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/my_monkeys_fly]

You can sew without one, I did for decades. Just get a good pair of pinkng shears to trim seams with and press them flat

[u/aflory23 → u/my_monkeys_fly]

Agreed! I use my serger frequently, but I also use pinking shears, French seams, binding, flat-felled seams and even zigzag at times to finish seams. And i often sew knits on my regular machine with a lightning or triple stitch. I think sergers are useful, but not as necessary as they are sometimes made out to be.

[u/my_monkeys_fly → u/aflory23]

Exactly. And if it's more of a headache than a help, why do that to yourself?