Poor Quality Needles

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

I received a new batch of my little Chinese built Bradbury clones the other day and apart from a few niggles the quality appeared to be ok. Each machine gets a number of small modifications followed by a complete test run and about 80% actually worked out of the box which is something of a record. So, thinking that all was well I shipped a number off to customers.

Two customers started using their machines immediately and all was good until they changed needles and things went pear shaped quickly. After spending a few hours with some machines today and using a variety of needles I discovered that the original needles in the machine (a standard 15X1) have had the flat in the shank machined too deep and the beds have been set for this incorrect needle!! Now I know what is wrong it is easy to adjust the bed to suit but this is a great reminder that when things seem better than expected then there is probably something hidden that is going to bite you in the bum!