Frequently Asked Questions
1. What kind of voltage do I need?
Our machines use standard 110 voltage. A regular wall outlet is all that is needed.
2. How long does it take to complete a king-size quilt?
Length of time to complete a king-size quilt would depend on the
style of quilting and complexity of the pattern (i.e., number of
stitches), as well as the experience of the operator. For example,
if doing an overall pantograph pattern of average complexity, the
operator could complete the quilt in just a couple of hours, whereas
a custom quilt requiring various machine quilting techniques and/or
close stippling could take a full day.
3. Why would I want a 14' stand instead of a 12'?
A king-size quilt can be completed on a 12' stand. A 14' stand would
be needed to complete a king-size bedspread due to its larger size.
4. How big does my room need to be?
All models come on stands that are either 12 or 14 feet in length.
(With Classic and Optimum size machines,
you have your choice.) Your room should be long enough to allow
passage around at least one end of the
stand, taking into account an additional 6 inches for
handwheels/hardware. (The other end of the stand can be put against
a wall, if necessary.)
As for width, since long-arm models can be operated from both the
front and back of the machine, your room should be wide enough to
allow you to comfortably work from either side of the stand. We
would recommend having a minimum of about 8 feet in width for most
models. (If your room is not wide enough, you could add
our optional castors to the stand legs, allowing you to reposition
the stand closer to one wall or the other, depending on which side
of the machine you're using.)
5. Can you make a custom size stand to fit my room?
Yes, we can make custom stand lengths to your specification if
standard sizes are too long. (There is a nominal customization fee
to make an odd size stand.) Of course, the shorter the stand, the
smaller the maximum size of the quilt you can complete on it. We
would not suggest going any shorter than 10' in length, unless you
plan to do only baby quilts or wall-hangings.
6. If another brand machine is more expensive than yours, does that
mean it is better quality?
We believe that our machine is the best value on the market. There
are other brand machines priced higher than ours that do not match
ours in quality of materials, workmanship and features. Because we
are familiar with most every brand available, we can state with confidence that
higher price does not equate to better quality. We would strongly encourage
anyone shopping for a quilting machine to try out the various brands before
making a decision. Generally, all manufacturers are represented
at the major quilt shows. We would suggest you attend one of these
shows, stop by each manufacturer's booth and ask to operate the
machine for yourself.
7. Do you sell used machines?
From time to time we get used Gammills when
customers trade in their machines for larger or more current models.
We maintain waiting lists for used Gammill machines as they become available.
8. Why do you think a die-cast head is better than one that's welded?
Like every professional and industrial sewing machine manufacturer,
we have our heads die-cast rather than welded. We believe a die-cast
head provides more precision in parts alignment than welding ever
could, since welding involves heating and cooling (expansion and
contraction) of materials. (Until 1989, we too had a
welded machine before switching to the more professional and
improved die-cast method.)
9. Why don't you have your machine head made in the U.S.?
At the present time, the industrial factories where solid
die-casting (not 2 piece) is done are located abroad. However, ask
any manufacturer where the important sewing mechanism parts for
their machines are made
(i.e., sewing hook, bobbin case, tensions, needle bar, take-up
lever, etc.), and they should all answer "Asia" - even if the shell
of their machine is made in the U.S.A.
Our all-steel stands are built in the U.S. Motors, electronics and
many parts on our machines are installed here
in West Plains, Missouri. Since the majority of our total product is
made in the U.S., and enough work is done to the heads stateside,
our machines are NAFTA certified.
10. Is the weight of the machine an issue I should care about?
Not in our estimation. Our best-selling long-arm heads weigh from 45
to 68 pounds. Although there are machines on the market that weigh
less than ours, we consider our machines the proper weight to give
the operator the stability needed when the machine is moved to the
widest point in the carriage -- without
having to use an awkwardly designed track system in an effort to
provide more stability.
With our incomparably smooth wheel and track system, an operator can
guide our machine with only two fingers. Finally, there are very few
occasions when the head would need to be removed from the stand
anyway.
11. What are ergonomically designed handles?
Ergonomic design means conditions best suited to the worker. Our
handles are positioned for the most comfortable operation of the
machine, as well as to allow for visibility of the needle.
12. Why do machine manufacturers' warranties seem to vary so greatly?
We encourage you to request a written copy of the manufacturer's
warranty before making any purchase. Our limited warranty is four years
against mechanical or electrical defects, with four years free
in-shop service (our service center or a dealer location).
If you'll read the fine print on some of our competitors' warranties,
you'll find their deceptively generous warranty is only on the
external shell of the machine - not on the
mechanics or electrical, which at the time of this writing, is
comparable to ours. We see no reputable or valid reason to warranty
the shell of our machine "10" or "20" years, even though we could.
13. Do you ever have any specials?
Due to our pricing philosophy and policy to treat all customers the
same, we do not offer discounts on our machines. We price our
machines to stay in business and make a fair profit. We do not
believe in elevating prices so we can give customers a so-called
discount, or offer a reduced price "floor model" -- just to make
the sale.
14. How does your double-capacity bobbin work?
Our patented Automatic Thread Escapement system allows us to use the
double-capacity "M" style bobbin in our machines. Since it releases
all stress on the thread as it passes through the escapement,
superior stitch quality is achieved regardless of speed.
15. How do I know which model best suits my needs?
The throat space on each model determines capacity for piece size,
batting thickness, and pattern width. Since we offer four long-arm
sizes and a short-arm model, there's a Gammill machine to fit every
need and budget. If you're planning to machine quilt as a business,
we would recommend either the Classic or Optimum size machine. The
Classic's 26" by 10" throat space is large enough to handle any
quilt a client might ask you to do. The Optimum's larger 30" by 12"
throat would be better suited to the quilter who also does
bedspreads (which are larger than quilts and use thicker batting),
the quilter who prefers wider patterns and a larger work area, or
the quilter who simply wants to roll up the fabric less often.
