CindyJean's Full Review: Brother 1034D Mechanical Sewing Machine
Introduction
I have it so easy. About a month ago my husband and I were laying in bed one morning, trying to ignore the fact that our kids were up and demolishing our house—that’s what Saturdays are for.
Anyway, as I’m laying in bed I say to him, “Honey, I want to buy a new serger.” My previous one (bought used in ’94) had died on me after three years of storage in less than ideal conditions, and I had recently gotten back to an old passion—sewing clothing. I have an almost two-year-old daughter (after having three boys), and making dresses for her is a joy!
You could have knocked me over with a feather when my mention of a new serger (which I knew to cost well over $200) was met with, “Then go buy one.” No “How much is that going to cost?” or “Do you really need one?” Just, “Then go buy one.”
Choosing My Purchase
Two things factored into my choice of a serger, my impetuousness and my cheapness.
I had no desire to wait days or weeks while I researched my serger, as I had $60 worth of fabric and patterns recently purchased from Wal-Mart calling my name.
I’m also quite cheap, and am remarkably good at getting by with a lesser quality machine if the price makes it worth my time and energy.
I knew that I could hunt around the local sewing shops and wait for someone to run a sale to purchase my serger, but I wasn’t going to do that. I knew that Wal-Mart carried sergers and that I likely wouldn’t find a lower price anywhere, so I got in my car and drove right to Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart stocked two different sergers (which was more than our local Sears sewing machine department’s ONE Kenmore brand serger available), a Simplicity machine for $260 and the Brother 1034D for $223. From the category I’m writing in, I’m sure you can tell which one I chose (and even guess why).
Accessories
The following accessories are included in the purchase price of the Brother 1034D:
*Soft Cover
*Accessory bag
*Tweezers
*Thread nets (4)
*Thread spool caps (4)
*Cleaning brush
*Allen wrench
*Needle set (2—80/12; 2—90/14)
Optional Accessories
These accessories may be purchased for the Brother 1034D at an additional cost:
*Blind stitch foot
*Trim trap (which I would LOVE to have)
*Tape presser foot
Set-Up
While I won’t go into specifics on setting up the Brother 1034D (the manual goes into detail quite clearly), I will say that setting the machine up—installing needles, threading—is quite simple to do. It took me two or three attempts to perfect the threading of the loopers, but once I got it down I realized how easy it really was.
Thread
The Brother 1034D can use any type of spooled thread (with the use of the thread spool caps), but I prefer to use coned thread. Coned threads provide you with greater lengths at a lower price, while still delivering quality.
Adjustments
The Brother 1034D comes with the ability to adjust stitch length, stitch width, the differential feed.
Chart for Thread Tension Adjustment
The biggest trick for most serger users in finding the right tension on each of the four threads. There is a chart included in the user’s manual for the Brother 1034D that shows different maladjustments of thread tension and how to correct them.
This has proved to be invaluable, as I was having trouble getting my settings exactly the way I wanted them.
Specs (Taken from Manual)
*Use—light to heavyweight fabrics
*Sewing speed—1,300 stitches per minute
*Stitch width—2.3 to 7 mm
*Stitch length—2 to 4 mm
*Needle bar stroke—25 mm
*Presser foot—Free presser type
*Presser foot lift—5 to 6 mm
*Needle—SCHMETZ 130/705H
*No. of needles and threads—Three/Four threads convertible
*Machine net weight—7 Kg (light enough to move without straining yourself)
My Experience and Recommendation
In the month that I have had this machine it has seen steady use. I’ve made several different outfits with the help of the Brother 1034D, and it has proved to be a wise purchase. This is based not only on ease of use and care, but also on the rock-solid reputation of the Brother company.
I’m a ‘no-frills’ type of person, and this machine is certainly ‘no-frills.’ It is a basic, simple model serger that will sew, cut and overcast your seems without doing anything fancy.
Like any serger, the Brother 1034D will not replace your sewing machine. There are some seams (particularly curved seams) that simply cannot be sewn on a serger, thus your sewing machine will still be needed.
If you want a solid, sturdy, basic serger that will likely last you for years to come, the Brother 1034D is the machine for you. I recommend it very highly.
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