Originally Posted by
Pudge
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.
The biggest I've seen non industrial is an 18 and that is correct - match your needle and thread. I think the biggest I used was a 22 and it sewed through about 16 or more layers of canvas grudgingly then I think I nicked something and made a burr.