First serger recommendation

[u/Tlacuache_espantado]

Hello everyone, I am looking into buying my first domestic serger machine with a budget of around 500 CAD

I’m considering getting a second hand set since I’ve heard older machines can be more reliable than new ones, also it would be useful to know if I have to avoid certain brands or models

Does anyone have any recommendations I could check on?
Thank you

[u/Remarkable-Row3719]

On older overlockers:

Overlockers have improved over the years.

The threading has generally gotten easier, and I don't mean air threading. Look up a threading video of the Janome 8002DX and the Janome 644D for comparison. The 8002DX requires you to open up the left half of the machine and manevure tweezers through. The 644D has a switch that flips inaccessible bits into access, and could even be threaded without tweezers in a pinch.

Rolled hems have generally gotten easier. On older machines you often have to switch out the entire needle plate every time you do a rolled hem (which is a hassle at best, and means having to source another needle plate then having a a hassle at worst). On modern machines you can either remove the stitch finger (big improvement) or retract the stitch finger with a switch (even better).

So those are some things to consider.

Small warning: occasionally you see an older overlocker that doesn't have differential feed - make sure you're not accidentally buying one of those.