Thread Question

[triage1998]

I am looking at Tandy's website and I can't figure out which thread to get.

Whats a good thread for hand sewing holsters and belts?

Waxed or unwaxed?

Edited November 2, 2011 by triage1998

[ramrod]

i guess i'll take a shot at this. my personal preference is unwaxed for belts. i use polyester machine thread in all of my stitching. i have occasionally used the tandy waxed thread, but i found that there was way too much wax on it. it got gummy and ended up on the leather at the stitch holes. i also had a lot on the needle hole when i ran the thread through the eye. now, that having been said, i guess i could have tried harder to remove the excess wax before stitching -but i didn't really try to. that is an option.

YMMV if you try the waxed thread.

edit: on the other hand, you could always get the unwaxed and drag it through a cake of beeswax. or not.

Edited November 2, 2011 by ramrod

[triage1998]

i guess i'll take a shot at this. my personal preference is unwaxed for belts. i use polyester machine thread in all of my stitching. i have occasionally used the tandy waxed thread, but i found that there was way too much wax on it. it got gummy and ended up on the leather at the stitch holes. i also had a lot on the needle hole when i ran the thread through the eye. now, that having been said, i guess i could have tried harder to remove the excess wax before stitching -but i didn't really try to. that is an option.

YMMV if you try the waxed thread.

edit: on the other hand, you could always get the unwaxed and drag it through a cake of beeswax. or not.

I found some post on threads and found some people really liked the Barbours Linen 5 or 6 cord thread from the Campbell Bosworth Machinery Co.. Its around $50.00 for 1100 yards. They also have the Hungarian Linen Thread #5 cord, Left twist in 1 lb tube for $25.40.

I also saw some posts where people like the the #277 and the #207 thread from Tandy its regular $50.00 also.

Springfield has some #207, #277 and #346 for $24.99

I am still confused on what to buy.

Edited November 3, 2011 by triage1998

[Lobo]

I hand-stitched everything for many years and at various times I have tried linen (waxed and unwaxed), polyester, and nylon threads in various weights. Personally, I found no significant advantage with the waxed threads for hand-stitching. The heavier thread weights require quite a bit more effort to pull through, so waxing may be desired for that reason.

Polyester threads generally have less stretch than nylon, so may be prefered for some applications. Bonded nylon offers a bit stiffer consistency, so it doesn't seem to get tangled up as easily as polyester when running long stitch lines by hand.

Thread is comparatively expensive when purchased in smaller quantities, and Tandy's prices are about as high as they get. You might try a web search for The Thread Exchange (Atlanta, if I recall correctly). I've been purchasing from them for the past several years, getting Linhanyl-brand 277 bonded nylon for about $20 per pound (around 1300 yards). Some other sources offer half-pound cones and 4-oz. spools for those wanting smaller quantities, but unit prices go up quite a bit as quantities are reduced.

The bonded nylon runs perfectly on my stitchers, and the occasional hand-stitching requirements are just fine with it as well.

For what it may be worth, I used to average about 45 minutes or so to mark, punch, and stitch a typical holster. I do the same work on my power stitcher now in a couple of minutes. The first belt that I hand-stitched was the LAST belt that I hand-stitched, probably 3 hours of work. I do full-length two-layer belts on my stitcher in 10 minutes or less. I realize that any stitching machine would be a big investment for only occasional or hobby use, but I wouldn't be without one for regular production work.

[marine mp]

Triage1998,

Some more food for thot....go to the SUPPLIERS section of this forum and on page 8, I believe it is 11th post down...CowboyThunder, has some 9 cord waxed poly at 525 feet by Coats America for 10 bucks. It is a heavy thread but it makes for some beautiful holsters. It goes thru a Tandy's needle when spread out on the ends as Al Stohlman explains. I use it exclusively and am pleased with the results, although I do hand stitch everything. CowboyThunder is excellent to deal with...had it in 3 days from ordering. Just another avenue for thot. Semper-fi Mike

[r lenna]

for belts I use Upholstry Thread, you are going to have wax on it to protect the thread. If you use Linen you are going to want to have a lot of wax on it. Linen isn't a very strong material, if you use enough wax what the linen will do is bond with the leather so if a thread breaks it will hold fast. I like to use upholstry thread waxed and doubled and I have yet to see it break in any thing I've done. Rob

