I love mine. it winds the bobbin tighter than my sewing machine so it gets more thread on the bobbin, for example to make a bowl it usally will take 1 bobbin but for the same bowl with a bobbin off my sewing machine took 2 and a half for the same size. my sewing machine doesn't wind tight at all so the side winder is great. thanks for the tip about the straw will try that for sure since i just hold my finger over the hole on the spool to keep it on and on the side so it stays up.. it hurts when it gets you in the head hahahahaha. but i love the job it does.