There has been some discussion on this subject in the Bernina series Yahoo Group. You can take it from here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bernina_series8/message/73963

Has anyone used their 830 on a quilt frame?
Do you recommend using the 830 as a long arm quilting machine?

It's probably about time for me to get my Bernina 830 serviced...well perhaps after the first of the year. Any suggestions on Bernina service techs here in the UK that I should consider? Or ones I shouldn't consider? I live in East Anglia in Brandon.

I know this is kind of an older topic. But I wanted to add my 3 cents. I got the 830LE in June 2011 and am loving every minute I sew, quilt, embroider with it. I've put so many stitches on it I have had it in for servicing twice in the first year... like my car, I do my 'oil' changes on schedule and I"m a sewing addict. LOL. The 830 does require service after so many stitches.

I have had some tension issues the past few months too. But I"ve been branching out into different type and brands of thread. My goto thread for no hassles is isacord 60 and a titanium needle and bottom line. That is what I asked my service guy to set me up for. So all the default settings in the machine work perfectly with it. When I change to a diff weight thread or type (rayon or silk or cotton or different weight of poly) then I have to figure it all out again. I"ve been experimenting.

Just lately, I've also experienced some big snarls under the bobbin plate and that really is no fun. and starting out straight stiching also birdnests. My machine has never done this before. I'm using the thread and needle setup the technician recommends (isacord in the top and the recommended bobbin thread in the bottom). I think that the huge snarl that I had to cut out of my bobbin area shifted something inside the machine. The botton indicator is in the right spot. That snarl was so bad it pulled the fabric on my embroidery hoop down into the machine and ripped a hole in the fabric. This machine is very strong... I always use tweezers or a bamboo stick to push fabric in and for sure I always will (I don't want my finger to be sewn through the bone, and this machine could do it, i know it sews leather like a dream (i've done it)). Anyway after that big thread snarl, I can't get the tension right now. I'll have to pay for service this time though... My one year of free service has run out.

Unless anyone has some suggestions. It's mid november and I"ve got to get my christmas presents done. yikes!

Thx u very much
I will do the yahoo search soon .
Cheers
Lili

The difference is not with the mechanics, but what is offered with it. There are more designs, a class you go go to, the pretty color and design on the front, etc. The Bernina website can explain more.

Big decision. I have loved my Bernina 830. For the most part I have been able to do what I want with it. When there have been skipped stitches it is usually because I needed a new needle or correct size of needle. I try really hard now to follow the thread/needle/tension charts that Superior thread puts out.

The classes (webinars) that Bernina offers on their website have been in valuable. So has the yahoo groups mentioned above, especially the series 8 group. Search yahoo groups for Bernina 830 and 8 series. There are several. Explore the Bernina website for more information and by all means make sure you test drive this and other machines to see what works best for you.

Lorna

Bernina 830LE and B830,
Any difference?
I know it looks different on the exterior but
How about the interior mechanism ?
Any advise
Lili

I found with my 830 that it did skip stitches at times but found out it was controller error, i.e., I was not threading the bobbin correctly so that the top thread would catch the bottom thread. Yes it can handle metallic threads. You just have to slow down the speed, like any other machine, and adjust tension. There are Yahoo groups for the Bernina 830 that might help answer questions you might have. It was a great source of information for me.

Hi all the expert quilters...
I am very new in machine quilting .
I need sound advise about Bernina 830 .
I read somewhere that B830 is not as good as it seems to be ..Especially it s not cheap n so we tend to have a higher expectation
The stitches skipped so often during the auto quilt on B830 and also it cannot handle mettalic threads too ..
Anyone out there has the same problems ...
I really want an advise ..


Lili / Singapore