Identifying thread weight?

[MtlBiker]

Pretty dumb I know, but I’ve got half a dozen bobbins wound with v69 and v92 black thread. I’ll blame it on my cat for knocking them off the shelf but now I can’t tell which is which.  I tried using a micrometer to measure their thicknesses but that’s probably not possible due to thread compression.

What I did was to put the bobbins in a bobbin holder that had the tension set correctly for v92 thread and then check if it was correct  or too loose.

Is there a better way to tell which is which?  What would you do?

 

[toxo]

Trying to work out thread weights/numbers etc is the quickest way to the nut house. I have a lot of cones with no labels on. I now just put a likely thread through a loose needle and hold the thread at 45 degrees. If the thread slides rather than falls and doesn't get stuck you're good to go.

[Uwe]

Just compare them visually against a known v69 or v92 thread, or against each other. And if you can’t tell the difference, then it likely won’t make a difference in real life. Or just pretend they’re all v69, to be on the safe side strength wise. Then wind some new bobbins with v92 for when you MUST be certain it’s v92. 

[jcuk]

Was it a black cat

[CowboyBob]

40 minutes ago, toxo said:

Trying to work out thread weights/numbers etc is the quickest way to the nut house. I have a lot of cones with no labels on. I now just put a likely thread through a loose needle and hold the thread at 45 degrees. If the thread slides rather than falls and doesn't get stuck you're good to go.

92 will be hard to thread on a #16 needle.

[toxo]

2 minutes ago, CowboyBob said:

92 will be hard to thread on a #16 needle.

Won't slide then will it.

[kgg]

Since V69 has a breaking strength of 10.6 lb and V92 has a breaking strength 14.2 lbs you could try tying a piece of thread to 14 lb of weight and see if you can lift it without it breaking. If it breaks it is V69 if not it is V92.

Just a thought,

Merry Xmas

kgg

[sandmanred]

To prevent getting mixed up in the future.  Available at WAWAK.  The bobbins friction fits  and the foam keeps even heavy thread tails under control.

 

https://www.wawak.com/Sewing/Sewing-Machine-Accessories/Bobbins-Cases/28-bobbin-box-wfoam-insert-clear/?sku=PRT18

 

 

[toxo]

An interesting point is that this forum is mainly US based and so a conversation about needles and threads can take on a different slant than say here in the UK. A lot of US sewers are doing heavy stuff like saddles and holsters etc. Over here, not so much. The heaviest thing I make is a handbag/purse so not only lighter leather but colours as well. Most any thread will do for bags so colour takes on more importance than thread size (within reason). I don't have all the colours in all the sizes so sometimes the colour is the key. After choosing the colour on an unmarked cone I will marry it up with a needle and the quickest way is the slide test followed by a scrap test.

[MtlBiker]

On 12/27/2020 at 8:04 AM, sandmanred said:

To prevent getting mixed up in the future.  Available at WAWAK.  The bobbins friction fits  and the foam keeps even heavy thread tails under control.

 

https://www.wawak.com/Sewing/Sewing-Machine-Accessories/Bobbins-Cases/28-bobbin-box-wfoam-insert-clear/?sku=PRT18

 

 

That storage box looks like exactly what I need for the future.  I'd never heard of Wawak before, and I'm glad to see they also have a Canadian site with Canadian prices and free shipping (over $100 orders).  I've just ordered three of those boxes as well as some other stuff they have.  Thanks for the tip!!

 

On 12/26/2020 at 1:54 PM, kgg said:

Since V69 has a breaking strength of 10.6 lb and V92 has a breaking strength 14.2 lbs you could try tying a piece of thread to 14 lb of weight and see if you can lift it without it breaking. If it breaks it is V69 if not it is V92.

Just a thought,

Merry Xmas

kgg

Good idea to test the thread via the breaking strength.  I'm certainly going to be more careful in the future and have ordered some storage boxes to keep my bobbins more organized.