Who uses a Pearson #6

[Singermania]

We bought the last 180 from Schmetz quite some time back and are all gone, I'm told to get a new run manufactured you need to order many thousands.   Using pre waxed thread in any sewing machine is not the best of ideas... the Pearson along with many other machines has a was box/tank, however it was intended for use with heated liquid wax.

[Matt S]

2 hours ago, Big Sioux Saddlery said:

What I'd like to know is, why in the world is there not a 180 needle made??  160 is pretty small for a heavy stitcher, and a machine has to be super tight to use them successfully.  I would occasionally use a 180, but a 160, almost never.  I guess I should be grateful there are any leather point needles at available for the Paearson and #1.  

I managed to get hold of a pack of Schmetz 160s a couple years ago. Even with a no.4 needle steady I got a lot of breakages, which was painful at about £2/needle. There was a 3-1/2 size needle, which is pretty much a 180 -- I have some old IVIs which came with the machine. AFAIK there's no current production for the 331 needle class -- we're still using up the last batch of however many millions Schmetz was convinced to make.

The manual suggests using a size 3 needle (nm160) with 18/3 linen for sewing around winkers/blinkers @ 10SPI. Is that a common size thread for that sort of job, or was this one of those weird late Victorian show/dress/fancy harness things?

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

11 minutes ago, Matt S said:

The manual suggests using a size 3 needle (nm160) with 18/3 linen for sewing around winkers/blinkers @ 10SPI. Is that a common size thread for that sort of job, or was this one of those weird late Victorian show/dress/fancy harness things?

That size needle/thread/stitch length combination would be more for higher end carriage, show harness.  Most common grades and even the better end of the work harness gets 5 to 7 spi, and a 200 needle with 277 thread or a 346 thread with a 230 needle. Oftentimes on lighter harness I can cheat down to a #200 needle with a 346 thread.   I have gone as small as a 207 thread and an original #6 needle at 9 spi on my Landis #1, and oh what beauty to behold.

[Matt S]

1 hour ago, Singermania said:

We bought the last 180 from Schmetz quite some time back and are all gone, I'm told to get a new run manufactured you need to order many thousands.   Using pre waxed thread in any sewing machine is not the best of ideas... the Pearson along with many other machines has a was box/tank, however it was intended for use with heated liquid wax.

I wonder what would be the minimum order quantity? I'd love some new 300s or 330s.

There were several different arrangements for waxing thread available on the no6 machine, which are fairly well described in the catalogues. Over here it's rare to find any but the unheated solution box, which I think was the cheapest option. That's what I have on mine. I've used wax solution I made by dissolving candles in white spirit (paint thinner) with dry linen thread. Wax/linseed mix wasn't very successful. I've heard using straight linseed oil but I've not tried it yet. Most recently I've been using bonded poly thread with normal SM oil in the solution box.

The manual mentions using prewaxed thread but I think it needed the needle block and shuttle box heated (by lamps or electric heaters) to soften the wax. One day I might fabricobble some approximation of the original using high-power aluminium cased resistors but that presupposes I'll find myself such a thing as spare time one day...

[CowboyBob]

3 minutes ago, Matt S said:

I wonder what would be the minimum order quantity? I'd love some new 300s or 330s.

There were several different arrangements for waxing thread available on the no6 machine, which are fairly well described in the catalogues. Over here it's rare to find any but the unheated solution box, which I think was the cheapest option. That's what I have on mine. I've used wax solution I made by dissolving candles in white spirit (paint thinner) with dry linen thread. Wax/linseed mix wasn't very successful. I've heard using straight linseed oil but I've not tried it yet. Most recently I've been using bonded poly thread with normal SM oil in the solution box.

The manual mentions using prewaxed thread but I think it needed the needle block and shuttle box heated (by lamps or electric heaters) to soften the wax. One day I might fabricobble some approximation of the original using high-power aluminium cased resistors but that presupposes I'll find myself such a thing as spare time one day...

The last  time I talked with Schmetz they wanted an order of 10,000.

[Singermania]

49 minutes ago, Matt S said:

I managed to get hold of a pack of Schmetz 160s a couple years ago. Even with a no.4 needle steady I got a lot of breakages, which was painful at about £2/needle. There was a 3-1/2 size needle, which is pretty much a 180 -- I have some old IVIs which came with the machine. AFAIK there's no current production for the 331 needle class -- we're still using up the last batch of however many millions Schmetz was convinced to make.

The manual suggests using a size 3 needle (nm160) with 18/3 linen for sewing around winkers/blinkers @ 10SPI. Is that a common size thread for that sort of job, or was this one of those weird late Victorian show/dress/fancy harness things?

 

25 minutes ago, CowboyBob said:

The last  time I talked with Schmetz they wanted an order of 10,000.

Sad to hear of your needle breakages, don't forget when you change needle size to adjust the needle follower under the needle plate, correctly adjusted its a whisker from the needle and stops it bending backwards under load, this will reduce needle breakage and also dropped stitches when heavy materials pull across the arm.

[atexascowboy]

On 11/28/2018 at 1:43 AM, Constabulary said:

I´m pretty sure it could (technically) but the largest needle you can find at most dealers is is 230 metric. Some may have larger needles but you barely find them on the "free market" meaning the WWW.

 

So what needle would you suggest for the 7 cord waxed Irish linen thread , sewing 12 oz. leather?

[Singermania]

the old Singer manual test was holding the thread taut at 45 degrees and seeing if the needle slid down it, or I find if the thread is difficult to shove thru the eye of the needle then you need a bigger needle, or if it slops about then a smaller needle.   In the end the machine will sew badly with the wrong needle.

[Matt S]

6 hours ago, atexascowboy said:

So what needle would you suggest for the 7 cord waxed Irish linen thread , sewing 12 oz. leather?

Nm300, though you might get away with 280. The test that Singermania suggests is a good one.

[atexascowboy]

37 minutes ago, Matt S said:

Nm300, though you might get away with 280. The test that Singermania suggests is a good one.

Thank you Matt.

I have located a few 300 chisel points and will purchase them.

I just hated to buy the machine and then find out that it wouldn't work for what I needed.  This really brightens my outlook for this machine.