White thread breaking

[promocanuck]

Hi, we're relative newbies and are having an issue, it seems, with white thread.

We seem to get WAY more thread breaks with white than anything else.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for your help!

promocanuck

p.s. it's Coats thread and we have 2 machines - both cones were shipped together and both have issues

[sschroed2]

Check the needle alignment. I have found that straight works better than to the right, but make sure it it not to the left. Left will cause numerous thread breaks.

Sue Schroeder

[Etched In Thread]

I'm inclined to blame the thread. It stands to reason if both cones are causing problems on different machines. Try using another brand, preferably Robison-Anton, Madeira, or ARC. I tried Coats once before when a customer sent it to match a project and had nothing but problems with it.
Edna
Etched In Thread
www.etchedinthread.com

[Aaron]

Have you tried to switch the white to a different needle. IF you were running on #3 for instance switch to #4 and see if its the same. You might also try different thread brand. Coats is normally good, at least their bobbins are. We bought some white and black arc thread and can't wait to get rid of it all. We have real good luck with R/A and Ackermann Issacord.

[Steve]

I run Coats poly bobbins and Ackermann thread and have very few problems with them. They cost a little more than other brands but I make it up in productivity. I remember trying a sample of Coats thread many years ago and threw it away after about 5000 stitches it was so bad. Other popular brands are R/A and Madiera. It depends on what brand you like and how close the supplier is. Call each mnfr. up and ask them for a sample and distributor list. I stay away from all suppliers that have more than 3 day UPS ground shipping.

[promocanuck]

Thanks for the info - I think I will try another brand of thread, esp. since white gets used so much!! We seem to have no issues (knock on wood) with the other colours so let's hope our investment in all of those cones will hold...

Thanks again,
pc

[SkyLinePrints]

I read an article several years ago in Stitches magazine about how thread is processed and the colors created. White is the most abused thread while being created. White is essentially the absence of color and has to be bleached to achieve the bright white we all love. By the very nature of the bleaching and other chemical treatments provided, it makes the white thread the weakest of the spectrum. Tension settings on white is different than any other due to the "weakness" created during processing.

I'll take a look at my old issues of Stitches to see if I can find the issue with the detailed "techie" talk about thread strength and such. If I find it, I'll post the issue date here along with more detailed info.

[jjones9774]

I find this discussion on white thread breaks very interesting. In our shop, we have had more problem with black. Someone in another users group said this was because black was created from thread that was dyed incorrectly and was consigned to the black dye vat to cover up the mistake. We have used Ackermann Isacord thread since we purchased our first EMT-10T 11 years ago and find it runs equally well on our Amaya XTs. We have noticed a decline in bobbin thread quality from certain manufacturers over the past several years and totally agree that the cost of a premium bobbin thread is worth the extra outlay. Greetings to you all.
Jimmie Jones
TJ's Designs
Vallejo CA