Hoops - Wood vs. Metal

[GailForce Designs]

We are just starting out and wondering if people prefer wood or metal hoops and why. Just trying to figure out which is the better investment. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Natalie
Gail Force Designs

[SkyLinePrints]

personally, i do NOT like the wood frames. I find I have a much harder time trying to get things hooped.

I dont know that I have seen metal frames. All of my frames are plastic except for the 1 wood one sitting in the corner by itself.

[signman]

We have only the 2 larger wood hoops for jacket/sweater backs.
Every other size is the gray plastic ones. I do notice the wood ones are much harder to hoop straight-frames seem to be 'out of square' before hooping so it is very hard to line up to a straight horizon for jacket backs. I would guess that maybe the plastic in the super size is not as stable or rigid as wood?
But since we rarely use them I can live with it.

[sschroed2]

I am coming up on 1 year since I got my Amaya XT. What I have found, is I prefer the plastic to the wood, except for heavier items, like jackets. I have found that the plastic larger hoops are half height and don't grab as tight as the wood. But I also had the problem with the wood not being straight. As a matter of fact, one was so bad, I sent it back to Melco and they replaced it. I have bought 2 of almost every hoop size, except my fast frames and now wishing I had 2 sets of them. The only ones I don't use are the WACF hat frames. Just have never been able to hoop a hat without problems on those.
But the CCF is awesome.
Sue
All Custom Embroidery
Fontana, Ca.

[Judy]

I got Big Red in June of 2004, then Smokey replaced her in January of this year. I have been using the same hoops all this time. In 2005, the wooden ones started to warp. I went to Staples and got some of the big binder clips, and after I'm done using them I clip them together. It took about a month, but they "un-warped" and are still perfectly square. And once something gets hooped in the wood, it's almost like it doesn't dare move. The additional height seems to hold it really well, so for heavy items I always break out the wood. For lighter stuff, the round plastic are wonderful. I had the square plastic ones -- briefly. I found that even though they provided more sewing area than the round ones, it was easier to get the items tight in the round hoops. The WACF I have nick named the Why (I) Am Cussing Freely. It and I do not get along. It likes to make my fingers sore and help Smokey to eat hats. The CCF is my Comforting Cap Fancier. In easy, rarely if ever allows Smokey a snack, and no sore fingers or standing or your head or having to rotate the cap frame holder while fervently praying for 3rd and 4th hands to miraculously appear.