WOW what a coincidence, I have this last month treated myself to a £1100 elna 720 and this evening, still learning about it I broke a needle and had a heck of job getting it out, I found 2 broken bits of but not the larger part. OMG when as is my norm I removed the stitch plate to explore I found that the last piece had dropped into the bobbin holder, not the bobbin but in-between the bobbin and it's holder. Now if I hadn't persevered to find that last bit I could have wrecked the timing which would have destroyed the machine, phew am I pleased that I take so much care of my machine.
I am so picky with sort of things that my machines are in great order and I have passed them onto other people in priistine condition, my advice NEVER EVER sew over pins and always make sure you have found ALL the pieces of a brokent needle.
One of the best tools I have is a long tweezer, not the eyebrow type something similar to these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Nonmagne...item2a143442e1 Most of the modern machines you can't use anything magnetic on them and these really do the job without hassle or danger to the machine, just hide them from the men folk as they have so many uses for them
