lubricant box

[esantoro]

I stitch mainly with white and black bonded poly, 138 to 277. I'd like to get some deer/beige/tan poly in 138, 207, 277. Is the best price I'm going to find the $20 per 16 oz spool ant Campbell's.

Also, since I don't go through all this thread that quickly, I think I'm going to start using thread lubricant in the lubricant box atop my super bull. What's the best lubricant to use? Campbell Bosworth's got some stuf for $20 a gallon.

My baby bull didn't come with a lubricant box. Any suggestions for a magnetic one?

Thanks,

ed

[bruce johnson]

Ed,

I would avoid the magnetic base lube pots. They don't stay in place, tip over, and are a pain. I think Art said on another list that he has the same experience.

I get a color called "peasant" from Ferdco that sure could pass for deer/tan/waxed linen color. I can usually get 1-2 day shipping from them to me. Your price is typical I think.

Thread lube is all over the scale. Ferdco told me that any good leather conditioner like Lexol will work. That's what I have used for a few years with no problems, and if I run low - the feed store has it! Weavers have a couple brands I think, Campbells have theirs too.

Bruce Johnson

[esantoro]

Ed,

I would avoid the magnetic base lube pots. They don't stay in place, tip over, and are a pain. I think Art said on another list that he has the same experience.

I get a color called "peasant" from Ferdco that sure could pass for deer/tan/waxed linen color. I can usually get 1-2 day shipping from them to me. Your price is typical I think.

Thread lube is all over the scale. Ferdco told me that any good leather conditioner like Lexol will work. That's what I have used for a few years with no problems, and if I run low - the feed store has it! Weavers have a couple brands I think, Campbells have theirs too.

Bruce Johnson

I'm bidding on a plastic magnetic lube pot that also clamps to the metal pin on the baby bull. I've taken Ferdco's advice to spray my spools of thread once a month with liquid glycerine saddle soap to keep them from drying out, but someone told me I should get a silicone based thread lubricant forthe pot. I've got loads of neatsfoot oil around, synthetic blend and pure.

ed

[esantoro]

Ed,

I would avoid the magnetic base lube pots. They don't stay in place, tip over, and are a pain. I think Art said on another list that he has the same experience.

I get a color called "peasant" from Ferdco that sure could pass for deer/tan/waxed linen color. I can usually get 1-2 day shipping from them to me. Your price is typical I think.

Thread lube is all over the scale. Ferdco told me that any good leather conditioner like Lexol will work. That's what I have used for a few years with no problems, and if I run low - the feed store has it! Weavers have a couple brands I think, Campbells have theirs too.

Bruce Johnson

Hi Bruce,

I think i want to take your recommendation and get the Coats Peasant from Ferdco. From Ferdco's picture the peasant looks too yello. Not true?

Campbell Bosworth sent me samples of their Eddington deer, which seems to unravel a bit.

What price does Ferdco ask for their thread? Shipping?

Thanks,

Ed

[bruce johnson]

Ed,

The peasant color runs me about $1.40 per ounce for #346 It is a pretty golden color, and looks lighter once sewn. I like it initially, and it makes a good match on repairs that may have been originally sewn with white, but have aged. Shipping is pretty average with all my other suppliers except for Siegels. I am usually ordering needles and thread, so try to get a decent enough sized order to make the shipping work. They don't have a minimum order or low order surcharge.

Bruce Johnson

[esantoro]

Ed,

The peasant color runs me about $1.40 per ounce for #346 It is a pretty golden color, and looks lighter once sewn. I like it initially, and it makes a good match on repairs that may have been originally sewn with white, but have aged. Shipping is pretty average with all my other suppliers except for Siegels. I am usually ordering needles and thread, so try to get a decent enough sized order to make the shipping work. They don't have a minimum order or low order surcharge.

Bruce Johnson

Bruce,

I like the color of the Eddington deer, not too golden. Campbell Bosworth has 16 ounces for $19.40. Buying by the once would be better for me, as it would take a long time for me to go through a whole pound of thread.

From what you say about the peasant, an aged off-white look, I think it may be exactly what I need.

By the way, Bruce, how often do you oil behind the face place of your Super Bull 2000? Are there any particular places you oil othe than those that have been marked for oiling or are behind the swing doors?

