Singer 4452 Heavy Duty Review

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.

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 Heavy Duty 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.

Should You Buy the Singer 4452 Heavy Duty?

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. Even if you're specifically after the “heavy duty” functionality, this model just can't quite deliver.

What Other Sewing Machines Should You Consider?

Despite the higher price, the Singer 4452 Heavy Duty landed very near the bottom of our lineup. It has some nice features that don't justify the cost, and the performance doesn't live up to the robust name. Though it's not specifically a heavy-duty machine, the Brother HC1850 offers excellent performance for about the same price and is one of our favorite machines to use. If you love the Singer name, consider the Singer 7258 Stylist, which did very well in all our metrics and costs about the same as the 4452. If you're ready for an upgrade, the Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist is a top-tier machine that creates 600 beautiful types of stitches, superb buttonholes, and is easy to use.