Needles And Threads

[Wizcrafts]

8 hours ago, Frodo said:

Rex 26-188

what would be the best needle/thread combination for holsters and belts? 

The thickest thread you can run through the Rex 26-188 is probably #207 on top and #138 in the bobbin. You will need a #24 needle to do this. If the leather isn't too dense you might be able to run #207 in the bobbin also.

This was discussed in a previous topic.

[Frodo]

On 11/16/2022 at 11:54 AM, Wizcrafts said:

The thickest thread you can run through the Rex 26-188 is probably #207 on top and #138 in the bobbin. You will need a #24 needle to do this. If the leather isn't too dense you might be able to run #207 in the bobbin also.

This was discussed in a previous topic.

Thank you Wiz

I picked up the 29k62 this morning

it is missing the bobbin and shuttle hook

 Do you have a 29k62 parts diagram?

and the name of a reliable  vender to supply these?

 

 

 

[Wizcrafts]

5 hours ago, Frodo said:

Thank you Wiz

I picked up the 29k62 this morning

it is missing the bobbin and shuttle hook

 Do you have a 29k62 parts diagram?

and the name of a reliable  vender to supply these?

 

 

 

You can order the hook and bobbins, threading rod and other replacement parts for shoe patchers from Bob Kovar (Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines), and from @shoepatcher  I uploaded three manuals for your patcher and similar models.

29K62.pdf Singer_29K.pdf Singer_29K58,_K60,_K62.pdf

[Goatmother]

On 7/25/2011 at 1:27 PM, Art said:

Leatherworker.net has become an international success. One problem, we and our industry are mired in a combination/confusion of Imperial/Metric/Trade measurements. This can be a problem when trying to talk about needles and threads. The following table deals primarily with twisted multifilament threads of the Nylon and Polyester varieties.

Needle and Thread.htm is attached, please bring it up in your browser and save the page to disk.

Needle and Thread.htm 2.44 kB · 4,403 downloads

Art

This is a great resource, Art, but I would like some additional help on thread.

Although I know synthetics are longer-lived in leather projects and that they won't rot or degrade like natural materials, I have a few reasons that I want to have biodegradable thread in most of what I make of leather.  Whether I am repairing harness or making clothing and accessories, I want to be able to return used leather items that have outlived their usefulness to the earth via composting.  

Could you provide information on natural threads, such as linen or hemp, that would be able to be used on a Singer 29K patcher and in hand sewing leather? Thanks for any advice you can give on types of threads and sources as well.

[Goatmother]

On 5/16/2021 at 10:23 AM, Wizcrafts said:

Those threads are glazed, or mercerized, but not bonded. You will have a hard time using cotton or linen thread is a normal sewing machine. The shoe threads are usually waxed before you sew. In the case of a sole stitcher, the wax is in a pot that feeds to a barbed needle. This strengthens the fibers. If you run this thread through a standard sewing machine, without wax, it will probably break during the take-up cycle. At least that was my experience with Barbour's Irish Linen glazed thread when I last tried it.

I was excited to see a post referring to a natural cotton thread available for use with machines.  I have read this "thread" with all your answers and would like to ask a clarifying question.

I have a Singer 29K15 which I bought before finding your excellent articles on these machines.  Yes, I know that my small bobbin is limiting but I have already done some big projects with many bobbin rewindings. 

I am determined to use natural, biodegradable thread so as to make my products compostable at end-of-life.

Considering your warnings about the need for waxing thread: Can I use the tallow pot at the top of the machine as it was intended, in order to "oil" the thread as it feeds through?  Since natural waxes that I am familiar with, such as beeswax, are not liquid at room temperature, is there a way to liquify a mixture of waxes to use in the tallow trough? After all, this is what shoemakers used to use, is it not?

If none of these solutions are acceptable, what would you recommend as a waxed natural thread to use in this machine for leather?

Thanks for your help!

[Wizcrafts]

16 hours ago, Goatmother said:

Considering your warnings about the need for waxing thread: Can I use the tallow pot at the top of the machine as it was intended, in order to "oil" the thread as it feeds through?  Since natural waxes that I am familiar with, such as beeswax, are not liquid at room temperature, is there a way to liquify a mixture of waxes to use in the tallow trough? After all, this is what shoemakers used to use, is it not?

Do this at your own risk. Wax on the top thread will clog up the top tension disks, then the paddle spring, then the eye of the needle. I imagine you can use it if you clean those items after each use. This means ramming the threading rod down the thread channel in the needle bar to push out the wax.

You should be able to simply wind waxed linen thread onto your bobbins. It might be worth trying waxed thread in the bobbin and dry glazed linen on top. You'll have to clean the wax that gets caught under the bobbin tension spring and the thread feed slot and the little output hole in the case.

[Goatmother]

On 12/5/2023 at 12:26 PM, Wizcrafts said:

Do this at your own risk. Wax on the top thread will clog up the top tension disks, then the paddle spring, then the eye of the needle. I imagine you can use it if you clean those items after each use. This means ramming the threading rod down the thread channel in the needle bar to push out the wax.

You should be able to simply wind waxed linen thread onto your bobbins. It might be worth trying waxed thread in the bobbin and dry glazed linen on top. You'll have to clean the wax that gets caught under the bobbin tension spring and the thread feed slot and the little output hole in the case.

Thank you for the warnings!  

Your suggestion about trying the linen threads brings up another question. I thought that the bobbin thread had to match the top thread.  Why would one use waxed thread in the bobbin and glazed linen on the top thread.  Would it not be just as well to use glazed linen for both? I am thinking that perhaps I can just treat the exposed thread after the item is made.

Also, could you recommend a source for good glazed linen thread please?

[Wizcrafts]

4 hours ago, Goatmother said:

Why would one use waxed thread in the bobbin and glazed linen on the top thread.  Would it not be just as well to use glazed linen for both?

My thinking was that you might get the benefit of the wax from the bottom thread. All of the knots would be waxed by the bobbin thread when they get pulled into the leather.

4 hours ago, Goatmother said:

Also, could you recommend a source for good glazed linen thread please?

They sell spools of  5 and 6 cord left twist glazed Irish Linen thread at Campbell-Randall, in Texas. I also found one spool of 3 cord still for sale on Etsy.

[Lancairuk]

Can anyone in the UK help me to find a supplier of DX-17 LR needles?  All the suppliers I can find only do round point. I also need a supplier of nylon thread suitable for. No 18 needle for a particular job I have in at the moment, but am finding it difficult to tie down reliable suppliers in the UK.  Many thanks,  Michael

[BelleH]

I have a small project and just purchased some Coats & Clark Upholstery thread.  The specs say the weight is 15 lbs.  What size needle should I use with this weight of thread.  The Coats site (and chat) were not helpful.  Thanks!