this machine is the prewounds worked the best for embroidery (as long as they weren't cheapo crap).

My dealer mostly sells Viking but also singers. I am just seriously questioning their advice on needles and bobbins,

Thanks,
Lisa

I've always heard that Singers has to have Singer Needles and Bobbins. From what I've read their Needles and Bobbins are made just a little different then other brands...not sure how...but I do stick to their brand for the Heavy Duty Singer I own.

[RiverMomm]

Hi Lisa,

Congrats on your new addition in the family. What a sweet gift.

Recently, I learned that Singer needles are slightly shorter than other needles. I am not sure about that, maybe one day I will take the time to actually measure my needles. I have a less expensive Singer machine (9960) and use all brands of needles in it. But I do have a Singer Embroidery machine and it also says to only use Singer needles. So, my advice to you is to be safe and use the Singer needles. The Titanium needles are great and really do stay sharp longer than other brands.

As for the prewounds, I think it may be because of the quality of the bobbin used with prewounds. If you are using an embroidery machine, you don't want wonky bobbins. So, buy good bobbins and wind them yourself.

Janome now owns Singer. If you like Janome, just remember the newer Singers are made by them.

This is a Singer machine: Amazon.com: Singer S18 Studio Computerized High Performance Quilting and Sewing Machine

Same machine-Janome: Amazon.com: Janome Memory Craft 6500P / MC6500P Computerized Sewing Machine w/ FREE BONUS Package!

[Ahamblin]

Just to clarify SVP (Singer Viking Pfaff) is the holding company that owns Singer. The three companies are independant subsidiaries and operated separately. Janome is a Japanese company and recently purchased Elna. Singer and Janome are not the same machine although they may look similar.
We researched quite a lot before I bought my new machine.

[RiverMomm]

Just to clarify SVP (Singer Viking Pfaff) is the holding company that owns Singer. The three companies are independant subsidiaries and operated separately. Janome is a Japanese company and recently purchased Elna. Singer and Janome are not the same machine although they may look similar.
We researched quite a lot before I bought my new machine.

Sorry- well, gee, I read it on the internet, so it must be true. Or apparently not. LOL

Those two machines are very close to being exactly the same. I have looked at both and am hard pressed to say what the difference is. But I am not an expert by any means.

Speaking of experts, I did a highly scientific study on the needles. How highly scientific you may ask? Well, I opened the packages and held the needles up to the light. After much detailed study (30 seconds) and intense measuring (I held them up to a old wooden school ruler), I came to the conclusion that Singer needles are about the same length as other brands. Or at least Schmetz brand.



Shown are Singer and Schmetz needles. Singer heavy duty on the left, Singer Titanium in the middle and Schmetz heavy duty on the right.

[Embquilt]

Genny thanks.
Rofl @ Rivermomm you are too funny - love your sense of humor. Thanks for the info.
This quilting, embroidering, and crafting world gets confusing some times

I thought I had purchased a great deal on prewounds for my Pfaff years ago, turns out they were like plastic. Then I paid a hit more for Neb bobbins and loved them. I use them in practically all my quilting and when my pffaff embroidery machine works.