Not So Lucky

My last post detailed finding two sergers at great prices but I already have to "part out" the EuroPro 534. I tired, I really did, to get the feed dogs moving correctly but upon taking it all apart, my husband and I could see there was a fitting deep inside that was not working correctly. If you can't get to it, you can't fix it. There are times when a scenario like this seems tragic but not so with this newer serger that had been sitting unused for so long. Besides, it came with the following goodies:

Set of 7 feet with samples for 8 different uses

I could probably sell the feet but I'm going to hang on to them in hopes for another machine to come along that could use them. Of course I don't have one now but just maybe...

Serger soft carrying case: really large!

I already have several sergers that could use the carrying case so it might just be the next one that walks out the door or I could keep it in hopes that I can convince one of my daughters to take a serger home and use it. Such an item is always handy to have around.

Scrap bag that hooks around suction feet (there were 2)

Serger course book with additional helps

Dodads that didn't get put into use right away

 But right now the dodads are being put into use first. When I got the Bernette 234 without any accessories, it was in need of the plastic cone holders so I took them off from the EuroPro. The extra lint brush, double eyed needle, and tweezers were put right into the Bernette for easy access. Cool. I was so happy to put the Bernette to use that I took out some random cotton knit that I was going to use for stitch samples and made up seven bags to hold foot controls with their cords. I think the bed of the sewing machine (or serger) can get all banged up when it travels with the foot control just stuffed in next to the machine. Now seven of mine will have a soft bag to contain them. I need to go to my pile of knits and cut out a few shirts to sew up on the sergers to put them to good use. I feel productive just writing that. Now I'll have to get to work!

Tomorrow Is Another Day

Scarlett O'Hara was right, tomorrow is another day so when I sold the Bernette Funlock serger I knew there would be another serger but didn't think it would be so soon. Of course, I was looking for one and liked the ad and condition of a Euro Pro 534DX so I went to take a look. This serger was bought with the best of intentions because his mother loved to sew. A good idea with all things new is to take lessons but his mama didn't speak any English so his wife would have had to go along for all of the lessons and that just didn't work out. How many years the serger sat I do not know so when we turned it on there was no movement. The handwheel was solidly stuck and we suspected it just wasn't on the correct settings and this was a safety feature. No manual. After a few trips back and forth to the computer to check on ideas for getting it unstuck, he finally gave it a real muscle turn and there was movement, slow movement, and finally it would turn.

Euro Pro 534 DX

That was great so I put some fabric under it to see how it would move and it didn't. The feed dogs looked like they moved but only had forward and backward movement and they need to move in a somewhat circular mode. We finally had everything unassembled and I could see where I thought it should move as per other machines but it was stuck fast. I have now been in their home for two hours so I finally said I would take it for about half of the asking price and he jumped at it. I got it home and took the old hairblower to it but no movement. I went to bed a little hopeful but mostly disappointed.

The next day I went to yoga and as my usual routine I stopped at the Goodwill on my way home. There it was, a Bernette 234 serger:

Bernette 234 serger

 No power cord was around but another woman and I found the thread rack and how to attach it. It was a no-brainer since the price was a ridiculous $10 so it went home with me. I was pretty sure I had another cord but it might have to be shared until I could buy one of its own but at least I could find out if it even worked. As luck would have it (wasn't the price lucky enough?) I not only had the power cord and foot control but it was one that was an extra, taken from a machine I no longer owned. I worked on her for a couple hours and finally was rewarded with this:

Bernette 234 stitch sample

I wouldn't say its stitches were perfectly balanced but it was pretty good. In fact, it was better than my Elna serger that has so many features (if you can get it to actually do them). This was a clear win-win. I found free manuals for both online and that will help, too. I think I can continue to oil and heat the Euro Pro and get it to run plus it came with a complete set of feet so it is valuable for parts yet that little Bernette is going to keep going for years to come.

Moral of the story? Sell when you have a buyer and you can always get another. Maybe two.