livismom Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 I was playing around this morning with batik top & bottom and I tried one of my new titanium needles (size 3.5). It was making popping noises in the fabric so I figured I had a "dud". I changed it for another titanium needle and the popping continued. I changed it for one of my regular 3.5 needle and no more popping. Anyone know why? It doesn't sound good for the fabric... Thanks!! Nicole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiltsinmotion Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Nicole I have never used titanium needle when I hear the popping noise to me it means my needle is dull so I change needles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butterfly Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 It could be that you bought ball-point instead of sharp needles. Check your package. If it has an R on it its sharp and if it has an FFG its ball point. I accidently bought ball-points and I had the same problem. Can't use them. Jess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livismom Posted August 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Hmm. there's a whole lotta letters here...they are Groz-Beckert 100/16 DP x5 SAN 6 RG. ( and I dunno what any of THAT means) Do the ball point needles harm the fabric? Or are the sharps just "better" for batiks? I know for piecing I use sharps because I was told to - never questioned it. Now I'm curious... Thanks for the help! -Nicole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borderline Quilter Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Maybe your needle is popping because of the very close weave of the batik fabric both top and bottom.... Hmmmm, titanium needles ?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecmoore Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Ball points are for knits, so they don't "cut" the knitted thread, which will cause it to unravel on clothing (Why they'd sell them in longarm sizes is kind of beyond me) but it won't actually *hurt* woven material, the machine just has to work a tiny bit harder to pierce the fabric & layers. On a knit material, it kind of rolls the threads to the side, rather than the slicing motion that a sharp needle has. It might also leave a slightly bigger hole, but I'm not too sure about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda G. Craig Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Batiks have such a tight weave, and of course if it's on both top and bottom you really need a very sharp needle. I don't know if it's true or not, but I have heard that the titanium needles are not quite as sharp. I would definitely go with the Singer MR 4.0. Good luck! :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Linda S Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Actually, you all may be just as surprised as I was when, two days ago, I learned that all of the Groz Beckert Titanium San 6 needles (the ones that fit our machines) are actually "thin" ballpoint needles. They simply don't make them in sharp. The thin ballpoint is supposed to be stronger and harder than any other needle besides those with a diamond tip. Yep, they do make a bit of a popping noise on batiks. They also make a popping noise when they've gotten dull. Will I stop using them? Nope. I cannot stand the huge holes the MR4s put in my quilts. I've been buying the Groz Becker Titanium 134 San 6 needles since about a month after I got my machine, and I'm not changing now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda G. Craig Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 That's really interesting, Linda. Thanks for the info. :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakequilter Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 Originally posted by Linda S Actually, you all may be just as surprised as I was when, two days ago, I learned that all of the Groz Beckert Titanium San 6 needles (the ones that fit our machines) are actually "thin" ballpoint needles. They simply don't make them in sharp. The thin ballpoint is supposed to be stronger and harder than any other needle besides those with a diamond tip. Yep, they do make a bit of a popping noise on batiks. They also make a popping noise when they've gotten dull. Will I stop using them? Nope. I cannot stand the huge holes the MR4s put in my quilts. I've been buying the Groz Becker Titanium 134 San 6 needles since about a month after I got my machine, and I'm not changing now. The same for me. I have much better luck with the titanium needles and I don't like the big holes the others leave either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 Interesting, especially with all the previous chat about titanium needles. I wonder what Amy's thoughts are on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeke Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 I always use the Singer needles that are recomended for the machine. Yes, the titanium needles are stronger then the Singers, but they also break just as well as the Singer and leave a much BIGGER hole then the Singer needles. Yikes.....................................zeke......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Linda S Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 Zeke - in my entire longarming career - going on eight years now - I've only broken two needles. I love those titanium boogers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeke Posted August 6, 2011 Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 Cool. I've had 7 machines and have broken that many as well. I know others that have broken a whole lot more as well. Take care all, zeke................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livismom Posted August 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 Very interesting!! I knew somebody out there would know why! Thanks so much - happy quilting! -Nicole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phokan56 Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 I was using the gold titanium needles and had not only "popping" noises, but what sounded like metal hitting metal when I would stitch. I checked timing and everything was fine. No nicks in the bobbin case or on my hook assembly. I talked with Bob about my problems and he said not to use the titaniums. Apparently they don't break the same way the "regular" ones do and they can cause a lot of damage. I switched to the "non-titanium" needles and I've quilted three quilts without any problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tori Spencer Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 I had nothing but problems with Titanium needles. Couldn't make them work for anything! It made me crazy. Finally got to the bottom of the problem when I was talking to Dawn about it. She said that some APQS machines can use the Titanium and some just can't. APQS doesn't really recommend them and doesn't use them at the factory at all. The Groz-Beckert steel needles are still ok. She gave me lots of other reasons they are not recommended -- it was a huge education for me. Talk to her about it, I'm sure I can't explain it all exactly. I know Superior Threads loves Titanium and pushes us to buy them but just know that the steel needles may be the ones you have to stick with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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