[triage1998]

Triage1998,

Some more food for thot....go to the SUPPLIERS section of this forum and on page 8, I believe it is 11th post down...CowboyThunder, has some 9 cord waxed poly at 525 feet by Coats America for 10 bucks. It is a heavy thread but it makes for some beautiful holsters. It goes thru a Tandy's needle when spread out on the ends as Al Stohlman explains. I use it exclusively and am pleased with the results, although I do hand stitch everything. CowboyThunder is excellent to deal with...had it in 3 days from ordering. Just another avenue for thot. Semper-fi Mike

Thanks for the heads up mp marine but I think I will pick up some of the Linhanyl-brand 277 bonded nylon thread that Lobo suggested.

Oh and Lobo I hope to pick up a sewing machine sometime next year. I think a Cobra 4 looks mighty nice.

[wizard of tragacanth]

Ooops, sorry. I was composing this when you were posting your decision. BTW, I was not disagreeing with the experts, just putting out another idea. I will probably try a couple of suggestions in the above posts, myself.

In my humble newbie opinion, I think for hand stitching, you are going to want a waxed thread, whether it is pre-waxed or do it yourself. The wax holds the thread in place as you stitch. Unwaxed thread is for machines or for people who want to do their own waxing.

Just to get a little experience, why don't you start with some 25 yard spools of pre-waxed thread from Tandy for under $5 each. Yes, that's a high cost for a small amount of thread but you will get several projects from these and overall the cost is low for experimenting. Get some needles that will accept thick thread.

Waxed nylon: http://www.tandyleat...s/1227-038.aspx

Waxed linen: http://www.tandyleat.../11207-003.aspx

Needles: http://www.tandyleat...s/1195-033.aspx

Nick

Edited November 3, 2011 by wizard of tragacanth

[triage1998]

Ooops, sorry. I was composing this when you were posting your decision. BTW, I was not disagreeing with the experts, just putting out another idea. I will probably try a couple of suggestions in the above posts, myself.

In my humble newbie opinion, I think for hand stitching, you are going to want a waxed thread, whether it is pre-waxed or do it yourself. The wax holds the thread in place as you stitch. Unwaxed thread is for machines or for people who want to do their own waxing.

Just to get a little experience, why don't you start with some 25 yard spools of pre-waxed thread from Tandy for under $5 each. Yes, that's a high cost for a small amount of thread but you will get several projects from these and overall the cost is low for experimenting. Get some needles that will accept thick thread.

Waxed nylon: http://www.tandyleat...s/1227-038.aspx

Waxed linen: http://www.tandyleat.../11207-003.aspx

Needles: http://www.tandyleat...s/1195-033.aspx

Nick

Yup I decided to go with Lobos suggestion and I will also be making my own wax with beeswax and rosin. Already ordered the rosin from US Rodeo Supply.

Thanks for the reply Nick.

[triage1998]

Yup I decided to go with Lobos suggestion and I will also be making my own wax with beeswax and rosin. Already ordered the rosin from US Rodeo Supply.

Thanks for the reply Nick.

BTW Nick here is the old thread I found talking about beeswax and resin

My link

[MADMAX22]

When handstitching something entirely I only use barbours linen with my own wax/rosin mix that I make. It works great. Occasionally I will use some of the same bonded nylon that I run through my sewing machine just so it matches. That is rare and I really dont like doing it. The properly waxed linen really holds very well and is easy to stitch with.

[wizard of tragacanth]

BTW Nick here is the old thread I found talking about beeswax and resin

My link

Thanks triage... it looks like I will be toddlin' down that road right behind ya. Unlike me, these guys know what they are talking about. I should just keep my mouth shut!

I sure hope that I don't wind up having to make my own thread!!! And I mean sewing thread, not talking about posting a thread.

And triage, my post wasn't nuthin, thanks for YOUR post.

Nick

Edited November 4, 2011 by wizard of tragacanth

[Rayban]

I used to wax my thread just like Uncle Al taught me....but back in his day there was no store bought waxed thread ....check out these folks:

http://www.thethreadexchange.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=TTE&Category_Code=waxed-thread

[MADMAX22]

The only issue with the store bought waxed thread is that it for one is usually just wax, it usually has way more then needed or not enough. Also making the ends to go thru the eye is so much easier before you wax the thread.