I've always used a plastic bobbin for a drop in bobbin. If the machine has a metal bobbin case and usually goes underneith the throat plate I use a spoked metal bobbin.

Does it matter?

ty
simple quilter

Interesting question, I've never used plastic bobbins - I don't know if they make them for my machines

It depends on the machine but yes, it can make a difference.

what i've always been told is you can use a plastic bobbin as a substitute for metal but not metal for plastic. Now i don't know if this is actually true, but it's what i've been told in the past.

All the bobbins I use for a bobbin case are metal. I use plastic for the drop in bobbins.

Whatever bobbin was made for the machine

Our local Janome repairman, an older experienced guy, tells us that plastic bobbins are weighted perfectly for Janomes, where metal are not.

Jan in VA

And not all plastic bobbins work in a Janome ... you need a Janome one.

I just use the bobbins that are made for the machine.

I have two machines, one with a drop in bobbin and one with a front bobbin and they both use plastic.

I was helping a new sewer at quilting one time and she was having a terrible time with her tension and I discovered she was using a mix of bobbins. When she used the bobbins that were meant for her machine she didn't have any problems at all.

Yep! the wrong bobbin can give you all kinds of trouble.

Except for my featherweight, I have used either plastic or metal in my machines, several vintage singers and a walmart version of a Brother and haven't had any issues yet.

most machines have specific bobbins- i use the ones made for the machine

I always use the bobbins suggested in the manual for the machines

My Singer is about 15 years old. I have tried all kinds of Singer bobbins and could not find one that would work. I can tell because only the correct bobbin works on the bobbin winder. After reading this board for a while, I learned there are different Singer bobbins. My manual did not tell me. I had to go to the tech info for my model on the Singer web site to find that I needed a 15J. They are hard to find. I finally found some at a sewing machine parts site. And they only come in plastic.

Find out the correct bobbin for your machine. I saves a lot of problems. It is not true that a bobbin is a bobbin is a bobbin.

My Pfaff came with a metal bobbin, and it also uses the plastic ones. I use both and don't find much difference on my machine. The metal ones hold more thread than the plastic ones.

yes, it makes a difference..IMHO..i use only janome bobbins in my machine..they may look the same as the class 15 plastic bobbin, but if you close your eyes and feel them..you will feel that one is a little rounded on the sides, and the other is not.

Ditto. I have both, depending on the machine,

I have a Quantum Futura - it come with a plastic bobbin - so I bought more Singer bobbins - not all plastic bobbins fit the same! It ruined my bobbin carriage and had to replace it - it had to be a bobbin made exactly for the Quantum Futura! The repair person showed me the ever so slight difference in the way the bobbin was made! So, as Barb 44 just stated, it is not true that a bobbin is a bobbin is a bobbin!!!! From experience I found out!

I use prewound embroidery paper bobbins that I buy a 1000 in a box.

I us both on my regular machine they use the older classic model 66.

I use prewound (on cardboard) Bottom Line bobbins in my Janomes - work well

I use both in my Janome, but find it works better with plastic bobbins...don't know why tho'..

One of my students was told by some salesman that she could use a 'universal bobbin' that would work in any machine. Needless to say, that was untrue. She was having all kinds of trouble trying to make a stitch, and as soon as I saw the bobbin in the bobbin case, I could see that it was not high enough. I switched out her bobbin, and it was fine.

Not all bobbins are created equal. Many look very much alike, but are not.

Most classic machines these days take ONE of the following: class 15, 15J, class 66. Class 15 and 66 are available in both plastic and metal. I don't think I have seen any 15J in metal. Singer 221, 222 & 301 all take a class 221 bobbin, and I have only seen these in metal.(There are other bobbin types besides these.)

The rule of thumb is, if your bobbin case/carrier has any plastic in its construction, use plastic bobbins. If it is all metal, you could use either. That said, I have found that some machines perform better with one or the other. If your manual recommends one over the other, I'd stick with that.

all I know is you need the correct size for the machine. I was teaching a class once that a gal was having all kinds of tension problems. Her bobbin was a smig to tall. She had bought some that "LOOKED" the right size. We changed her bobbin and all was well. SO, use the one made for the machine....

I can't use metal bobbins in my machine (Janome 6600)because it's manufactured with a magnet under the bobbin holder somewhere.

ty for your replies. I have a sewing group I attend on Tuesday and their always having trouble with the machines. I tell them to use the correct bobbin that came with our machines, but they say it doesn't make a diff. I will continue to use the bobbins that came with my machine. I have no problem.
Happy quilting,simple quilter

My sewing repair man says "if it came with plastic, do not use metal bobbins", it all has to do with timing, bobbin weight, and other things that I didn't understand, but I do trust him and so only use plastic in my Kenmore. My Pfaff uses metal bobbins. I buy plastic bobbins at Hancock but read the packages that tell me what machines they are for because sometimes they look right, but do not work.
Brenda

I was so stupid I did not "see" that "Singer" bobbins were different heights. After spending a sewing doctor fee to learn that my "problem" was using the wrong height of a Singer bobbin, I would say YES, be careful. I felt so DUMB.

Like your closing. Happy Quilting, simple quilter.

I use both for my Brothers and used both for my Singer. I never had any problems with either one.

Absolutely! I wonder if some of the ppl who complain about 'unfixable' tension issues when FMQing on a Janome are using cheap bobbins? Why would you spend a small fortune on a machine then skimp a few pounds (or dollars!) buying cheap bobbins? Makes no sense to me! :?

As a newbie I was interested to read this. I have only used the bobbins that came with my machine at the moment but I will be careful when I buy some more. Thanks for the advice.

I use metal in all my really old heavy machines and I use plastic for all my newer plastic machines.

I wasn't paying attention and bought Singer bobbins that are within millimeters of the bobbins for my machine. But the slight difference in size and the rounded versus flat bobbins make a huge difference - massive nests with the wrong bobbin.

When I went looking for bobbins for my Bernina, I was very careful to get the correct ones.

Cheers, K

Brother bobbins are the same way. the size my ULT takes is SA 155 (3/8 inch). my DD's machine-a small, lightweight Brother takes a different size, SA156(1/2 inch).

Same here. And yes, bobbins do make a difference. I've found that out through painful experience.
Now I use plastic Janome bobbins for my two Janomes, and I use metal Singer bobbins for my old Kenmore which was made by Singer. All of my machines have happy smiles on their sweet faces.

8-) :thumbup:

Donna Mae - totally off of your subject, but your name brought back instant wonderful memories. My mother's name was Dona Mae and has been gone for 30+ years. Thanks for a quick memory of love. If you have a Janome - my guy says definitely use the plastic ones because the metal ones will ruin your machine.

my guy told me that if the bobbin will be sitting in a plastic "seat"
(bobbin case or bobbin chase) it should be plastic regardless of whether it's a drop-in or not. and vice versa for metal. they should always match up. it makes a huge difference in tension.

I only use the bobbins made for my Bernina which are metal.