The thread about rotary cutters got me thinking. How often do I change my needle compared to how often do I change my rotary blade? If the needle needs to be changed every so many hours, maybe I could tie my blades to that.
I usually change when I hear the needle 'pop' while going through the fabric. |
I change my needles about like you do! <grin>
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Not as often as I need to...
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I change my needles with every project or quilt. I have found that lots of times there is dust built up in the bobbin area that causes a 'thud' kind of sound but it's not always the needle that's making it. So I usually clean the bobbin area and then if I can still hear the 'thud' sound, I change the needle. I can, usually, piece a king sized quilt before I need a new needle. I only change my rotary cutting blade when it starts skipping places as I'm cutting.
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Every other quilt on piecing and frame machine
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Clean & Change after every project......
machine stay Happy that way :) :) :) |
I switched to all titanium coated machine needles. They stay sharp much longer then regular needles. It's been months since I changed because of the needle being dull.
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I don't change mine unless I break it or heard the thud. Bad habit.
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I'm sooo baaad. I only change it when it breaks.
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when I purchased my Bernina, I was told to change the needle after 7 to 8 hours of stitching. But when I was using the embroidery arm, was told to change it after 60,000 stitches, and if the thread jams, first thing was to change the needle.
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I changed to the titanium needle recently and am much happier with how long they last. Before I would change when a needle broke, changed to a different type, had a problem with the stitch or did a through cleaning which all means about once a month or so depending on what I was working on.
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Unfortunately I don't usually think about changing them until they break!
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I've been trying to change them more often so I don't have any problems. I like the way a new needle sews.
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Tintanium needles #12 from Superior Threads are the only needles I use - according to Bob's website they last 8x longer than other needles
Mine's been in for more than a year and still doing fine. http://www.superiorthreads.com |
I must say I have not been good about change unless bent,
break, different sounds, etc. I do have machine cleaned once a year. |
Originally Posted by Glassquilt
The thread about rotary cutters got me thinking. How often do I change my needle compared to how often do I change my rotary blade? If the needle needs to be changed every so many hours, maybe I could tie my blades to that.
I usually change when I hear the needle 'pop' while going through the fabric. |
I change my needle at the beginning of each new project. Find that I get better stitch quality and control....Needles are relatively inexpensive...and the quality of your sewing will improve.
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I'm a terrible soul.... I rarely change my needle.. until I hit a pin and break it... I know I know... it's bad on the machine.. but I"m on a tight budget..
I was given some " used" needles by another board member that changed her needle freq... I sharpen them and sew right along with them.. This saves me so much money..... If any of u needle changers wish to donate used needles , I'd love to salvage them.... I sew for Veterans ( American Veterans Project - bluteddies Veterans) I freq sew heavy duck or upolstery fabrics and the needles really help keep costs down. PM me if anyone wishes to donate used needles ( dull not broken or bend ones.. I can do that on my own... LOL) thanks |
how do you know when a needle needs to be changed (other than the obvious.. it broke)
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Originally Posted by Rhaorth
how do you know when a needle needs to be changed (other than the obvious.. it broke)
And that tells me I should have changed it hours ago. :roll: |
I change mine every large quilt project. If I'm doing miniature quilts, maybe every 5-6. For the AAQI quilts, every 10 or so (cos those are small)
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I change my needle every time I start a new project but if the quilt is queen or king I will change the needle.
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Alot. but mainly because I have done something stupid and broke it... I do try to pay attention if one hasnt broke.. if the stiches seem wonky I change the needle
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The life of a needle is about 8 hours of use. So I change mine accordingly. If you wait until the needle maked that popping sound in the fabric you are to late and could cause damage to the fabric.
Glenn |
When I took the class that came with my machine, I was told that a good measure was every 3 bobbin changes.
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I adhere to the strict rules of the quilt police and change my needle every.....wait, what quilting police? Hehehe....i just change mine when I notice a diffetence in my machine stitching...n
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Whenever I start to have problems. Was quilting a taffeta vest and it was skipping large stiches then the thread was fraying. changed the bobbin, rethreaded, still same problem. change to a needle with a large eye voila no more problems. Usually change needle after quilting King or, Queen.
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I too just got some titanium needles and will see how they work. Before I would change my needles when the thread started to break or machine started to make a funny sound. On my new Bernina I change the needle all the time just in case because the machine cost so much. I want to get some of the titanium needles for my quilting machine if they make then. The ones I bought for my Brother do not fit my HQ.
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I guess I'm odd because I have a "method" for this.
I have a little plastic case that I keep my bobbins and needles in. I clean my machine after 5 bobbins and change my needle after 10 bobbins. So, I only wind 5 bobbins at a time. Once they are gone I clean the machine, wind up 5 more, put my needles into the slot closest to the new wound bobbins, and begin stitching again. Once those bobbins are gone I clean my machine and remember it is time to change the needle because the needles are in the slot beside my bobbins. After this I then put the needles in the far left slot so I know that I did it. Sad how anal I am, but too many other things going on in a regular day and it is the only way I can remember to do these things. Suzanne |
when it Breaks.. shame on me?
MK |
It's already too late when you hear the pop but that does it for me too!
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Speaking of needles.....when piecing a quilt top, what size needle do you use?
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Religiously with every break ....
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Titanium needles last way longer than the regular ones. I change when I remember, which sometimes is a LONG time.
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every new project for me
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On my longarm, I change the needle with each quilt. On my Janome, I change it when I start having problems or hear the popping sound.
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guess I am to fussy as I change with each new project and also size according to thread used some require a larger needle eye but I do lots od different things
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Originally Posted by BellaBoo
I switched to all titanium coated machine needles. They stay sharp much longer then regular needles. It's been months since I changed because of the needle being dull.
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I'm still hoping to make some sort of connection between changing needle and changing blade.
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Whenever I need to, which isn't anywhere close to 8 hours of sewing. I might change to a slightly bigger needle when doing actual machine quilting, but after I'm done, I put the same smaller needle back in and put the one I just used, back in my pin cushion. Personally, I think the needle makers say 8 hours, so you'll buy more needles.
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