Originally Posted by
miriam
you can buy size 21 needles at an industrial sewing machine supply place and your shaft will most likely accept the needle. The questions: Is there enough room for the needle and thread to pass through the hole? If the needle hits will it scar, burr or possibly bend your needle plate - then below that, nick the hook and causing burrs. If the thread rubs against the hole or a burr it WILL shred. I would test this out very slowly.
I get what you're saying. I checked the fit with the plate with the size 18 needle, just as you described, before I sewed.
And you've confirmed my belief that size 21 is an "industrial" needle. I was just not sure if they are also sold as "nonindustrial" because I didn't think they would be in my "nonindustrial" machine manual, if they were'nt.