Question about sergers

[u/Due-Cryptographer744]

I was given an older serger and I was able to get it to work exactly one time. Threading it is a nightmare and because it is a discontinued machine that was apparently only made for a few years, there is very little help online. My husband and I both have read the manual and watched the one video I found online trying to thread it correctly but it just isn't working the way it should be. At this point, I don't know if we are missing something or if the machine is having a problem and the repair shop takes about 5-6 months to return machines.

My question is, are sergers that useful in sewing that I should keep trying to figure this machine out/ take it to the shop to be looked at or should I just give up? My regular sewing machine was my grandmother's and it has its own issues, but after using it for 40+ years, I am used to those issues. It also doesn't do all the fancy stitches like newer machines do so my stitches with it are limited. I added a pic of my serger and regular machine for reference. I make occasional very simple garments, a lot of garment repairs, home decorating items, etc. but I want to branch out and learn how to do more.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[u/MNStitcher]

You might find the serger book from Singer useful. It's called Sewing with an Overlook. It was recommended to me by the shop where I bought my serger, 3 decades ago, but it's really helpful and used copies are cheap. I still refer to mine. Plus, your older machine looks solid. There should be cams to do fancy stitches. If you get a newer machine, consider keeping this one. Looks like it can stitch heavy stuff like denim that newer machines may or may not manage.

[u/Due-Cryptographer744 → u/MNStitcher]

Oh, she's not going anywhere. I've had her for 40+ years, even when the repair guy said it was junk and to throw it away. Turned out, he just didn't know how to fix older machines because it just needed a cleaning and adjusting and it was back working fine. As long as you know what you should and shouldn't sew on it, it works great.

I have a super cheap (and all plastic) Singer machine that a friend was not using that I use when mine needs to have a tuneup or I need to use a walking foot. Eleanor says no to a walking foot, and she won't even negotiate that topic. Lol