Bobbin Problem

Most type 15 rather than other types of front loader use metal bobbins. But yes - if this is a newer one, use what came with it. Drop in bobbins for most modern machines these days are plastic. The bobbin case on my Lily is plastic, as are the bobbins. While I have some metal bobbins that fit and run smoothly, I don't use them as the weight is wrong. I use the HQ bobbins. They are usually cheaper than the metal type 15's I need for some of my older machines.

My Singer I was given for my 21st birthday came with both metal and plastic bobbins. It took the drop-in type 66 bobbin, so for ages I had some of each... Always hated the plastic ones. If I ever had bobbin problems, they were caused by the plastic bobbins. That was in 1977.

No, not really: but many modern, brand new machines use the type 15 metal bobbin.

I go by the manufacturers' recommendation. I buy only their brand, and buy plastic or metal depending on what came with the machine. I always think that, if you deviate from this, then you have no comeback on the manufacturer if anything should go wrong. My Janome has a lots of it made with metal (deduced from its weight!), but the outer casing is plastic. I have a feeling that the 'official truth' might depend on who you ask >g< . In message , Cats writes

If you have a low thread sensor, you need to use plastic bobbins. IF your machine is older and mechanical, metal bobbins may be better, even if it came with plastic ones. The heavier metal bobbins don't have the "overspin" problems of the plastic ones. For the removable bobbin cases of the front loading type.... make sure the thread is securely under the "spring", the flat metal piece that partially covers the slot the thread goes up through. (a very grammatically poor sentence, that.) Also when loading the bobbin and case into the machine, if your case has a "point" that sticks up (fits into a "notch" on the shuttle race in the machine) have the thread go around it. that helps seat the thread correctly.

Hope this helps.

Pati, in Phx

Cats wrote:

If it had a small metal piece inside it's been gone for a long time. I don't recall it having one though. I'll look at it closer and check it out though.

Mika

Hmmm, my machine came with plastic bobbins so that's what I've been using. I haven't tried a metal bobbin in it yet. I'll give it a try though and see what happens. Thanks for the suggestion.

Mika

So should we use metal or plastic? Does anyone know the

I guess I should have read further. LOL. I have been using plastic since that is what came with the machine.

Mika

My machine is only 4 years old but it's not computerized or anything like that. I paid around $200 for it at Walmart. I'll give the metal bobbins a try and see if that helps. Thanks for the suggestions.

Mika

hehe just call me clumsy or something. I tried winding a bobbin with a longer tail to hold onto yesterday. Well let's just say that one should pay attention when winding bobbins with a long tail. I got it wrapped around my finger but it did finally break off. The thread, not my finger.

Hugs, Mika

Well, I'm glad it wasn't your finger that fell off. Try it again sometime. Like anything else it takes a time or two to get it right, and even then you can still have funny accidents.

Once, I had the misfortune of having too long a thread tail and I didn't pay attention to the end of it while beginning to wind the bobbin. Next thing I knew the end of the tail was twisted with the thread winding onto the bobbin and the bit of tail I was holding was jerked from between my finger and thumb. This resulted in a bobbin with two thread ends coming off of it, neither of which would unwind properly. I had to cut the thread off of it with my seam ripper and start from scratch. Debra in VA See my quilts at