Our smallest long-arm, the Premier 18-8, is generally sufficient for
the person who's just quilting for family and friends, or doing
limited business. (A king-size quilt can be done on the Premier if
thin batting is used.)
However, if quilting as a business, you would encounter some
limitations with this model with regard to pattern width, piece size
and batting thickness, due to its smaller 18" by 8" throat space.
Our largest long-arm models, the Supreme 36-14 and Supreme Plus, are
designed for the large decorator workroom doing mass production
bedspreads (channel, outline or simple pantograph). Their extra
large 36" by 14" throats are greater than someone making quilts
would need or want for doing the intricate patterns usually desired
on quilts.
16. Do you have a trade-up program?
Yes. If a customer purchases a new Gammill machine and is ready to
trade up to a larger model within or at
one year of ownership, we will offer 75% of the purchase price back
as a trade-in allowance (assuming the machine and stand are in good
condition). The percentage we can offer as a trade-in allowance
decreases with additional years of ownership.
17. If my machine should ever need service, where do I take it?
We offer toll-free technical support six days a
week. Part of the training we provide
with personal delivery is on the maintenance of the machine, and our
machines come with an easy-to-follow Technician's Service Manual. If
you were ever to encounter a service issue, we couldn't address by phone
(which would be unusual), we would ask you to bring or ship the head
to our shop for service.
18. Do you offer personal delivery, set-up and training,
instead of just shipping by truck line like most other manufacturers?
Yes, we offer personal delivery, set-up and training. We
will set up the machine and stand for you and provide
on-site training on the basic operation of the machine. To
supplement the training we provide upon delivery, we invite our
customers to come to our showroom fo a second class
at no charge. Although our machines come with an excellent instructional video for
reference, we find that nothing can beat some hands-on training when
someone is first getting started.
20. What is a stitch regulator and how is yours different than
others on the market?
A stitch regulator is a device that gives the operator even stitch
length regardless of their skill level -- essentially reducing the
learning curve for someone who is brand new to machine quilting. On
a conventional hand-guided machine, the operator must learn to move
the machine in a fluid, consistent motion to get even stitch length.
While this is something anyone can achieve with varying degrees of
practice, a stitch regulator allows more professional work to be
done with less experience. Even seasoned machine quilters find a
stitch regulator beneficial, particularly for handling patterns and
designs with points.
Our stitch regulator is a built-in feature on our "Plus" line of
machines introduced in Spring 2001. The Premier Plus,Classic Plus, Optimum Plus
and Supreme Plus are essentially stitch-regulated versions of our
conventional deluxe line, but with a few extra features in addition
to the stitch regulator.
On our Plus machines, stitch length (i.e., number of stitches per
inch) is selected from a display panel at either end of the machine.
Encoders in the wheels signal the motor to speed up or slow down
based on the operator's movement, so even stitch length is achieved
regardless of whether the operator is moving the machine at a
perfectly consistent speed.
There were other stitch regulators on the market before ours. We
worked with several electronics engineers before finding the one who
was able to design and develop the product we wanted for our
machine. We could have introduced a stitch-regulated machine sooner
that would have been similar to others, but we wanted to
wait until we had a stitch regulator that was superior in
performance, simplicity of operation and noise level,
and had some added features to further distinguish ours from the
rest. These added features unique to our Plus line include a low
bobbin alert, "stop-sew" sensor, run-time clock and dual channel
locking system (horizontal and vertical).
21. Does your machine have any patented features?
Yes. we have patents on six features, three of which are our
Automatic Thread Escapement, Variable-Stroke Hopping Foot and
Auxiliary Intermittent Tension.
22. How long does it take to get the fabric pinned and set up to quilt?
Initially, it takes a new machine quilter 60 minutes to get the
fabric pinned. Speed and agility come with repetition and reduce the
prep time to 45 minutes.
23. In choosing a quilting machine, how important should a
manufacturer's experience be in making my decision?
We consider experience one of our greatest assets. While employing
the expertise of world-renowned electronics engineers to keep our
brand at the forefront of new technological developments.
24. How much money can I make machine quilting?
The amount of money a person can make machine quilting will vary due
to their location, the type of work
clients are willing to pay for, and how many hours a machine quilter
can devote to their business.
Our customers tell us consistently they are booked ahead weeks or
even months with orders. Quilting in
general has steadily increased in popularity over the years -- and
continues to do so as more folks decorate
with quilts and pursue quilting as a hobby. So, the more pieced tops
done, the more there are to be machine quilted! In addition, machine
quilters are not restricted to just their own geographic area for
their client base. Many people are willing to send their quilt tops
great distances to be quilted due to a certain machine quilter's
reputation for creative work, the lack of machine quilters in their
area or too long a
waiting period.
With regard to how much to charge, overall pantograph patterns take
less time to complete than custom work, so should cost less to have
done. Clients are expected to pay considerably more for custom work
because it demands more skill, employs various techniques and
requires a greater number of stitches for intricate patterns and
complex designs. Other factors, such as who provides materials
(batting, lining, thread, patterns) are important to consider when
setting prices.
Many machine quilters rely on machine quilting as their primary
source of income. We have numerous
customers who've left professions to stay at home for one reason or
another, yet still needed to generate some degree of income. As a
cottage industry, machine quilting is an ideal pursuit to allow
someone to "be their own boss", and take on as much or as little
workload as they want to stay busy.