If you are just getting into the world of tailoring and working with fabrics, one of the machines that you may have use for is known as the serger. The serger or serger machine may also be referred to as an overlocker, generally outside of America.
Today, we want to take a closer look at exactly what sergers are and what they can do. However, the main point of today is to figure out if sergers cost a lot. So, are sergers expensive?
The answer here is that you can find some pretty cheap sergers for a few hundred dollars, or more expensive ones for thousands of dollars to.
What is a Serger?
One thing to keep in mind is that a serger machine is not the same thing as a sewing machine. Here, serging refers to a stitch type that sews one or several pieces of fabric together at the edges. Although they’re not 100% required to make clothes, they sure can come in handy.
These overlocker machines are generally designed to make seams and hems, and they can run at up to 90,000 RPM, and put out up to 1700 stitches per minute. You can use these for constructing new clothing and for simple decorative purposes too. This is one of the most popular machines used in the professional garment making industry.
One of the main reasons for this is because they can perform three jobs at once. This includes stitching a seam, closing a seam, and cutting away excess fabric using knives. These machines also have the ability to sew elastic, make rolled hems, and even make ruffles too.
How Much Do They Cost – Are Sergers Expensive?
The main question of the day is of course how much these serger machines cost. These overlocker machines usually cost anywhere between $200 or $300 for the cheapest ones and up to $2000 or $3000 for high end machines, or sometimes more.
If you’re just buying something for home use, especially occasional use for basic purposes, then you’re best off going for a lower end model. You don’t need anything far too expensive that has a ton of fancy features.
Even those machines that are in the lower price end of the spectrum should still allow for great results and are also extremely easy to use. However, of course, if you are planning on being a professional garment maker, when you do probably want to go for a higher end model.
Factors That Affect Serger Price
What it really all comes down to in terms of the price difference is what features the serger machine in question has. So, let’s take a look at some of the main features and factors that affect the price of these machines.
Number of Threads
One factor that will affect how expensive these machines are is how many threads they have. The cheaper models are going to be able to handle anywhere between 2 threads and 4 threads. Mid-range models can generally handle anywhere between 3 threads and 4 threads. If you’re going for a more expensive and high-end option, these can handle anywhere between 5 and 8 threads. The more threads the machine in question has, the more versatile it is going to be.
Stitch Options
Some overlocker machines may only be able to perform a very select number of stitches for basic purposes. For the most part, the more stitches as serger machine in question can perform, the more expensive it is going to be. This is especially the case when it comes to decorative stitches and highly specialized types of stitches.
Adjustability
A good overlocker machine should also allow you to adjust various aspects. These include things like thread tension, stitch width, and stitch length. Generally speaking, the wider the range of adjustment is for all of these factors, the more expensive the machine is in question is going to be.
Size & Speed
Although some people do like portability, when it comes to professional purposes, bigger is generally better. Of course, you want more space to work with, especially when it comes to the space between the needle and the machine housing.
Therefore, the larger the machine is and more working space it has, the more expensive it is going to be. This is also something that we can say for the stitching speed. Some of these overlock machines can reach speeds of up to 1700 stitches per minute. The faster the machine is, the more expensive it will be.
A Free Arm
Most modern overlocker machines do come complete with free arms that make it much easier to work on things like sleeves. That being said, not all models incorporate this feature. If you do go for a model that doesn’t have this feature, you’ll save a lot of money, although the functionality of it will be limited.
Computerization
You do also need to consider the fact that older overlocker machines are going to be manually controlled with a number of dials and switches. While it’s not the end of the world, it’s certainly not marvel of technology.
If you do go for a higher end model that costs more money, you are likely to get one that is computerized and comes complete with its own display and control buttons. These tend to be much more versatile and also easier to use.
Construction Quality
The other thing to consider here is simply construction quality. If you get a lightweight machine that is made out of nothing but plastic components, it’s not going to cost all that much. However, if you go for a serger machine that comes complete with a durable metal frame, then you are going to pay for it.
Conclusion
On the low end of the spectrum, expect to spend around $200 for a basic unit. For a higher end unit complete with all the bells and whistles, you could pay up to $3000 or more.