What Needles To Use?

[emr454]

I hope you folks can help me out here. I've stitched a few holsters together with embroidery floss( I know its not proper, but it's all I had at the time.) Yesterday I went to Tandy and got some waxed nylon thread for hand stitching, but I've had a heck of a time getting any needles threaded with it. What type of needles should I be using with this thread? I assume they will have a slightly larger than normal eye, seeing as the thread is thicker than regular cotton thread.

Checking ST Leather's website they have Harness needles, Gloves needles, and regular stitching needles. Which one will work with the nylon thread?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Eric

[Fredo]

I use harness neddles myself. However I gave up on the Tandy waxed thread, too much build up of wax on there and it takes more work to de-wax it then wax my own from scratch. I now use linen thread from the yardage store and wax it myself. As added bonus I can now color match my threads to the project being sewn.

[katsass]

I hope you folks can help me out here. I've stitched a few holsters together with embroidery floss( I know its not proper, but it's all I had at the time.) Yesterday I went to Tandy and got some waxed nylon thread for hand stitching, but I've had a heck of a time getting any needles threaded with it. What type of needles should I be using with this thread? I assume they will have a slightly larger than normal eye, seeing as the thread is thicker than regular cotton thread.

Checking ST Leather's website they have Harness needles, Gloves needles, and regular stitching needles. Which one will work with the nylon thread?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Eric

I use only size 0 or 00 harness needles for saddle stitching. (size 0 is the smaller) They are substantial, have a blunt tip, and can be pulled thru the awl holes with pliers without injury to them. Mike

[emr454]

I use harness neddles myself. However I gave up on the Tandy waxed thread, too much build up of wax on there and it takes more work to de-wax it then wax my own from scratch. I now use linen thread from the yardage store and wax it myself. As added bonus I can now color match my threads to the project being sewn.

How did the harness needles work with the tandy thread? Was it easy to thread the needles? I ask because that seems to be my biggest problem right now, using too thick thread with needles having too small an eye. I should look into getting a proper diamond shape awl as well.

Eric

I use only size 0 or 00 harness needles for saddle stitching. (size 0 is the smaller) They are substantial, have a blunt tip, and can be pulled thru the awl holes with pliers without injury to them. Mike

Thanks! I may have to make another trip to Tandy this weekend...

Eric

[marine mp]

I use the same 0-00 needles as Katsass and they have a large enough eyelet in them as to drive a Abrams tank thru it. As to the idea of Fredo's.....I also use the Tandy's waxed thread but haven't thought to wax linen thread myself. Fredo..could you elaborate on the weight or size of the linen thread you are talking about...name names if you would. Ex. American thread Co, Maine Thread Co. etc. Thanks...Semper-fi Mike

[Fredo]

The thread I use is 5 strand cotton, Cant remember the name since I basicly went to the yardage store and picked up a 100 yard roll of white and one of black. I did this because I was getting a large amount of wax build up as I stiched my projects. I found out by asking here that if I wanted to I could take the tandy prewaxed stuff and run it through a pinched piece of brown papper I could remove the excess wax before I used it. For the same amout of work and for a lot less money I can use the linen trhread for your local yardage place, walmart, k-mart etc... Also the white linen thread is easy to dye to any color I want with ecoflo hi-lite stains.

If I get a chance later tonight I'll take some pics of the proccess...

[marine mp]

The thread I use is 5 strand cotton, Cant remember the name since I basicly went to the yardage store and picked up a 100 yard roll of white and one of black. I did this because I was getting a large amount of wax build up as I stiched my projects. I found out by asking here that if I wanted to I could take the tandy prewaxed stuff and run it through a pinched piece of brown papper I could remove the excess wax before I used it. For the same amout of work and for a lot less money I can use the linen trhread for your local yardage place, walmart, k-mart etc... Also the white linen thread is easy to dye to any color I want with ecoflo hi-lite stains.

If I get a chance later tonight I'll take some pics of the proccess...

Thanks Fredo

[Shooter McGavin]

I've been using these.

http://www.tandyleat...ature=Product_2

[gregintenn]

I bought two big rolls of waxed nylon thread. I tried to use it once, and canned it, in favor of the waxed linen thread.

Edited January 7, 2011 by gregintenn

[steelhawk]

I've been using these.

http://www.tandyleat...ature=Product_2

I started out using those as well, but switched to harness needles. They last 10 times as long as the others. In fact, I haven't ruined a harness needle, that I can remember, only lost them. I am still using needles from the original package I bought almost a year ago. I was always bending the eyes of the other ones and then they would break.

As an example of their toughness, I accidently bent a harness needle almost double, but straightened it out and have stitched 4 holsters with it since.

I bought two big rolls of waxed nylon thread. I tried to use it once, and canned it, in favor of the waxed linen thread.

Me too. I liked the color and the Tandy guy recommended it, but when I tried to use it, well, it was messy. Wax everywhere. I used about 3 feet of it and it sits in a drawer. Eventually I will try the paper sack method of stripping the wax off and see if I can save it, since it wasn't cheap.

[gregintenn]

As I remember, I couldn't keep the ends from fraying long enough to thread them through the needle eye. Bent over double, it was too large to fit. I have great luck with the small rolls of waxed linen thread at Tandy. I wish they sold it in large spools like the nylon thread.

Edited January 7, 2011 by gregintenn

[emr454]

So any waxed cotton thread would suffice? I can get ahold of 6 strand cotton thread and wax it myself as I have a brick of beeswax at my disposal...

Eric

[Fredo]

So any waxed cotton thread would suffice? I can get ahold of 6 strand cotton thread and wax it myself as I have a brick of beeswax at my disposal...

Eric

I might be wrong but I'm saying yes, it should work...of course there is only one way to find out.

[TigerPal]

Re threading your needle: whenever I use that thick waxed thread, I lay the end of it on my granite block, then use the butt of my knife or handle of scissors to flatten and fan out the last quarter inch or so of the thread. This makes it MUCH easier to get it started thru the eye of the needle so you can grasp it then pull on thru as far as you need. The paper bag trick does remove some of the wax.

[ramrod]

I've been using these.

http://www.tandyleat...ature=Product_2

i used to use those needles, but i've snapped so many of them at the eye that i won't buy them anymore. i use the size 0 needles.

they have a much smaller hole but the needle is very tough. here's how i thread this needle. i use tandy's machine poly thread to sew. i'll take the end of the thread that i want to put through the needle and melt it slightly it with a lighter. as it melts, i pull it with my finger to make a long, thin thread that will now thread through almost any small hole. after threading, i cut the melted part.