Electric Bobbin Winders

[UKRay]

I have come to the end of my patience with the bobbin winder on my Highlead GA2688-1.

No, there is nothing wrong with it, in fact it works perfectly. The problem is me.

My eyes are deteriorating quite badly and I have problems seeing well enough to thread the machine needle, but every time I need to fill a bobbin I have to un-thread the wretched thing before running the machine up. I really need an alternative to the winder on the top of the machine.

Has anyone invented a workable solution? Before you ask, My drive belt is covered by a protective metal casing and I don't want to remove it. I get into enough trouble without sticking my fingers into moving machinery - hence the 'bolt-on' type of bobbin winder isn't going to work for me. I really need something free standing like this: click here for the link

Has anyone tried one of those neat looking electric bobbin winders you see advertised on eBay? Do they work properly? Is there a make to look out for?

Thanks folks,

Ray

[whinewine]

I have come to the end of my patience with the bobbin winder on my Highlead GA2688-1.

No, there is nothing wrong with it, in fact it works perfectly. The problem is me.

My eyes are deteriorating quite badly and I have problems seeing well enough to thread the machine needle, but every time I need to fill a bobbin I have to un-thread the wretched thing before running the machine up. I really need an alternative to the winder on the top of the machine.

Has anyone invented a workable solution? Before you ask, My drive belt is covered by a protective metal casing and I don't want to remove it. I get into enough trouble without sticking my fingers into moving machinery - hence the 'bolt-on' type of bobbin winder isn't going to work for me. I really need something free standing like this: click here for the link

Has anyone tried one of those neat looking electric bobbin winders you see advertised on eBay? Do they work properly? Is there a make to look out for?

Thanks folks,

Ray

Ray, there are bobbin winders out there that fit into the chuck of an electric/cordless drill. I know Tippmann sells them & I'm sure there are others out there, and they're not very expensive.

[1] Before you thread your machine, fill up a bunch of bobbins.

[2] Or buy an extra spool of thread so everything needn't not be unthreaded just to fill one single bobbin.

[UKRay]

Ray, there are bobbin winders out there that fit into the chuck of an electric/cordless drill. I know Tippmann sells them & I'm sure there are others out there, and they're not very expensive.

[1] Before you thread your machine, fill up a bunch of bobbins.

[2] Or buy an extra spool of thread so everything needn't not be unthreaded just to fill one single bobbin.

All good ideas, Russ, thanks.

I hadn't thought of a cordless drill winder, but given that my cordless drill is shot, it would probably be cheaper to buy the right thing than replace the drill! LOL (I'll still check out Tippmanns - thanks).

However:

I've got a stack of filled bobbins but I never seem to have enough filled with the right colour thread for the job I'm doing. I accept that I regularly use five different colours of thread so I'm probably making life harder for myself!

I un-thread the needle because I don't want the loose thread end whipping around when I'm filling the bobbin - is there a better way to do it?

I always buy my thread spools in pairs for exactly the reason you outlined. It works for me.

Ray

[amuckart]

I've got a stack of filled bobbins but I never seem to have enough filled with the right colour thread for the job I'm doing. I accept that I regularly use five different colours of thread so I'm probably making life harder for myself!

I un-thread the needle because I don't want the loose thread end whipping around when I'm filling the bobbin - is there a better way to do it?

Assuming you have a separate spool for the bobbin thread, would it work to put an empty bobbin on the winder as soon as you put a full one in the machine and just let it wind as you sew?

[UKRay]

Assuming you have a separate spool for the bobbin thread, would it work to put an empty bobbin on the winder as soon as you put a full one in the machine and just let it wind as you sew?

You'd think so wouldn't you, Al? <grin!>

I started doing that when I first got the machine; however, I switch colours pretty regularly and it never works out quite right somehow. Nope - I definitely need a dedicated bobbin winder! LOL

Ray

[Ken Nelson]

You'd think so wouldn't you, Al? <grin!>

I started doing that when I first got the machine; however, I switch colours pretty regularly and it never works out quite right somehow. Nope - I definitely need a dedicated bobbin winder! LOL

Ray

Ray, I built a bobbin winder that I like better than any commercial one I have ever had and had 2. It uses a industrial bobbin winder, the kind that runs off the drive belt on a Toro 3000. I hooked it up to a household sewing machine motor and does it ever work good. I will get a picture of it tomorrow if you like and send it to you I have it mounted on a cabinet and can fill a bobbin just a few seconds. Ken

[celticleather]

My eyes are deteriorating quite badly and I have problems seeing well enough to thread the machine needle, but every time I need to fill a bobbin I have to un-thread the wretched thing before running the machine up. I really need an alternative to the winder on the top of the machine.

Ray

Have you thought about http://www.specsavers.co.uk/? Perhaps if we both went together, we could get a discount?

Terry

[amuckart]

Hi Ken,

Ray, I built a bobbin winder that I like better than any commercial one I have ever had and had 2. It uses a industrial bobbin winder, the kind that runs off the drive belt on a Toro 3000. I hooked it up to a household sewing machine motor and does it ever work good. I will get a picture of it tomorrow if you like and send it to you I have it mounted on a cabinet and can fill a bobbin just a few seconds. Ken

I was thinking of doing something very similar just today. Any chance you could post pictures of your one on here?

Thanks.

[Ken Nelson]

Hi Ken,

I was thinking of doing something very similar just today. Any chance you could post pictures of your one on here?

Thanks.

No problem, I will get some pics of it tomorrow and post them tomorrow night. I might even make up a couple and sell them if some people are interested. They work really good. Ken

[UKRay]

Ray

Have you thought about http://www.specsavers.co.uk/? Perhaps if we both went together, we could get a discount?

Terry

I knew I was expecting too much... LOL

Still, pics of a winder I can make myself sound great (thanks, Ken). All I need now is a second hand domestic sewing machine motor!

...or maybe one of those nice shiny dedicated bobbin winders that don't need building. Has anyone ever tried one?

Ray