I have 2 of the metal thread stands with the cast iron base, one stays at home, the other goes with me for sewing in the charity group. I tried all sorts of the homemade thread stands, mostly just lessons in frustration.
When I'm using the cone thread stands with my treadle machines, I use an empty bobbin on the thread pin; thread it through one of the holes in the class 15 bobbin.
Sharon in Texas