The Upholstery Forum

So needle size. Bonded Poly, 135 and 92, what size needle is best? Some times I get thread fraying at the needle, with a 20 and 135 thread. This is for marine vinyl, and maybe some tweed for marine use.

What brand of thread are you using? I have tried a few and some fray others don't. That's with a #92 Polybonded thread and a 20 needle.

Ohh man... I hate this problem! Fraying at the needle can be hard to find the cause. Like @BigRig mentioned, brand of thread is #1 in my opinion. My favorite is Coats bonded polyester.

As far as needle size goes. Opinions vary on that. This is what I think. You want the smallest size needle that easily fits your thread and is strong enough to sew through the material without breaking the needle. I did a video on needle size here

Size 20 should be fine for 135 and and 92. You can even go down to size 17-18 with 92.

If you still have a fray at the needle problem after using quality thread and swapping to a new needle. The problem can be caused anywhere from the eye of the needle all the way back to the spool. Whats happening is some where along the travel form the spool to the needle is getting slightly cut. Some things to check would be
- make sure your thread tension isn't to tight
-make %100 sure your machine is threaded properly
- check every thing that the thread travels through is nice and smooth with no burs.
- Make sure the hole in the foot is really nice and smooth. A lot of times new feet will cause this. Some time old feet will cause this too
- check the hook in the bobbin case for any rough spots our burs
- its also possible the timing could be slightly off

Those are the main things I can think of. I hope this helps! Let us know if you figure it out.

Good video. Yes there is more than enough wrong information on the web. I have some 17's that came with the machine, and just bought some 20's and 22's to see if that fixes the issue. I'm sure it will, I have COATS in a 135, and 92 as well.

Hey guys, while on the topic of thread, why is my thread getting hung up in the guides just above the spool? I do not have a new machine and this is really ripping me off. Everything will be going smooth then SNAP! my thread is in a twist on the guide.

Hey @BigRig are you talking about the guides on the spool stand? Can you post a picture?

I sure am!

That's strange. I have the same type of thread stand. Ive never had that problem. Only thing different is I have the nut on top fully tight so the arms don't move and the arms are locked down in line with the spool stand below. That might be causing your problem.

Thanks John,

I am going to tighten the guides up, can you see how stiff this thread looks is that common for UV protected thread to be like wire?

I vote for Coats too. I tried using some Service Thread, but it would always fray. The Coats thread has some kind of "coat"-ing on it that seems to prevent that completely. It's all I use now.

I like the pun

Guys, where do you buy Coats thread?

BigRig wrote: ↑Sun Apr 29, 2018 1:32 pm Guys, where do you buy Coats thread?

I get mine from Amazon

Most of my local suppliers carry it. I usually buy it is 1lb spools. That last for a long time useally. %90 of the time Im useing Black, White or Beaver. I always have a 1lb spool of those colors and a box of per-wound bobbins. I absolutely love pre-wound bobbins.

John, Why do you like the pre wound bobbins?

I like them because they save you hours of time. They are always wound perfectly tight with the same tension, witch eliminates any issues of you bobbin tension changing while your sewing. . You never have to stop and wind bobbins.

Sold to the man with his sewing machine beside the cat box!

P. U.

BigRig wrote:Sold to the man with his sewing machine beside the cat box!

KatBoxCustoms running down to the registries to change my name now ha ha