I've been told to use metal bobbins in my vintage machines that have metal bobbin cases and the plastic in newer machines with plastic cases. Basically use what was supposed to go in there when they were made.

I do only use the metal bobbins in my vintage machines, but am seeing more and more vintage machines sold with plastic bobbins in them. I'm just wondering why? I've been told using the plastic in metal cases can affect tension and cause problems. With both plastic and metal still so readily available, why would someone put plastic bobbins in these old machines?

Knowledge? They probably don't know, don't understand and most importantly don't care. :)

I am not sure, maybe with all of the prewounds available?
I prefer the metal and wish the new machines still used them :D:D:D

Some of my old machines don't seem to care what kind of bobbins I put into them.

I can even use the very cheap pre-wound plastic bobbins in my 15's - though the machines do seem like the heavy solid metal bobbins best of all.

When the plastic bobbins came out in the 60's, they were sold as replacements for the metal ones. I used them in my grandmother's 401 and they worked just fine, so I never gave it another thought.

Since I started collecting vintage machines a few years ago, I've had a couple of slants that didn't like the plastic bobbins, but the rest haven't seemed to know the difference.

I wouldn't try the reverse, though - I wouldn't use a metal bobbin in a modern machine designed for plastic bobbins.

I agree!

I'm guessing that part of the reason is that the plastic bobbins are much more readily available in places like Wal-Mart which would be where a person would most likely go first to find replacement bobbins.

Even as an experienced seamstress I did not initially recognize the differences between the various bobbins and attempted to use wrong ones on one of my machines and did not realize that was part of the cause of the birdnests I experienced with it. Need to go back and figure out which bobbin really was meant for that machine and see if that will make it work right. Also need a bobbin cover for it. The random piece of clear plastic does not substitute very well there either.

The plastic bobbins were manufactured and sold as replacements for the class 66 bobbins in the 60's.

Clearly the Singer Company thought they would be all right.

And they're still being sold as class 66 bobbins.

If there were something wrong with using them on a machine made for class 66 bobbins, wouldn't Singer have re-classed the plastic ones or maybe put a disclaimer on their current packaging by now? "Not to be used in machines made prior to 1960" or something like that?

For best results use the bobbins that the manufacture of you machine recommends. If they are for vintage machines then you may have to contact manufacturer or check on line for correct ones. I tried using #15 in my singer but #15j was recommended and it seemed to fix fine but was actually a bit smaller and would jump out of the case causing problems.

They probably are using what they have on hand. I agree, metal in metal, plastic in plastic

I really wish bobbins had some sort of labeling on them so I would know which one is which.

None of my machines are particular. I use either plastic or metal, depending on which I grab. I have two vintage singers, one a treadle using a class 15 and one an electric using a class 66. I use plastic or metal on my dinky mechanical Brother which is the least fussy machine I have ever owned. It doesn't care about bobbins, threads or needles and will sew anything. (I feel like I bragged on it too much and now when I go to use it it will crash on me!!!!!!!) Of course the featherweight uses it's own bobbin, and I only have metal ones. Maybe that's all that's made for it.

I know. I have 2 singers that both use plastic bobbins that look very very similar. I had to put nail polish on one set so I could tell the difference because they didn't fit each other.

I've used both as well in my old and new machines and rarely had a problem but I stopped using metal bobbins in the top loading newer machines since part of the assembly is plastic and my repair guy told me the metal bobbins will wear the plastic out. Made sense to me so now I only use the metal bobbins if the casings are all metal as well.

I hadn't thought of prewounds being a reason. I can see that.

Any place I go, Joannes, Walmart etc. carries both.

I find this thread curious as I've been told by vintage machine folks that the plastic bobbins are a no-no!

That may be because some of the plastic ones are shaped differently and this can cause them to "jump around" in the casing which could lead to thread jamming which can affect the tension and/or the timing if not caught in time. Also, the plastic bobbins do wear down in the metal casing eventually and that can also cause a problem. I think a lot of the time we say NO because that's the way it's always been, but that doesn't mean that's the way it has to stay.

Ditto, it's obvious that the older machines are setup to use the heavier metal bobbins as plastic ones weren't made when you were in action, duh!

I'm about to try a plastic bobbin in my 99K which I recently purchased at a thrift store. It came with one metal bobbin and I bought the metal 66 bobbins which should work. they fit but do not work - the machine refuses to sew, it's as if the bobbin is just a hair too tight. So someone suggested plastic. I'm going to have to get some to try soon unless someone has a better suggestion.

Go for it!

If the plastic doesn't work, try adjusting the tension screw on the bobbin case. WARNING: YOU ONLY HAVE TO TURN THE SCREW JUST A HAIR--TOO MUCH CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS!

http://www.singermachines.co.uk/sing...-metal-66k.htm These are the ones I always use with no problems.

Oops double posting

This is very interesting. I have an old Brother 8200 sewing/embroidery machine that I bought from a great dealer in Kentucky. We now live in Ga. Wanting new bobbins I went to the local dealer, of course wanting metal bobbins. I was promptly told I shouldn't be using metal bobbins, I should be using plastic! If that's the case, then why did the machine come right out of the box, unopened box, with metal bobbins?

