method for winding thread from one spool to another

[esantoro]

Is there a solid method for winding thread from one spool to another. I need to buy a 16 oz spool or larger and transfer half to another spool for bobbin winding? I was thinking I can somehow manage to fit an empty spool onto a handheld drill and wind the thread that way. I'm just wondering if by doing this I may create other problems in the future.

ed

[Billsotx]

I use a drill to wind directly off the big spool I'm running on my machine. Takes about a minute to pull the thread loose, a couple of minutes to wind a bobbin or two, and a minute or so to run the thread back through the machine and install the newly wound bobbin. May be a better way and I'd like to learn that.

[esantoro]

Bill,

What king of setup do you have for the drill. I was thinking about going to the store and getting a bolt and some nuts and washers the right size for the bobbins, and then chucking up the screw with the bobbin on it.

for the spool I was thinking also of getting a large bolt, nuts and washers.

[esantoro]

Ok. I've called around to see if I can buy two 8oz spools of coats 207 black bonded poly. The thread exchange is the only place that can give me two spools, but they have eddington at a fair price, not Coats.

Ferdco can sell me one large spool, which I could try to wind onto a second spool if I want.

Dan Bussey at Shoe Factory Supply stocks only nylon.

I like Coats, but should I just go ahead and get the two spools of Eddington from The Thread Exchange, or should I buy from Ferdco and do my spool winding experiment?

Ed

[Billsotx]

Call Tippman and ask about the bobbin winder shaft for a Boss. It cost about $5.00 - $6.00. Ask for Jim or Ben: TOLL FREE: 866-286-8046, if they're still there. The thing is a two dimensional or graduated shaft, the smaller end chucks into your drill, the larger end is split which gives it a spring effect and the bobbin is pushed over the forked end. The spring effect applies enough friction or tension that you simply run the drill and wind the thread onto the bobbin. How fast you wind it depends on how anal you are about winding it "just right" ... lol You could probably make one from a carriage bolt but this thing is pretty cheap for all that running around looking for just the right size shaft. If you have a bunch of round stock on hand just cut a piece about 4" long and split one end with a hacksaw, insert the tip of a screwdriver and spread the split or forked end slightly and you're in business. What you won't have is that little graduation that keeps the bobbin from slipping down too far on the shaft, but it won't matter if you're careful when you wind it. Unless you're going to wind a bizillion bobbins, then I wouldn't mess with fabrication. Hope this helps.

[Romey]

One can easily make a bobbin winder with a old sewing machine motor

[Hilly]

You can also order prewound bobbins in large quantities.

One trick I have learned doing upholstery, is to wind a whole bunch of bobbins, and use one for my top thread, in place of the16 oz spool. That way when I see the top thread bobbin spool getting low, I know that the actual bobbin spool is low, too, and I never accidentally run out of bottom thread in the middle of a seam.

[esantoro]

Hilly,

What an awesome idea, absolutely awesome. I hate running out of bobbin thread midseam. I knew there had to be a reason why I bought a bunch of bobbins in the first place.

Thanks

[Hilly]

Glad I could be of some help to you.

Try winding about 20 bobbins - 10 for the top and 10 for the bottom. Don't let the top bobbin get too empty, because they don't always wind evenly. I've had one bobbin run out when the other still had 20 or more feet of thread left on it. It's not a foolproof method, but it does help a LOT.