Thread Sizes And Needle Sizes

[Martyn]

Thanks for the needling, Martyn! I wonder if they are grading them for something other than size. Perhaps for flexibility/hardness of the wire used?

I think it's just for international trade. I think some countries expect a #3 or a #1 to be a certain size, so they just package the same needles differently, just for domestic market relevance in a target country. If that's the case, I think they've dropped the ball. What they don't realise is that markets are becoming increasingly globalised. What would help is global standardisation, not relabelling the same thing in a dozed different ways.

On that subject, you guys in the US really need to hurry along and drop feet and inches. It's a blimmin nightmare for the rest of us who've been metric for the last 4 decades. The English system sucks ...and I'm allowed to say that because I'm English ...and old enough to have grown up with it. :D

Edited March 14, 2016 by Martyn

[Martyn]

...However size 0/2 is different, it's actually a size 17...

I meant to say 2/0, not 0/2.

[Scoutmaster]

I believe the 1/0, 2/0, and 3/0 is shorthand for 0, 00, and 000.

So the needles are like gauges of wire (or shotgun shells) - they go from the smallest (4 or 004) to largest (3/0 or 000).

 

[Scoutmaster]

I found this useful regarding the JJ needles and common threads:

Size 4 (004)- Smallest Needles (length 48 mm/Outer diameter 0.9 mm )
• Lin Cable - Pairs with 532, 632, 832 
• Tiger Thread - Pairs with 0.6mm

Size 2 (002) needle
• Lin Cable: Pairs with 332 & 432 
• Tiger Thread: Pairs with 0.8mm 

Size 0 (1/0) needle
• Lin Cable: Pairs with 332
• Tiger Thread: Pairs with 1.0 mm 

Size 00 (also known as 2/0) needle
•Pairs with thread 1.0mm to 1.2mm

Size 000 (3/0) needle
•Pairs with thread > 1.2mm