Does the Sidewinder work well for winding bobbins from cones?
 

The bobbin winder that came with my Tiara has never worked all that great. Just wondering if any of you have had good luck winding M size bobbins from large cones with the Sidewinder or Sidewinder Deluxe. The reviews I've found are kind of inconsistent. Thanks for any help.

Daffy

You can put the cone in a stand. There is a larger sidewinder that does use cones.
I've found mine very helpful. It hasn't met a bobbin it doesn't like, since I wind bobbins to use with as serger. I've wound Pfaff, Babylock, and Brother bobbins without a hitch. Saves me the trouble of using the sewing machine to wind a bobbin if I'm in the middle of something.

You can adjust the tension and even out the winding by using your finger.

Thanks, Weezy. That's very helpful. Does the Sidewinder you use look like this one?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]440902[/ATTACH]

I have the original sidewinder, it will not wind a Viking bobbin.

i got one from my sister ...thought it was the dumbest thing ...who needs a bobbin winder -every sewing machine has one .....started using it ..love it ...almost have it wore out ...thanks sis

No. I have the smaller one and a metal cone stand. The winding system is the same.

I also have the smaller one and love it--usually wind 4 or 5 bobbins at a time. Have to unthread my machine to wind the bobbins so its a pain in the (you know where!!!) when I'm working on something.

I have the smaller one and love it. Would buy another one if this one ever dies.

Daffy, didn't your sewing machine company stand behind their bobbin winder???? For the price you paid for your setup they should want to please their customers, jmho.

I've never used a sidewinder. I have a separate winder for my Gammill and occassionally have used it to wind smaller bobbins too.

Because the bobbin you are winding is the larger M bobbin and I presume you are using that in a long arm machine of some sort, I would not advise the sidewinder. Most of the girls I know who had one have sold them and gone for a larger bobbin winder sold by the long arm manufacturers. I know on my mid arm, if the bobbin is not wound just right, it really does a number on my even tension.

I use mine with cones, using a thread stand.

I have one and hate it. A quilting friend has the same and loves it , so much that even though her brand new juki has a fantastic winder on she still uses her sidewinder, she even brings it to class.
Mine winds far too loosely and not as proficient as hers.

I love my sidewinder. When it winds too loosely I've noticed it's because the thread needs a bit more tension. Make sure you have it threaded right. It needs to go through the ring. if that isn't enough you can put your finger under the thread by the bobbin and give it a bit more tension. I do this all the time.

Did you know you can also adjust the tension of the thread by tightening down the tension guide on the right. I use my SWinder with cones on stands, and did you know that when the bobbin stops winding, just hold the little power button down and continue??? Seems mine stops automatically before the bobbin is as filled as I'd like. With an adaptor, you can wind by battery OR elect.

Look on the Yahoo group for the Sweet Sixteen (same machine) . There are small adjustments you can make to the winder to get better results.

Your dealer also should be able to help. My dealer adjusted mine perfectly. You paid a bunch of money for that winder - you should be able to use it.

Thanks so much to everyone who shared information about the Sidewinder. Exactly what I asked for. :thumbup:

Daffy