Weight: 7.72 Kg
Size: 35 x 38 x 37 cm
Material: Plastic, Metal
Colour: White
Brand: Bateman
Speed: 1300 stitches per minute
Overview
The Janome 8002DG is a great starter machine if you’ve never overlocked before as its solid and basic and its at the budget end of the market so its certainly good value for money. Although its slightly heavy (not too heavy to lift) but if you’re a full throttle overlocker you may find it a ever so slightly bouncy although it sits on rubber suckers to hold it in position. It is not too noisy, it runs smoothly and the stitch quality is very good.
It’s slightly more complicated to learn how to thread this machine but pay attention to the instructions, watch the DVD, take your time and it’s well worth learning. The additional function presser feet included mean this will meet your needs and you won’t quickly outgrow this machine! Its not the prettiest machine we’ve ever seen (just our view), but it does the job!
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Here are some more details about Janome 8002DG Overlocker:
Fairly Easy Threading but the Lower Threads Are A Little More Complicated
The machine comes pre threaded, there is a colour coded thread diagram on the machine, there are good instructions and even a helpful DVD, all of which help you how to learn to thread this machine. The lower threads on this machine are certainly a little more complicated than some so be prepared to read and take your time and you’ll get the hang of it.
Both sides of this machine open up for threading and yet this aspect doesn't necessarily make this machine easier to thread and you still need tools (e.g. tweezers or a threader) to get the thread through the lower looper path.
Has a Knife
This machine cuts as it sews but the knife can be retracted and clicked away if you don’t want to use it.
The knife cutting position is also adjustable. You can adjust the cut width from between 3mm and 5mm although you can’t easily see exactly where the knife is and unfortunately the dial does not have fractioned markings on it. So this means you need to guess how much fabric the knife is cutting away. (You cut away different amounts of fabric depending how thick the fabric is as well as the size of the stitches. Cut too much away and you have empty loops hanging over the side of your work)As you get more experienced you’ll get used to this but overlocking on a fabric sample beforehand is important to make sure you’ve got this right It’s not a big issue but it’s an extra complication for a beginner.
2 Year Warranty
This machine comes with a 2 year warranty if something goes wrong. Note that if you do need to send back your machine, you need to keep the box and you have also return the accessories.
Accessories
The Janome 8002DG comes with the usual basic set of accessories including 2 different sized screw drivers , tweezers, a set of needles. Also cones for holding thread spools in place.
Extra Presser Feet for Extra Functions
We like that the Janome 8002DG comes with 4 extra presser feet which perform helpful extra functions. The feet are for: elastic gathering, gathering, a blind stitch foot and a cording foot. When creating gathers you can adjust how much is gathered. The normal gathering foot allows you to gather at the same time you are creating the seam. The blind stitch hem foot allows you to neaten and finish raw edges whilst also creating the hem. The cording foot makes it easy to sew cord into a rolled hem which will reinforce the edge.
Comes Pre Threaded
Some basic amount of thread is included so you can actually do a bit of sewing straight off, without even worrying about learning how to thread.
Stitching
Stitch quality is neat and even and this machine runs very smoothly. Does both 3 and 4 thread options.
Easy Access
Both sides of the front of the machine open up for threading. This is helpful if you drop screws or needles inside your machine. Also helpful for cleaning which is very important with a machine that cuts in order to stop build up of fluff and threads.
Dial Quality and Aesthetics
In some aspects this machine does not feel robust, particularly, for example, the side dials motion: they feel a bit cheap and light weight. Although they do their job and are functional, so it’s a minor point.
And yet if you are going to spend a lot of time using your Overlocker then perhaps things like dial quality and even the pretty markings, flowers etc that some machines have printed on them (this one doesn’t have much) in some way add to your overlocking / serging experience. For some, this doesn’t matter at all.
Instructions
The instruction booklet is readable and helpful. Also includes an instruction DVD.
Disadvantages of Janome 8003DG
Doesn’t have a free arm for tubular work such as sleeves and trouser legs.
The instruction DVD is helpful but many no longer have DVD players.
The knife cutting position is a little fiddly to get exactly right and the dial to adjust the knife position is not marked to show exactly what position the knife is in: it takes some guesswork and experience with the machine to understand how to get it right: if the loops are empty then the knife is cutting too much, if the fabric starts to fold or compress within the loop then its not cutting enough. Beware that some on-line tutorials will tell you to keep adjusting the stitch length when you need to adjust the knife cut distance!
The lower loopers are a little more complicated to thread on this machine. If you’re very easily frustrated this may not be the machine for you.
Some of the dials feel a bit cheap and light weight (although they all worked well enough).
Not the best-looking machine we’ve ever seen (just our opinion), although its functional and does its job well enough.
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