Thread Question

[royslsbry]

I'm looking at a union special sewing machine and in the book it says 24-3 max cord. max usable thread.So what is the largest nylon thread it will sew with. Does anyone know?

[Wizcrafts]

I'm looking at a union special sewing machine and in the book it says 24-3 max cord. max usable thread.So what is the largest nylon thread it will sew with. Does anyone know?

What type of Union Special is it? I've never seen that thread size, specifically, but I think is a probably similar to #69 or #92 bonded nylon. I have 10-4 linen that is the same as #207 bonded thread. In your case, 24 is the individual thread size and there are three strands woven together. It sounds like a medium beading thread.

Post a picture of the machine before you buy it. Most Union Specials I've had or seen are pants and shirts sewing and blind hemming machines.

Edited October 14, 2010 by Wizcrafts

[royslsbry]

It is a 6200g double needle machine.here is a website with the manual www.universalsewing.com/images/parts_lists/all/4j0mk4p7.pdf It sewed with the 138 nylon but skips some stitches and doesn't tighten up the thread well on the back I tried tightening the tension but it didn't help. I think maybe the needle was to small for the thread it had a 125/20 needle in it. It stitched great with the 69 nylon.

[Wizcrafts]

It is a 6200g double needle machine.here is a website with the manual www.universalsewing.com/images/parts_lists/all/4j0mk4p7.pdf It sewed with the 138 nylon but skips some stitches and doesn't tighten up the thread well on the back I tried tightening the tension but it didn't help. I think maybe the needle was to small for the thread it had a 125/20 needle in it. It stitched great with the 69 nylon.

That machine is made to sew pants, shirts, underwear and corsets. It is absolutely not a leather sewing machine.

You will need a #22 needle to sew with #138 bonded nylon thread. You might not be able to get such a large size needle for that garment production machine. Or, maybe you will find an equivalent needle somewhere.

[royslsbry]

I can't agree with you on it not working for leather cause here is a pair of chaps I sewed with them. But had trouble when the 138 was used on the yoke but it sew through a 5oz and a cow hide and 3 pieces of metallic. It just doesn't want to tighten up the 138 good I think it was the needle size. I wasn't sure about the thread size since the manual said 24-3 max thread. I was wonder if its the needle or the thread causing the trouble.

[Wizcrafts]

I can't agree with you on it not working for leather cause here is a pair of chaps I sewed with them. But had trouble when the 138 was used on the yoke but it sew through a 5oz and a cow hide and 3 pieces of metallic. It just doesn't want to tighten up the 138 good I think it was the needle size. I wasn't sure about the thread size since the manual said 24-3 max thread. I was wonder if its the needle or the thread causing the trouble.

The needle is too small to draw the knot well up into the leather. The tensioners should be tightened on top, or loosened on the bobbin, or both, to sink the knot into the bottom layer. Do you have a #22 or #23 leather point needle? Either will be an improvement when you sew with #138 bonded thread. However, the motor power required to penetrate the leather increases as the needle and thread sizes increase. Do you have enough horsepower and gearing to punch a #23 needle through all those layers?

That 24-3 is linen or cotton thread and is a lot more flexible than bonded nylon. I suspect that the tensioners are not equipped with extra heavy springs needed to pull up bonded nylon thread. Try loosening the bobbin spring to the bare minimum.

It's not a leather sewing machine. It's a garment machine that has been drafted into sewing leather.

Edited October 14, 2010 by Wizcrafts

[royslsbry]

I'm going to order some needles and try it. I can get all the way up to a 28 ga needle for it. I going to try that first. The motor strength isn't issue it has to much motor. But the tension and the needle must be the problem. I'm not sure how to adjust the bobbin tension on this machine.

[Wizcrafts]

I'm going to order some needles and try it. I can get all the way up to a 28 ga needle for it. I going to try that first. The motor strength isn't issue it has to much motor. But the tension and the needle must be the problem. I'm not sure how to adjust the bobbin tension on this machine.

A number 23 is all the needle you will ever need for #138 thread. A #22 will probably do as good a job, depending on what tension adjustments are doable. See if you can loop the top thread around one more hole in a guide post, along the thread path. Make sure the thread is pulled all the way into the top tension disks.

There is are usually two, but sometimes one screw in the bobbin tension springs. If two, one mounts the spring while the other adjusts the tension. The mounting screw would be at the end, away from the thread path. The tension spring would be half way towards the thread output hole (there is an angled slot, sometimes with a hole at the end).

Remove the bobbin covers and look for these springs. They should face you, in both bobbin cases. They will be covering the slots where the bobbin thread is drawn up. There may even be a channel in the body to allow a thin jeweler's screwdriver to line up with the adjustment screw head.

Edited October 14, 2010 by Wizcrafts

[royslsbry]

When my needles arrive I'll give it a try. Thanks for the help I may need some more advice later. I'll let you know how it works out after I receive the needles I ordered. I think the machine is worth $150 though it sewed great with the 69 thread and that's what I use on all my metallics and it sews fast for straight lines.. That's why I wouldn't say its a leather machine its fast for someone green. It works fine for me. I think I'm just going to pay the guy and play with it a while. Thanks again.