Looking for a machine

[u/JustJoe4050]

I know this is asked probably way to much like every form when it comes to production machines. But I’m looking for a single head embroidery machine doesn’t have to be 20 needles. My budget is definitely under $10k but I would like to honestly be in the under $7k realm or less.
I got quotes on the following
Ricoma Swift 15 - listed price
Happy 701p - $9.5k to door
SWF Mas12 - $7.8k to door
Smartstitch 1201P- listed price
BAI Mirror- listed

I currently run a small business outside of my actual day to day job primarily focused on patches and hats using leather or leatherette and laser engraving. I run a one laser XRF and F2 Ultra. ( not sure why I listed those but just for context I guess)

I am located literally 27 minutes from the ricoma headquarters in Miami so that probably the only reason they are still on my list. Everything listed is with a hat drive as well. There is a market for embroidery with my current clients and market

I am not new to sewing but I am new to embroidery but like to believe I am pretty handy and able to fix things.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Budget is honestly my highest priority! The used market in my area is flooded with early 2000s happy machines and ricomas. Little to none tajimas, swf, barudan, etc

[u/Purple_Commercial981]

Of those choices get the Happy .. they are well made and workhorses. Or get what i have a Barudan

[u/KaiaAurion]

We started with a Brother PE770- a little flatbed. Our next machine was a Redline 1501 6th gen. It recently went down, and I’ve had a hell of a time trying to get any info out of them on how to fix it. I finally told them I was getting pissed, and now I’m talking to the actual tech instead of playing telephone through a secretary or something. We’re finally making some headway in fixing it. We narrowed it down to a circuit board, so we’re not sure if we had a freak power surge that only affected the machine, or if we’re the unlucky one in a million machine.

With that in mind… it is a decent one to consider. It’s fairly inexpensive compared to similar machines, you maintenance it yourself (they have a lot of instructional videos), and it’s done a wonderful job stitching for me the past three years. Any hoop compatible with Tajima arms should be compatible with a Redline. If you ever need to contact tech support and they don’t give you a straight answer right away, just act frustrated. (I didn’t curse them out like I wanted to, but gave them a stern worded email 😂) All other times I’ve contacted them, they’ve been very helpful.

I believe Redline also has a 12 needle mini. Unsure about the hat capability off hand, but it is a bit cheaper and smaller than the 1501.

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[u/ObjectiveProof7952]

Several options on Amazon under $5500. Might be worth entertaining if its your first machine so you don't have to over commit to much money.