Metal or plastic bobbins?
 

I just saw some metal bobbins. My machine came with plastic and that seems to have been what they all are these days...and prior. But I saw some metal ones for my new Singer...what's your thoughts....metal or plastic bobbins? Does the metal make the bobbin spin smoother and easier than plastic? Any pros/cons for either?

I don't know about new machines that started out with plastic bobbins, but many have said that their machines that started with metal bobbins don't like the plastic ones.

I have seen many plastic bobbins that are warped out of shape, and that can't be giving optimum results.

Dayle

some machines only take one type of bobbin. what type does your manual say? talk to the place you bought your machine from too for more info. My Janome uses plastic and my old Singer did too but they are different from each other.

My machine came with plastic bobbins and that's what I used for years. But then when I took my machine in to be serviced, it came back with a couple of metal bobbins and they are SO much better. The machine runs much smoother with the metal bobbins. I like them so much I went out and bought a bunch more.

I've been told that metal bobbins in metal cases (shuttles?) and plastic in plastic bobbin cases...and heard you should never use metal in the plastic cases. I have both types of cases and both types of bobbins, and the bobbins are almost all interchangeable---so I'd like to know for sure, if anyone has indisputable information. It would be soooo convenient to grab the thread color I need w/o considering first if it's metal or plastic bobbin. Thanks for any input.

The machines I have now all use metal bobbins only. A machine that I used for 20 years before giving it to my granddaughter has plastic bobbins. I never had a problem with the plastic bobbins; but I do love the metal bobbins. They are more expensive though and I tend to want lots of bobbins.

I only used the metal bobbins in my featherweight. I use the plastic in my pfaff. Some machines need the plastic as they have indicators to tell when your bobbin thread is running out. they need to "see" how much thread is left on the bobbin

You can have tension problems by using a different bobbin than what your machine came with.

When I put plastic bobbins on my old singer, sometimes they get little grooves cut into the sides of them and makes the thread break. But I haven't found metal ones for it. I just have to make sure and use good plastic and keep on checking them for breaks in them.

I use both in my 43 year old Singer. I have noticed that some of my older plastic bobbins may deteriorate and crack, but other than that, I don't notice any difference in how the machine works.

One reason for the Plastic one is that you can see when there about to run out if there a top loading
bobbin, where as the metal ones you can't really see if they are almost empty.

Metal tends to wear away the drop in bobbin cases so I would recommend the plastic bobbins for those. If you have a removable metal casing that you put the bobbin in, the metal bobbins work good and there is not a "wear" factor.

My old sewing machine had a vertical bobbin case and I used metal bobbins with it. I do actually prefer the metal bobbins, but my new sewing machine requires the plastic bobbins, so I've made the sacrifice.

I have a Janome 7700 and haven't noticed a difference whether I use the metal or official Janome bobbins. The metal are easier to fill as they have more holes to get the initial thread in before I wind it. :) The plastic only have two--the metal has dozens. Easier on the eyes.

My 23 year old Viking uses plastic bobbins and my 11 year old Bernina uses metal, both have metal bobbin cases. I've never even considered changing what they came with; I won't even buy generic bobbins for them. Bobbins are too important to mess around with imo.

my kenmore came with plastic and my juki came with metal. but i use cardboard prewounds in both of them and have no issues with them.

I use both in my old Singer 401A, but metal only in the others, only because that's what I have.

Both my Pfaff and Viking came with plastic bobbins. This was a first for me. I have noticed a chip in one and tossed it. I guess it might be something you would have to replace from time to time. I do love the alert that thread is running short so a small price to pay.

I use both so I am not much help. Yes they are both used on the same machine and I have done this for many yrs. Bobbins come in different shapes so keep that in mind.

Someone had posted you can use plastic instead of metal but not metal for plastic. Newer machine have plastic parts & metal wears them

I was told by my dealer that the metal bobbins can become magnetized with the speed of sewing and cause thread problems. Now I use just the plastic one and no more problems. Since my Singer and Brother use different bobbins I use the little paper dots to tell them apart-Brother has dots.

As several have said, I'd stick with what came with your machine....except that I also use the cardboard prewound bobbins...but not all machines can handle them.

One disadvantage I know about for plastic bobbins is that you should use use slow speeds and lots of caution when winding metallic or other stretchy threads on the plastic bobbins since the threads can relax once on the bobbin and actually make the plastic bobbins warp from the pressure on the inner core...because of this pressure, they may not rotate correctly. One hint I've heard for checking for warped plastic bobbins (and works for wrong sized bobbins as well) is that if it won't fit snugly and easily on your bobbin winder post, it probably shouldn't be used on your machine.

Both my Brother and Elna came with plastic bobbins, but I like the metal ones. The manual for both machines say to use bobbins made for the machine. I always took that to mean... 'use ours because we charge more' and they do plastic bobbins because they are cheaper to make.
My understanding is that the important part is the size (class) of the bobbin.
I could be wrong, I have no formal training in sewing and I've only been doing it a few years, but both of my machines are working great and the Brother has been used pretty hard for about 2 years.

Plastic verses metal bobbins
 

Hi; First time here - hope I don't break any rules...
Using my 401A over the years, I get snags/thread nests that stop the machine dead/break needles, etc., every time I use plastic instead of metal bobbins. It may indeed - be just a factor of how finely the bobbin case is 'tuned'. Just the same, as it's been said here B/F, older machines like this probably came with metal bobbins; since they work best on my "Baxter", I continue to use them.
If I recall correctly, the plastic bobbins work well on my little older portable Bernina. Been awhile tho since it's been used..
Thank you for all your info!
Danielle
www.potholdersplus.blogspot.com

Thank you Bataplai, for your info!

I recently took one of my machines in to be serviced and the repairman spoke of how great it was to see that I was using the plastic bobbins made for my machine. He was telling me of the damages that he sees on the model of my Janome when metal bobbins are use. However some of my vintage machine require metal bobbins. Always be sure you the right bobbins for your machine. Look in your manual.

Janome Horizon uses plastic bobbins. When it stopped working, it was because I had the wrong plastic bobbin in it. So I am careful to use the same kind of plastic bobbin it came with.

Teri, what machine do you have?

If you machine came with plastic bobbins only use plastic. The weight of the metal bobbins can mess up the tension. I have not seen a problem when use plastic in a machine with metal bobbins. I work on a variety of machines at church.

If I'm not wrong, many newer machines come with low bobbin warnings. This only works with plastic as the metal deters the reading.

Like you I have a vintage 1950 Singer that takes either. I think the metal is better and I use that most of the time but sometimes it is convenient to grab a plastic bobbin already filled.

Many of the newer machines with bobbin sensors come with plastic bobbins because the sensor can't read through the metal. That's not to say the new Bernina's with the huge bobbins like my new 770QE don't have metal in them, just different technology I suppose. Face it, we want to piece our quilt and quilt it without running out of bobbin or having to wind 10 bobbins to get the job done.