Singer 4452 Heavy Duty Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
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Singer 4452 Heavy Duty | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Price | $300 List $219.99 at Amazon | $230 List $229.99 at Amazon | $230 List $201.71 at Amazon | $210 List | $160 List $159.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Light provided by the machine is excellent | Easy to use, notably good zigzag stitching, free-foot sewing option | Good sewing performance, easy to use, high value | Excellent lighting, clear and easy stitch selection, very easy buttonhole set-up | Excellent straight stitching on cotton jersey, very easy to get stitches set up |
Cons | No included paper manual | Buttonholes on light to medium fabrics aren't ideal, subpar bobbin winding | A bit harder to set up | Trouble with the bottom of zippers, basic side-mounted manual thread cutter | Lacks a needle up/down button, no presser foot lock, trouble with bottom strap of average zipper |
Bottom Line | An average machine with some nice features but a higher price than we think is warranted | A great machine that leaves something to be desired in creating buttonholes on lighter fabrics but overall provides excellent features for the price | A great machine for the price and a good bet for both beginning and seasoned users | Good for those starting out, but advanced users will get better performance out of other machines | Great machine for a beginning sewer, but lacking a few helpful computerized features |
Rating Categories | Singer 4452 Heavy Duty | Brother XR9550 | Singer 7258 Stylist | Brother CS6000i | Brother CS5055 |
Sewing (45%) | |||||
Ease of use (35%) | |||||
Buttonholes (20%) | |||||
Specs | Singer 4452 Heavy Duty | Brother XR9550 | Singer 7258 Stylist | Brother CS6000i | Brother CS5055 |
# of Built-in Stitches | 32 | 165 | 100 | 60 | 60 |
# of Buttonhole Styles | 1 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Measured Weight | 14.5 lbs | 12. 1 Ibs | 14.6 lbs | 9.4 lbs | 10.8 lbs |
Maximum Sewing Speed (stitches per minute) | 1,100 | 850 | 750 | 850 | 750 |
Buttonhole Sewing (number of steps) | 1-Step | 1-Step | 1-Step | 1-Step | 1-Step |
Maximum Stitch Width | 6mm | 7mm | 6mm | 7mm | 7mm |
Maximum Stitch Length | 4mm | 5mm | 4.8mm | 5mm | 5mm |
Thread Cutter | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in |
Automatic Bobbin Winder? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Cover? | Soft | Hard | Soft | Hard | No |
Free Arm? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
While one of the higher-end models of the Singer Heavy Duty line, the 4452 felt a little overpriced relative to its performance. This lackluster performance does not merit its list price, and even though it can usually be found at a discounted price, it still feels like a stretch to justify its cost.
Performance Comparison
Sewing
The 4452 did not deliver a standout performance in our sewing tests. We compared each product's performance on a handful of different stitches over nine different fabrics. We found that the straight stitch, zigzag stitch, scallop stitch, and attaching a zipper were the most disappointing. This machine performed well on the long straight stitch, except that it had a tendency to bunch up on our cotton test swatch.
The 4452 struggled even more on the zigzag stitch, producing some of the lowest quality stitches out of all the tested machines. This problem appeared to be rooted in the inconsistent top thread tension, alternating between too loose or too tight and bunching up the fabric. The scallop and blind hem stitch quality rated even lower, and sewing multiple layers of denim was just awful. In fact, in the denim test, the stitches were tiny, even at the longest setting, and at one point, bent the needle so that it hit the presser plate. This is not what we would expect from a machine with "heavy-duty" in the name.
Ease of Use
The 4452 Heavy Duty is a relatively simple machine, so it scored a little above average in this category. It doesn't have a lot of features to confuse a newer sewist, so it's a safe bet for a newbie.
The directions on this machine are simple enough, but the mechanical stitch selection system is initially confusing. This machine also lacks recommendations for which presser foot is the most effective for different stitches, despite everything else being clearly labeled. That said, with a little experience, it all becomes manageable — as with most things.
The 4452 scored lower than we expected for stitching. However, we were pleasantly surprised at how awesome the labeling was for the stitch setup, and threading the machine and bobbin is simple and easy to execute. The tension adjustment is also simple, just a matter of turning a dial, and the lightning is top-notch.
Buttonholes
The Singer 4452 Heavy Duty earned a respectable score for setting up buttonholes by lining them up in the correct location. As this is a mechanical machine, it requires slightly more setup than the others, requiring you to drop a lever down and set it to act as a stop. This machine also does not shut off automatically, so you'll need to pay attention so it doesn't keep sewing long past the end of your buttonhole.
Value
We felt that the 4452 was overall only an average machine with an above-average price. There are better options, especially for a beginning seamstress or tailor.
Conclusion
Despite the higher price, the Singer 4452 Heavy Duty landed at the bottom of our lineup. It has some nice features, but those don't really justify the cost, and the performance doesn't live up to the robust name.
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