Bobbin Thread And Tensions

[KatRides]

Hi All, I'm a newbie and have bought a cylinder bed machine and am trying to determine thread/needle and leather thickness balances. I've got the needle/thread ratio figured out thanks to lots of great posts here but I'm still really cloudy on the proer weights of bobbin thread, e.g. my machine can take up to 270 thread but I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't match that weight in the bobbin.

I will mostly be using 69 ( occasionally) up to 207, do you generally use the same thread weight in the bobbin as yoou do in a home machine application? or is there ususally a max bobbin thread weight?

The manual is horrid, I'm concerned about causing unnecessary damage to my machine. The top threading guide in the manual is also so unclear that it is pretty much useless... way to go Artisan !

I think I've pretty much got going on the basics but I'm not certain about all the intricacies of adjusting tensions for various thread weights and leather thicknesses. when I hit a problem I'm never really certain if it is something I've done wrong or if it's just a minor tension adjustment somewhere.

I'd really appreciate any advice that would give me a bit of peace of mind that I'm moving in the right learningn direction.

Thanks

Kat

oh I bought an Artisan 2618-1B cylinder machine if that makes a difference

[dirtclod]

For 138 thread and smaller i use the same on the top and bobbin. Anything bigger i use one size smaller on the bobbin. I would try setting tension on the thinness thickness you want to sew and see how it works for the thicker things. It's pretty rare that i adjust my tension from one size thread to the next.

[KatRides]

Thanks very much, I had some interesting tension and stitch formation stuff happening int he beginning as I learned how to thread the thing and put the needle in correctly. It's a lot of variables to figure out on your own when you're starting out. I needed to make sure.

I've ordered some new needles and good thread to play with and start learning, I have a lot of different leather scraps as well. So i'll be palying around next week once the needles and thread arrrive and I know I have good quality of each.

[dirtclod]

Your welcome, a new machine can be a hair pulling, foot stomping, tool throwing puzzle. When you want to change sizes or colors of thread cut off and leave enough thread to tie your new thread to then take the thread out of the needle and pull through to the needle. Cut the knot off and thread your needle and your ready to go without re threading everthing.

[Northmount]

I'm still really cloudy on the proper weights of bobbin thread, e.g. my machine can take up to 270 thread but I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't match that weight in the bobbin.

Check out this thread:

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=48846&hl=+thread%20+leather%20+thickness#entry309994

"Wizcrafts" is a resident expert. I follow his posts. Have learned a lot. Others to pay attention to are "Trox", "Art", "Gottaknow". I know I have missed others that provide a lot of help with sewing and machine problems; I hope they are not offended.

Tom

[KatRides]

Thanks very much Tom and Dirtclod, Having sewn since I was seven, many moons ago, I thought (silly me) that I could just pretty much jump in and once I spent a short bit of timeI could figure out the intracies of leather like I have with other 'fabrics' yeah OK.... but I've got some new found conficence thanks so much, I'm off to get some stuff ready to play once my thread and needles arrive !