Glendon Report post Posted July 30, 2012 I am never buying the EZ thread needles again. So last time I placed a big supply order I tossed in a 10pk of the EZ thread needles figuring why not. They're cheap, so if they work great, if not then I'm out less then a buck fifty. From now on I'm sticking to good harness needles. The dang EZ thread needles have so little material around the eye that it takes almost nothing to snap them right open. I was saddle stitching a small simple card case, two layers of 3oz and some less then 1oz lining, and I snapped eight needles. Not the thread, not the leather, the metal around the eye of eight needles pulled apart sewing pre-punched holes. The strain of pulling the knot of the thread through just pulled them apart. And honestly they are not that much easier to thread anyway. A longer eye doesn't seem to help me all that much when it's still just as thin. So yeah, not recommended. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SooperJake Report post Posted August 11, 2012 I've broken 3 #1 harness needles this week. I bought needles from two well known vendors and unfortunately mixed them, so I have no idea if it is all from one vendor or not. What I haven't figured out yet is, where the heck the top loop of the needle ends up. It isn't in the hole, as far as I can tell. I also note that some needles have slightly different hole sizes even though they are listed as the same size. I now eyeball them and get the right size, depending on if I use 6 or 5 linen thread. It must be a brand difference. Jake Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted August 11, 2012 I've broken 3 #1 harness needles this week. I bought needles from two well known vendors and unfortunately mixed them, so I have no idea if it is all from one vendor or not. What I haven't figured out yet is, where the heck the top loop of the needle ends up. It isn't in the hole, as far as I can tell. I also note that some needles have slightly different hole sizes even though they are listed as the same size. I now eyeball them and get the right size, depending on if I use 6 or 5 linen thread. It must be a brand difference. Jake From the old grump: All I can say is that I just don't understand how you break a needle. I use number one sized needles, been using them for years, and have yet to break one --- and I use pliers!. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SooperJake Report post Posted August 11, 2012 I don't know either, Mike. That's why I thought maybe my needles were defective. I broke one the other day, and two yesterday on the same holster. One of the breaks was while using pliers. Jake Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted August 11, 2012 I break them all the time. I think the huge long eye and soft metal on the needles is a bad combination. I also undersize all the holes so they are very tight on the thread. I think this looks better than potholes in the leather. Aaron Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites