The only problem I've had using small spools on my long arm is you run your of thread pretty fast - I had a customer who insisted on a particular thread we could only find on small spool, it took 7 of them to quilt the quilt.... Was quite an expensive way to go, along with being a pain to have to re- thread the machine every time I was in a good flow quilting.... Now I only use spools/cones with enough thread to complete the quilting