JustSewSimple Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 I just bought a Towa Bobbin Gauge. I was wondering if I have wasted my money. Do you use one and if so how accurate are they? Are you glad you have one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primitive1 Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 I use those magna glides most of the time so rarely have to use it, if I am using a regular bobbin and start having trouble, then I pull it out and check on my tension. I marked my towa gage where a regular bobbin's tension should be so I start there and then play with the top tension if I am having trouble. It did seem like alot of $ to me at first, but when you are new or are having trouble getting your tension to play right they can be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debi Orr Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 We also buy mega glide pre-wound bobbins and also wind our own. When we wind our own we always use our Towa gauge. It is wonderful tool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 i use mine all the time. i wind my own bobbins. i have made a list of the numbers for each thread combo and i check the tension for every new bobbin with it. i also have the top tension gauge that i only use for king tut. the top gauge is PITA to use, but it works. now when i have a tension issue - i know its either threading or lint related. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 I use mine every day, every bobbin. All they do is measure the force required to pull the thread through the bobbin case. The higher the number, the more pull, the tighter the tension. Sweet spot for me is about 18 (or 180 on the newer gauges). You can practice with it and make a chart for various threads, but with a few exceptions, the number will be set close to the same with every thread. It's a good investment and if you don't like it, you can always re-sell it. Renae Haddadin has a YouTube demo on her website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg_marsh Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 I use mine all the time - As for accuracy - I have a "rule of thumb" number I use for each type of thread and then always do a stitching test for the final adjustment of the top thread. I do this with each bobbin change. I have found that with my own wound bobbins, there can be some very slight variances of the bobbin itself when winding and different colors within the same thread type of thread need slightly different adjustments. If I am changing type of bobbin thread - I start with the drop test and then insert into the towa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustSewSimple Posted March 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 Thanks, you guys!!! My problem was (even with prewounds) I'd put in a new bobbin and the tension may be off. I was having to test at each bobbin change. This should really ease my mind and have me get those perfect stitches I love. Really, thanks again!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 Psst! Sylvia! I assume you bought the gauge that was posted yesterday? You do know that was an "M" bobbin gauge, right? I hope you had your machine retro-ed for the "M" bobbin? Just wondering..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fineseams Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 I wind my own bobbins and use the spider test on every one. So far I have used only a couple of different bobbin threads. At a recent show I bought the towa gauge just to see how good my "eye" was on judging the spider test, so now I check them with the towa gauge as well. It turns out that if the bobbin case is adjusted so that the spider test works the way I have learned that it should, the towa gauge number is always almost exactly the same. So, I guess I don't really need the towa, but it is reassuring for a relative beginner to be able to eliminate crummy bobbin tension as a source of problems. And I'm assuming it will help me as I get brave enough to try different weight threads in the bobbin. So I say, as a relative beginner, that having the gauge is reassuring, but not really necessary. (But I'm not selling mine - yet). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 Originally posted by JustSewSimple ......My problem was (even with prewounds) I'd put in a new bobbin and the tension may be off. I was having to test at each bobbin change..... Sylviia, I think regardless (whether you use a Towa or the spider drop test) it is a very good habit to test every bobbin after it's wound. I do. Just takes a sec for me to pop it in the bobbin and drop test to see how it rolls. And if I need to make a minor adjustment I do. I also test my top tension with every thread change (pulling on thread while looking at the top tension spring and where it's hitting (on the clock) and I pull using the "feel" test to see how it feels going through the tension. Sometimes I tighten or loosen as needed. That's just my process, though.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustSewSimple Posted March 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 Linda I was going to buy that one but realized it was the M bobbin gauge so I just went online and bought and L gauge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 Glad you bought the right size!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cblevins Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 We love ours! We check every single bobbin and have not had a single tension issue since we bought it. Our sweet spot seems to be about 220. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busy Quilting Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 The sweet spot on the Towa gauge appears to be gauge specific. If we were all to the the drop test after our sweet spot, we may find they are the same. My sweet spot is 160. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmoore1223 Posted March 31, 2012 Report Share Posted March 31, 2012 I use mine all the time. I was without for awhile when I bought the new machine (went from a M to a L bobbin so of course I couldn't use the old one) boy did I miss it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustSewSimple Posted May 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 I am bringing this back to the top because I need to ask a question. My gauge test out at 100 with the glide bobbins. That seems low but the stitches are good. Does that sound low to you guys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted May 17, 2012 Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 Hi Sylvia-sweety! If you want it tighter, just tighten the screw on the bobbin case until the thread pulls 160 or 170--whatever gives you good stitches. Then tighten the top tension comparably. I was coaching a newbie on tension and told her, pull on the bobbin thread and then pull on the top thread (coming through the needle eye and towards the back of the machine). The force should feel the same there at the needle plate where the stitch is made. If you are getting good stitches at 100, that just means your upper tension is loose-ish as well. All you are looking for is balance. You can set the bobbin wherever to like and then tweek the top so it all works. I don't like a loose top thread because it has a tendency to fling around and catch on my light switch, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisquilter Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 Originally posted by ffq-lar I don't like a loose top thread because it has a tendency to fling around and catch on my light switch, etc. Sigh......, I wish I had a light switch. I have one of the very early millenniums and so no switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janette Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 I was wondering about this myself too what people set theirs at, I have recently started using my guage more often and am surprised that all bobbins are different, I have found about 200 is good for me, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busy Quilting Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 Janette, You will find that all bobbins needs to be set a similar number and then you only need to change your upper tension. I must like mine loose my machine prefers bobbins set at 150-170. I too only use the top tension gauge for the finicky threads, like King Tut and for that it works! Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.