SINGER 4423 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine

I have had a second hand machine for years that never worked properly, the tensions couldn't be balanced, the speed was difficult to control. I learned how to sew on my mother's Singer and I longed to get one for myself, but back then sewing machines were more expensive and I didn't sew enough to justify it. I sewed less after fighting with mine for so long. Plus my mother had eventually replaced hers with another brand with a lot of fancy stitches. She used it for a couple of years but began to sew less as it started giving her a lot of trouble. She eventually dug out her 30+ year old Singer and began sewing again. I read several of the reviews of a few machines and I was convinced that getting a Singer was still what I wanted for several reasons. One is that Singer machines' thread tensions are more reliable. Many other machines have the thread go from spool to needle through no more than 4 catches. This Singer and most others I've seen have 7. Similarly the bobbin thread is held better as well. This keeps thread control and tension more consistent. I read some reviews for this machine saying they had problems straight out of the box or after only a short time. It makes me wonder 2 things - whether they changed settings like tensions before starting to sew on a scrap to get used to the machine or whether they purchased from a marketplace seller. The first thing I did was to thread the machine with standard thread and leave all settings as is (I wasn't going to need to anyway unless I didn't like where they were set after using it) then I ran a scrap through the machine to see how it felt. What a dream! It was quiet, it was easy to control the speed (it didn't jump from 0 to 60 like other non-Singers I've used), and the stitches were beautiful. The thread tensions were perfectly balanced. After practicing with it a little I began my project and was off and running without having to stop and unsnarl thread or struggle with thread tensions that wouldn't stay set. I can't understand how much trouble some people seemed to be having. One thing I mention here, I purchased the 4423 because I wanted a machine that could handle heavy fabrics, and had a variety of stitches for basic products. I didn't need 100 types of stitches or a computer for a sewing machine. I am fine with the basics. If I decide to put someone's name on a project, I'll embroider it by hand. I don't do all that much sewing any more. I do really wish I had replaced my hunk-o-junk 20 years ago right after my sister-in-law traded me for the machine I had inherited from her mother - it didn't work all to well either but she didn't like her 'new' machine. I found out why. I also wonder whether some people who wrote bad reviews purchased their machines from the marketplace. I have purchased some items from there when needed, but I and others have had problems with using them. Primarily in their definition of the word "new". If someone returns an item within the 30 days or whatever and claims it is in new condition some sellers don't check the contents to confirm. Instead they sell it to the next person. So blankets arrive not factory packaged and with obvious stains on them. The purchaser returned it because they didn't like something about it, hadn't broken it but had definitely taken it out of the box and used it. Why the seller didn't examine the blanket to be assured it was in new condition I can't say. But I say buyer beware if they buy from the marketplace and not from Amazon. Some marketplace sellers sell their own products so don't fall under this category, others are just retailers shipping through Amazon. Some aren't very professional. Don't blame the product without first being sure that you didn't purchase one of these "new" products that had actually been a return that should have been marked "like new". And don't twiddle with it before seeing how it performs straight out of the box! All I can say is I LOVE this machine. It works almost exactly as my mom's old Singer. Singer has kept to the old adage that if it ain't broke don't fix it. Their basic machines are virtually unchanged from one's produced 50+ years ago. Oh they look different, but that's just like putting on a new dress, the person in the dress is the same. Sure they have the more advanced machines, ones they pioneered. But even those are built on top of the old reliable machine. If you have a problem that is a defect, find out right away and get a replacement. Don't wait on any purchase, sewing machine or other items, to try it out to see if it is in working order then blame Singer for not replacing it. Every company can produce a defective product that made it through quality control. It is up to the buyer to do their own checking to be sure they got a product in full working order. These sewing machines now are so much less expensive that even if you do get one that breaks down, purchasing a new one does not burn a hole in your wallet. 20 years ago some of the machines I looked at would have cost $1000! Be happy you aren't shelling that out and getting the junk I've been using that cost $850! And it is just as basic as the one I just purchased! And a word for beginners - yes there is a manuel and yes it's easy to learn on. Even without the manuel someone with minimal experience can easily see how the different features work. They are clearly labeled. Anyone having problems has never used a Singer or other machine that isn't complicated to use. They look for complexity where there is simplicity. I have only had this machine a short time, but I can say that even if it starts giving me some trouble, it would have to literally break to be as bad as what I've been using. I wish I had talked my mother into giving me her old Singer! But I feel as if I just did. The color is different, but it's the same machine.