Thanks,

Ed

[bruce johnson]

Ed,

They price it by the ounce, but sell by full spools. There is a link or phone number on Ferdco's site (www.ferdco.com) that leads to a seller who sells smaller size spools and different colors. AS far as oiling behind the plates - every time I oil the machine. I touch anything that looks like it moves. I use thin plastic tubes (actually urinary catheters) on the end of my oil squeeze bottle to reach them. I also clean my machine religiously. I know of a guy (different company's similar machine) who found three broken needle tips in his race, along with some nasty grooves and a birdsnest worth of thread dust and remnants when it finally seized. I try to learn from guys like him. He doesn't like his machine now. Small wonder.

Send me a private email with an address, and I can send you a sample of the thread for color and and a sewn piece.

Bruce Johnson

[esantoro]

Ed,

They price it by the ounce, but sell by full spools. There is a link or phone number on Ferdco's site (www.ferdco.com) that leads to a seller who sells smaller size spools and different colors. AS far as oiling behind the plates - every time I oil the machine. I touch anything that looks like it moves. I use thin plastic tubes (actually urinary catheters) on the end of my oil squeeze bottle to reach them. I also clean my machine religiously. I know of a guy (different company's similar machine) who found three broken needle tips in his race, along with some nasty grooves and a birdsnest worth of thread dust and remnants when it finally seized. I try to learn from guys like him. He doesn't like his machine now. Small wonder.

Send me a private email with an address, and I can send you a sample of the thread for color and and a sewn piece.

Bruce Johnson

Thanks, Bruce, for offering to send me samples. I've taken your and Art's recommendation and have ordered spools of the the peasant from Ferdco. I also ordered a quart of the Ferdco 4-way conditioner to use in the lube pot (and have ordered a couple of quarts of Feibings 4-way from Siegels with my latest order -- always want to make sure you hit the $75 free shipping mark with them). Do you thnk most any leather conditioner would work? Pure Neatsfoot oil? Compound Neatsfoot oil? I would think that these might leave marks on the leather.

I'm also going out tomorrow to look for 10 weight hydraulic oil for my machine.

Ed

P.S. Bruce, I'd love to see what the 346 peasant looks like stitched. What do you use it for? I like the thick stitch look but so far haven't used above 277.

[esantoro]

Ed,

I would avoid the magnetic base lube pots. They don't stay in place, tip over, and are a pain. I think Art said on another list that he has the same experience.

I get a color called "peasant" from Ferdco that sure could pass for deer/tan/waxed linen color. I can usually get 1-2 day shipping from them to me. Your price is typical I think.

Thread lube is all over the scale. Ferdco told me that any good leather conditioner like Lexol will work. That's what I have used for a few years with no problems, and if I run low - the feed store has it! Weavers have a couple brands I think, Campbells have theirs too.

Bruce Johnson

I just got my order from Ferdco. However, I ordered the Lexol 4Way from them and they sent me Fiebings. I'm a little upset because I had already ordered the Fiebings from Siegels, who even though they have great prices on some things ($10 and change for the Fiebings 4way, 32 oz), routinely messes up my orders. It's a part-time job just to double check their accounting and shipping.

Is their a difference between the Lexol 4Way and the Fiebings 4 Way, or are they the same just under different packaging. The Fiebings 4 Way I purchased from Siegels is a milky white substance. I had wanted to compare it to Lexol but that's not what Ferdco shipped.

Ferdco invoiced me about 18 oz for each spool of thread, but the spools are labeled as 16 oz each. Does Ferdco simply weigh the whole spool, plastic spindle included? We're talking about a $7 difference here. It upsets me when an invoice states one thing and the product another.

On a more positive note, I thnk I will be happy with the Coats peasant. Thanks, Bruce, for the recommendation.

Ed

Ed

[bruce johnson]

Ed,

I am not a 4 Way user, but have heard the 4Way's are the same. I use just regular Lexol leather conditioner for my thread lube. It is a milky liquid, consistancy of whole milk.

As far as thread weights, I think they weigh and charge based on that. I have had spools of varying wieghts (15 to 19 oz) from both Ferdco and Weaver. Weaver sent me one once that was so overfilled that the thread would fall off the spool and tangle under the thread stand. I don't know if anyone figures the tare of the spool or not.

Bruce Johnson