thread spool holder

[Debbie Rinehart]

While in training this week in Chicago, my instructor Colleen said the tip of the metal spool holder should be tall enough to stick out of the top of even the tall 5,000 size spools. My metal tubes (the cylinder that holds the plastic thread tube)don't even reach the top of the small 1,000 thread cones. Is there a way to adjust these spool holders cuz the plastic ring at the top of the thread feed tube drops down into each of my spools causing the thread to occasionally catch on the paper tag at the top of the spool? Hope I've made a little since here!! Debbie in Indiana

[Meezer City]

Just reach under them and push up to the proper height.
Marilou

[levelbest]

or grab from the top and pull up. also, I think melco makes extra long ones for the really tall cones like madiera.

[Just Sew It]

How do you get the spool holders to move? I have tried twisting, pushing, pulling and cussing.

[susan]

I have some spool holders that are easy to move up and down and then some of them I can't move at all. I have to have my husband move them and he even struggles!!!

Susan
Embroidery Station

[Judy]

Only the long, slender metal part with the plastic tip should move; the white part holds the base of the cone and is stationery. Hope this helps.

[Judy]

Only the long, slender metal part with the plastic tip should move; the white part holds the base of the cone and is stationery. Hope this helps.

[Just Sew It]

Thanks, Judy, and all who responded. I was attacking the wrong part. Will still have to get after the tube with some padded vise grip or something.

[Rod or Sharon]

uuuhhhh.....don't use any pliers or vise grips on the thread spindles!! You will wind up chrushing them, padded or otherwise. the only way I would use pliers is by "lightly" gripping the plastic tube just under the metal spindle tube, sliding it up against the bottom of the tube and then push up. Some of the new ones are tight, which is a good thing but they are snug. Just push them up from the underneath side. If you cannot push them up by just using your fingers, then use the pliers as I have mentioned above or something else in a simular fashion....they will move, as they are designed to be slid up and down for adjustment.

Rod Springer
Melco EMT & Amaya Tech & Trainer

[Just Sew It]

Thanks, everyone! One more question: Is it a good idea to use the longer tubes and move them up and down if you have a variety of ARC, Maderia, Isacord, etc.? Can you move the tube too much?

[Debbie Rinehart]

As always everyone has pitched in to clarify an issue for us newbies!!! Each one of you had something very helpful to add to the mix. THANKS AGAIN!!Debbie in COLD Indiana PS...GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!

[Judy]

Hi there. Yes, you can move a tube "too much"...and it ends up in your hand unattached to the machine. (Com'on, ask me how I know! lol) They are hard to get broken in. Pushing up from the back is the best way to get them moving. Don't push straight up or straight down. You have to push in line with the tube. I just went from the older Amaya to the XT, and I'm having to break in the pushing/pulling of those little tubes all over again. It's a pain, but it does get easier with time. Hang in there!

[levelbest]

Reposting for Mr. Ed

Dear "Just Sew It",
If the silver tube doesn't slide up and down easily, you might try one hand on top pulling and one hand underneath pushing at the same time. The white plastic "Thread Cone Seat" seems to come out of their molds at the plastics factory a little different each time. Some machines cone tubes tend to slide easily while others not so much.
Those tubes that don't budge sometimes need an extra push from underneath with something stronger than your finger. I carry a "stubby slotted screwdriver" for just such an occasion. Just use control because you can really hurt yourself if you slip and stab yourself with the end of the silver tube.

Once you get your tubes set to the proper height, it's not really necessary to move them up and down. Even if you are using Madeira thread with the super tall cones, just set your tubes about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch above the top of the cone (if you can go that high) and leave them there. If you switch to the small 1000 meter spools, then use the paper coaster, or something like it (home made) shown in the Melco catalog to raise the smaller spool up to an acceptable height. It's nothing more than a paper circle made out of business card stock with a hole punched in the middle. You slide this over the silver cone tube and it sits on top of the white plastic thread cone seat like a "booster seat" of sorts.

Best of luck to you,
Ed Orantes