aligning needles

[Shuffletown Embroidery]

Once again, my pathetic ability to come up with a good search criteria makes me have to ask a question about a recent comment.
Someone spoke about a device that s/he uses to see and set the correct angle of the needle. Where do you get something like this and what is it called?
Thanks everyone!
Mary

[v-embroidery]

Didn't realize a device like this existed. Sure would like to know more about it.

[Debbie Garifi]

My tech uses a Magna-Lite: Magnifier Flashlight, so I went on line and purchased a couple (one at each machine). www.filmtools.com they were $8.95 and I payed via PayPal.

Debbie in Smokey Santa Clarita

[Rod or Sharon]

A lighted magnifying glass....

Rod

[Shuffletown Embroidery]

Thanks Rod! [img]smile.gif[/img]
Debbie, did you get the headband for the maglite?

[Debbie Garifi]

No, I just hold it in one hand get the needle positioned, put the magna lite down and pick-up the little screw driver & finish.

[Gabi Kat]

I have a pole magna lite on wheels. I use it when sniping threads, as a spot light on the machine to see better. Also when threading a needle I put a finger behind it, the light bounces through the hole, as I look through the magnafying glass.
Gabi
in Tucson

[edr]

I use a Normande Lighting JS3-1090F 22W Circular Daylight Magnifier Floor Lamp http://www.frys.com/product/5838573?...:MAIN_RSLT_PG. One of the legs slide under the Amaya XT cart so it stands close and along side the Amaya XT. It is great as the I can position the magnifying glass as low as the cart, as high over the thread stand and as far right to the keypad, and of course, in front of the needles.

[signman]

Do all of you have a cut strip of white gloss paper in the 'channel' on the thread 'bar'? This reflects light behind all the needles-makes it much easier for rethreading and also needle alignment.
I have a pair of 'shop tweezers'-reverse tweezers with wooden finger grips and serrated jaws. They hold the needle under tension-you don't have to squeeze to hold it-just to open the jaws. Then you have a firm grip on that needle as you turn it and hold it 'up' into the bar and use your other hand to turn the screwdriver. Works great!

[Shuffletown Embroidery]

How do you attach the paper to the metal??? Does it tear up over time? That sounds like a great idea. I've been using my finger to reflect light through the needle eye, but the further the needle is from the light, the less useful my finger is.
I just found an LED headlight and small flashlight combo at Costco. Lithium batteries. I feel like a TOTAL nerd because I'm so excited about it.

[Wishes]

In regards to the paper to help thread the needle we do this. We usually have a piece of white cardboard that comes inside hats. It is fairly stiff but isn't as thick as a cardboard box. We slide it behind the needles infront of the metal grabber(grabber it the silver bar that sits in front of the neeles and pulls the thread back into the velcro strip). When threading the needle it is easier if you put that back by hitting the needle button and the hatchet button. Will move the grabber out of the way. The cardboard is stiff enough it stays there by itself. We thread the needle, remove the cardboard and go on with the project.

[Rod or Sharon]

Guys & Gals...

When we got our first Amaya, my wife Sharon came up with this idea of cutting just a peice of white backing material to lay in the channel of the grabber blade. It will stay there unless you get aggresive when trying to blow something off the material, like a piece of cut thread.

We have passed this little trick on to a lot of folks, including "signman" when we stopped in for a visit a few years back, who took it one step further and uses "white gloss paper". Other folks have now gone to a piece of cut sticky vinyl, some use white athletic tape.

Sharon tried to get Melco to do this from the factory and they thought it was a great idea, but it never took root.

A piece of white backing, medium to heavy weight, about 1/4" wide cut to the length of the channel in the grabber blade has worked just fine for several years in our machines.....

Rod Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainer

[FME540]

Rod,

Great idea putting the white card stock/paper/backing in the grabber channel.

Personally I'm not steady enough to thread the needle with the grabber in so I leave the grabber out and brace my hand on it. I nicked myself on the cutouts in the grabber a few times so I cut a strip of duct tape about 3/4" wide and as long as the grabber and folded it over the cut outs. It Cushions my hand and stopped the bleeding. It doesn't interfere with normal operation and you can still rethread with the grabber in if need be.

[Barbara Bunker]

When I first got my Amaya, I couldn't see the needle hole to save my life! My fix was to take a strip from the top of a white sheet of self-adhesive labels. It fit perfectly and has stayed in place ever since.

Barb in Broomfield, Colorado