Binding machines.

[Darren Ramey]

My dad is thinking about going in to the carpet binding business. He is 64 and just wants to get off his knees. I think it's a great idea myself. My mom is all for it too. After gas and materials he isn't making much at all right now and needs to make a change. He has a couple nice size buildings on his property that would be perfect for it too.

I was talking to the guy that does a lot of my binding today and he was giving me suggestions (and says he doesn't mind the competition one bit). He said a machine that cross stitches is better than one that makes a straight stitch. Does that ring true? He said his machine was built by a company about 30 miles away (High Point, NC) and recommended them because they were local.

I was wondering what advice I could get around here? Who makes the best machines? What can he expect to shell out for a machine, a decent supply of binding materials and all that? How do the portable binders hold up? Any info you can give me so I can help him make an informed decision would be great thanks.

[Nick Arrera]

Had a portable one .. Held up well .. Don't know if it was me or the machine but it seemed to break a lot of needles .. I rember when we hand sewed it and latexed the back right on the job site .. if you have the building and the start up money , there is money to be made in making customs rugs ..

[Daris Mulkin]

I have 4 portables. 3 binding brutes from National Carpet Equipment and a straight stich speed demon that was only on the market for a short time. Now it is a $4000 boat anchor I call it.
Binding machines have the tendency to go out of adjustment easily. Some carpets are harder on them than others. Learn how to make those adjustments yourself. That way you only have to send it back when a part breaks or you just can't figure out what is wrong.
Another thing they are a 1 person machine. You'll find out if womeone else uses it whamo something goes wrong. They are like the gals-tempermental as all get out. Works fine one minute and then it gets a wild hair and won't work. Pick it up later and it works.
The ones with the zig zag stitch are better. It is a locking stitch where the straight stitch is like a bag stitch. Get ahold of a thread and it all comes undone.
Portable against a table mount. Portable works the best for me. I can put it on a table and work or I can also take it to the job and work, or put it on the floor for a large rug. Table mounts are faster. but they are usually bobbinless.
It all depends what you want to do. Pricing anywhere from $2000 up.

Daris

[selvalee]

carving cutom rugs was a big hobby of mine, I use to think I would get rich off it, but, in my area, there was already a few guys and all the work I could get was designers and dealers wanting to cut the other guys prices,,, learned a few hard lessons about designers, I will never work for one again unless I am paid up front and they must keep thier mouths shut,
but, I still have a carpettone, that doubles cuts carpet,,and, the carver, the hot glue guns, air, the compressor, and more, the bas plates, I never use them,,, they are just sitting there,,, but, if I was starting off today, I would buy the hand tufting system,,,, much better than cut/paste, just something to think about,
slt

[Daris Mulkin]

I took the coarse that NCE offered on hand tufting. 3 days it isn't easy but totally expensive. The machine then were about $5000 and the yarn was worse. It takes 3 rools of yarn to operate.
Then I was told that the people from Germany that set these tufters up said you will know in 30 days if you can do it properly. To much cash to lay out and end up with a bad product.
3 days on the punch gun and ended up with a 2x2 of not pertty.

Daris

[Nick Arrera]

I was looking into the bevlers Daris . the blades alone was aroud $3,000 that was five years ago . then you had to buy the projector [etc]. i figured it would have cost me around ten grand ..

[Daris Mulkin]

Bevelers You can probably pick one up for around $2400. But if you are going into the binding business that is a must have tool. Or maybe a real good sheep shears. But they don't work on everything.

Daris

[Darren Ramey]

Our binder used to use sheep shears, and he got great results with them. I've thought about picking one up for border work, but I just don't do that much of it.

[ProFloors]

I have a bond double puller, with extra bobbins needles tape etc. If you want to drop me a private message I can Shoot you some pictures and all information as well as a price.