Best thread / needle combo for VX42?

[SImon C]

Hi folks,

 

I’m having a bit of trouble with some VX42 that I’m turning into a backpack.

Basically,  my top thread keeps breaking. I’ve dropped the upper tension, tried bigger needles, smaller needles, and eventually the top thread always furs up and snaps.

It seems like the fabric itself is grabbing / cutting the thread – any suggestions?  Obviously I don’t want to waste my fabric by continuously experimenting, nor do I want to mess up my end result.

[Aaron]

It probably depends on your machine.  What sort of thread are your trying to use now?  Do you have the top thread routed and tensioned properly?  If you’re using a heavy thread, I’d try something lighter.

[Valerie E]

I sewed some of that a couple of years ago, and didn’t have any problems. Ordinary “home” sewing machine, #16 needle, and all-purpose Gutermann thread.

[Lester Moore]

Lot’s of MYOGer’s seem to prefer the thinker Gutermann Mara 70 (TEX 40) thread compared to their thinner all-purpose thread (Mara 100, TEX 30), at least for X-pac backpacks. I’ve used both and prefer the Mara 70 for most backpack seams for various thicknesses of X-pac. For select use on reinforcement areas, I even use the thicker Tera 40 TEX 75 thread. The All-Purpose has worked well on a MYOG inner tent, wind pants and a quilt, all sewn with thinner materials.

As for needles, I prefer a super sharp Microtex size 90 paired with the Mara 70 for main seams on backpacks. The downside of the Microtex is it take two needles to make a full backpack because they go dull quickly. For sewing webbing, I usually switch to a size 90 or 100 Standard needle, depending on the thickness. For any kind of stretch material (front pockets), I use a Stretch-style needle in size 90 to avoid skipped stitches. The size 90 is about as small as I can go with Mara 70 thread and still get sufficiently large hole sizes for the thread in X-pac.

[Ken M]

Need more info.  What type or size of thread re you using?  Needle sizes you’ve tried?

Look at the thread itself:  Does it have little fuzzy lumps every few inches?  Fuzzy lumps will hang up while going through the needle eye.  They are usually indicative of cheap thread.  It is possible to get a good, name brand thread that is defective though,  particularily black thread.

Can you sew other fabric without problems?  Does the thread feed smoothly thru top of machine… that is, no hang ups?

Fuzzing up and breaking can indicate that the thread is too big for the needle eye and is not slipping freely through,  stripping off fibers until a fuzz ball forms and then breaks.

-KenM

 

[SImon C]

<p style=”padding-left: 30px;”>Thank you very much for your replies. I’ve tried gutermann tera 60, and their extra strong thread, with needles between 70 and 90 on both a Toyota 555 and a Singer 99k. I’ve tried going as slowly as I can, and I’ve tried even just hand turning it. Same thing in all cases and combinations…</p>
In every case at some point, something goes, and the top thread snaps. I’m sure it must be possible, I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong!

[Roger Caffin]

Thread type – should be OK
Sewing machine – should be OK
Needle sizes – should be OK
Sewing speeds – should be OK
But the top thread still snaps.

OK, does the thread go fuzzy at all? May need magnification.
Are you sewing through any adhesive tape at all? ANY?
What brand of needles are you using?

Cheers
PS: I do sew VX42 just fine.

[Aaron]

How are you feeding the thread into the machine from the cone/spool?  If you’re using a larger cone on a domestic machine designed for small spools, things can go wrong with tension and the thread can break. (I’m pretty sure Tera 60 is on a larger cone?)  The cone isn’t meant to turn like a small spool, it’s meant to unravel effortlessly off the top using a thread holder Like this one.  Or like the homemade versions discussed in this thread.

If you have any thread on small spools around, I’d experiment to see if you can replicate the problem.

[Ken M]

I agree with last two posts…  Tera 60 (tex 50) with 90/100  (14/16) needle is correct.  And yes,  if you have the mini king spool sitting upright it takes a lot pull to turn it (not made to turn) and that will drastically add to thread tension and cause your problem.  Feed off the top of spool or if your machine will allow,  lay it horizontal.  Set upper thread tension back to normal setting.  Also, try a different fabric and eliminate the VX42 question.

[SImon C]

Thank you all again, very much. I am using the spool that the thread came on; I just hadn’t thought it would be an issue. I will change that, and see if  it helps. Now I think back, the spool did jerk around every now and then, which can’t have helped.

I will try your suggestions and see if there’s any improvement.

Roger, in answer to your questions, the thread is fine until it isn’t – by which I mean that within a couple of cycles of the needle, it’s down to a strand or so of filament, and the rest is backed up on the feed side if the needle.

There’s definitely no adhesive tape – it’s brand new material off the roll.

I’m using Singer needles, brand new.

[Roger Caffin]

In that case I can only suggest the thread tension goes wildly wrong occasionally due to the cone arrangement. For sure, that can do it. (Been there …)

Just for lols, how about trying a small conventional spool on top of the machine? Stock Guterman thread or rewind an empty spool from the cone. Or even just fill up a machine bobbin to try.

Cheers

[SImon C]

I tried the small conventional spool on top of the Singer – just some Gutermann Sew-all on a test piece of fabric.

Worked a treat, no skipping, no snapping. It must be the larger spool messing things up. Going to wind some of the stronger thread onto a  machine bobbin to finish the rest.

And of course now, I have the excuse to buy some more fabric and have ankther go to get it perfect…

Thank you all again, I have learned something, and don’t think I would have possibly arrived at it without your help.

[Roger Caffin]

If it is any consolation, you are not the first to have this problem. :)

Cheers

[Author]

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