Singer 4432 or 4423?

[FlightMedic]

I posted this in an old thread but it seems to have gotten buried so once its answered we can delete this thread:

The cheapest I can find the Singer 4432 is $159 and the Singer 4423 is $116 both ship free. Are the extra 11 stitches worth $43?

It will be used for hammock and camping gear on my part and only light use by my wife but we likely wont purchase another machine for a long time.

[kthompson]

You really only need straight stitch. Perhaps zig-zag, but that's it. Get an old black all metal Singer.

[jes4kix]

I don't know anything about the model you're looking at but I do know a bit about the vintage singers. Most all the Singer machines from the early 60's back, 50's, 40's ... are gear driven, they are beasts. The early models are iron, in the 50's came aluminum. IMHO, you can't go wrong with a 500 series and older, 400, 300, 200. Personally I really like the slant needle machines.... Ha, guess that's because that's what I'm learning on. We have a 404 slant needle straight stitch only and a 401 slant needle that will do a number of different stitches and will stitch using double needle.

BTW, youtube is full of demo's on the early Singer machines, you'll be amazed at their ability.
I got my 401a installed in it's original hide away cabinet with a basket load of accessories off craig's list for $150

[Boston]

Generally speaking, you wont need the additional stitches. It has 2 extra stretch stiches, and the rest are decorative.

FWIW the stitches I use are exclusively straight, zig zag, and straight stretch. Plus button hole.

[Bubba]

The extra stitches aren't needed for gear making.

[jes4kix]

The primary reason I went with the 401 was the double needle capability. Nice neat double row of stitching in one pass. That being said I have found other useful stitches besides single row straight stitch and there are some that are of no use to me, purely decorative. Another option on this machine that is quite useful is being able to vary the needle position, it'll go 2 positions left or right of center. Also I'm not the only user, my wife uses several of the optional stitches, blind hem etc.
Would I buy it for the options, not if it was more $$ but for the same $$ or less than a straight stitch only machine, absolutely.

[slugbait]

The twin needle feature is intended for decorative stitching since there can be only one bobbin thread. This makes each line of stitching weaker. For strength (when needed) I use two lines of stitching, done with separate passes.

[jes4kix]

The twin needle feature is intended for decorative stitching since there can be only one bobbin thread. This makes each line of stitching weaker. For strength (when needed) I use two lines of stitching, done with separate passes.

That's true. I use it for areas where grosgrain or other ribbon is being applied. So far it's worked well. But I'm still a neophyte and learning as I go, and where I can.
My wife said I need to learn to use her serger for what I was doing on the edges of my quilts. There's probably a better way.
At this juncture I'll defer to the experts.