I wanted to ask your advise. How old is to old for thread
I seen thread on E-bay that has a date Oct/2002. It is signature
thread (cotton). I'm just starting out and need to watch my budget. I'm looking for thread for a longarm.

Here is a recent thread that talked about some tricks to try.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-128250-1.htm

I've used thread that was 30+ years old with no problem and had trouble with brand new (cheap) thread.
So it is really a matter of testing it and seeing how easily it breaks if you tug on it.

it is too old if when held in two hands and given a tug it breaks.

I have been using threads my mom bought from some going out of business place 20 years ago= the thread is good-strong thread-she has always taken care of it.
i have bought thread that within a year was no longer usable thread.
there are textiles in museums with threads 100's of years old and still holding up.
there are clothes in my closet with weak, old broken threads with in months.
the only way to know is to test it for strength-color fastness (is it faded out & darker as you use it off the spool?)

If a quilt is 50 years old and holding up, so is it's thread :wink:
As long as the thread is still strong, I wouldn't hesitate to use it :D:D:D