So, I called the dealer I bought it from, they had never heard anything about not using metal bobbins in that machine. Now this is just my opinion since I'm still confussed over this issue, I prefer the metal bobbins. They don't seem to jump as much as plastic. I've also had some platic bobbins end up with little sharp edges that tear the thread.

Maybe it's just a personal prefernce. I'll certainly be reading to see what answers are posted.

I have had to do that with my older machines, never with the new one, I suppose it's wear n tear, and I agree with your warning, just a tiny smidgen and then test the running of the thread. This video is a super to show you how: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaH9yB7XUBk

I used what I could to find out what bobbin one of my machines needed.
I had to go buy different plastic ones for the Singer Fashion Mate of the 1980's. It didn't like the metal ones from my Kenmore (1972), or the plastic ones of my Viking Rose, or Pfaff Expressions 3.0.
I have a new (to me) Singer 15-91 that I'm still trying to please completely. so far it likes the metal for my Kenmore's the best.

I was given a number of metal bobbins... they do not fit my machine!

My vintage machines all use metal bobbins except for the Singer 338. It uses a plastic one that I thought was a class 66....wrong. There is just a slight difference but enough for it not to sew properly. I have Janomes, Berninas, Singers, etc. that all use different bobbins so I have a clear bobbin box for each, clearly labeled and make sure they don't get mixed up.

My 1941 Singer refuses to use plastic bobbins, period. I buy boxes of the right metal ones and it's happy....

I tried putting a plastic one in my 1914 year Red Eye with a back clamp. It jiggled around in there too much.


uote=Candace]I've been told to use metal bobbins in my vintage machines that have metal bobbin cases and the plastic in newer machines with plastic cases. Basically use what was supposed to go in there when they were made.

I do only use the metal bobbins in my vintage machines, but am seeing more and more vintage machines sold with plastic bobbins in them. I'm just wondering why? I've been told using the plastic in metal cases can affect tension and cause problems. With both plastic and metal still so readily available, why would someone put plastic bobbins in these old machines?[/quote]

You definitely want to use bobbins made for your machine. Metal bobbins are made to be used with vintage machines. Those using plastic just don't know any better.

I can't say about vintage machines, because I don't have one. I have a singer about 10 yrs old. I use metal as I love them and they fit right. I had some plastic, but noticed that the opening in some of them were not exact. DH took the serial number and other info needed and ordered me 100 metal bobbins for 7 dollars plus shipping.

I tend to use metal in my machines that have metal bobbins and plastic in the others. I suppose you could try plastic instead of the metal bobbins, but I wouldn't suggest putting metal into machines that came with plastic bobbins.

my first brother had a metal bobbin case, but it takes plastic bobbins, however I know you can't use metal ones in a plastic bobbin case, but I don't think it matters for the metal ones

Actually, there are tension problems using plastic in old machines. My 185 came with a plastic bobbin(shouldn't have been used) and I had lots of problems with the tension. I put in the metal one and perfect stitches...

Some of the new metal class 66 bobbins do not work as well as the vintage bobbins. The plastic class 66 seem to be fine. In addition, people will hang onto bent metal bobbins (which will cause problems), and will toss out broken plastic bobbins. The plastic bobbins, in gereral, will work fine in the older machines. Be sure to have the correct class of bobbin, however, and as it has been pointed out, it is often difficult to tell one from the other. I keep mine in labeled containers, and always keep at least 6 bobbins with each machine.

Please note that not all metal bobbins are equal, nor are all plastic bobbins. Each machine takes its own class of bobbins. If you try to use a class 15 bobbin in a machine that takes class 66, you will have a problem. Both of these bobbins are available in metal and plastic. There are a lot of bobbins that look alike, but are not. A class 15 plastic bobbin looks very much like a class 15J plastic bobbin, which is similar to a class 66 plastic bobbin, and so on. The classes are not interchangable.

I like to keep an index card with each machine with notes on settings for different applications, the serial number, and the bobbin class, as well as the threading direction through the needle. It's a great time saver.

Great video/explanation :thumbup:

Plastic are cheaper and easier to get a hold of. After years of buying only plastic for my Pffaf 1475 I would have told you plastic was just as good. Since we began restoring machines we have found that isn't the case unless you continue to replace them as they wear. They can get nicks and wear unevenly causing problems especially in vintage machines.

Totally agree!

Ok, now I am going to have to look at my old machine that I hated and didn't think it could do anything. I was using metal bobbins because I thought that's what I should have used. And I had birds nest every where. I just hated the way it stitched. So I got a new machine love it, with plastic bobbins that look just like the metal ones, but you can't see the color of thread in a top load with metal. So I may have to play. My first singer used plastic but they screwed together, and I didn't like that because the thread would get caught and stip the screwy part. There is indeed so much to learn on these machines.

ps. does anyone have a good quick idea to use a serger on. I got a new serger too but haven't used it yet. Guess I better start googling serger patters before DH wants me to return it.