thread

[esantoro]

I'm excited that I'm running out of 207 black poly thread. It means I'm being productive. Though, When I think about it and it comes time to order, I usually order one large spool, which doesn't give me a spool for winding bobbins.

Is it possible to ask whoever I buy from if they can put 8 oz on one spool and 8 on another? is there a good method for doing this yourself?

Ed

[gunfighter48]

Hi Ed,

Art posted in another thread that you can get smaller spools of thread from "SFS (Shoe Factory Supply), ask for Dan Bussey, 800-256-3892". I saw an ad on another sewing machine site that he can make up 4, 8, 12 oz spools of thread. Don't know what he charges but might be worth a try.

John

[Art]

Hi Ed,

SFS - shoe factory supply -

Dan Bussey - small orders of thread, any size in all colors. Coats Thread.

They also carry a large supply of shoe findings.

1-800-256-3892

Art

I'm excited that I'm running out of 207 black poly thread. It means I'm being productive. Though, When I think about it and it comes time to order, I usually order one large spool, which doesn't give me a spool for winding bobbins.

Is it possible to ask whoever I buy from if they can put 8 oz on one spool and 8 on another? is there a good method for doing this yourself?

Ed

[esantoro]

Just to let you know: I called SFS. They said they had only nylondthread. I went ahead and ordered again from Ferdco. I'm going to try winding from a 16 oz spool to and empty cone. I'll make sure the thread is wound so that it comes off clockwise, but is there anything else I should consider. I'll be using this manually wound spool only for winding bobbins

[Art]

Ed,

Why not just wind up a weeks worth of bobbins at a time or just buy two spools of thread?

Art

Just to let you know: I called SFS. They said they had only nylondthread. I went ahead and ordered again from Ferdco. I'm going to try winding from a 16 oz spool to and empty cone. I'll make sure the thread is wound so that it comes off clockwise, but is there anything else I should consider. I'll be using this manually wound spool only for winding bobbins

[esantoro]

It seems difficult to buy a spool less than 16 oz, and I'm worried if I buy too much thread it will sit around for too long and dry out. Two 8 oz spools would be perfect, but the only distributor I know that sells 8 oz spools is The Thread Exchange, which sells Eddington. If I didn't know anything about Coats thread, I'd go with the thread exchange in a heartbeat.

I pre-wound a bunch of bobbins once before, didn't organize them properly. Then when i needed them couldn't find them and ended up winding fresh bobbins anyway. Noiw that machine is sold and I still have the prewound bobbins, which I tell myself I will use for handstitching.

I was also thinking that perhaps freshly wound bobbins will perform better than bobbins that have sat around for two weeks or more.

Another consideration is that I don't like the idea of running my machine only to wind bobbins. While I'm stitching is great, but for that I need two spools.

i certainly do have enough bobbins to prewind them using a handheld drill. I'll give that a try again, though my little invention to wind spool to spool is ingenious.

ed

[bruce johnson]

Ed,

I mostly sew with the peasant color, but also need black, brown, or white on occasion. I use the drill to wind bobbins for the most part. On some of the off colors, those bobbins might be used to sew a single strap or repair, and then sit for weeks. I have seen no problems with using them later. I sewed with a brown last night that was probably wound a year ago. They are stored on a pegboard, but not in direct sun.

To wind my bobbins with the drill I use the stem out of an old bobbin winder. One of the winders that tension up against the drive belt. Chuck it, pinch the thread for tension, and hit the trigger. A few seconds and I am good to go. I find I can wind them faster and more even on the drill than setting them up and doing them on the machine winder, even if I am sewing at the same time.

One of my friends used to wind bobbins off his top spool, after thread came out of the lube pot. I tried it, but didn't see a difference if the bobbin thread was lubed or not. Doesn't have to pass through and around as many things as a top thread. Some of the guys who have used more machines than me may have some insight on doing that. I do use the lube pot on top thread, even with prelubed thread. It was explained to me that the lube helps to cool the needle and prevents it from sticking to the needle and not looping underneath, resulting in skipped stitches. Those needles can get pretty hot, and I did notice a difference running the top thread through the lube pot.

Anybody got any idea of the shelf life of thread? I know storage conditions and uv exposure probably play a big factor.

[esantoro]

I've taken Ferdco's advise and spray spools that haven't been used for a while with Fiebing's liquid saddle soap with glycerin.

I need to keep my eyes open for a throwaway bel-driven bobbin winder to getthat pin you're talking about. Right now I'm using a bolt and nut. Works nicely chucked in a drill, which also winds better than the winder on the machine.

Good to hear about the thread you've had wound on bobbins for a year. I'll see about transferring the thread from my baby bull bobbins to my 441 bobbins.

[Randy Cornelius]

You can buy the drill type bobbin winder from Tippmann. One come with thier machine so you can order from them. It work with my Artisen machine, not sure about the others.

RC