Does needle and thread size all correspond with each other?

[DUKE DEADEYE NUKEM]

Does needle and thread size all correspond with each other?
I'm doing some single thickness harness work and I'm having a problem with either the bobbin thread pulling through and showing on the top or the bottom side not pulling the thread up into the leather. Looks like just a straight line of thread on the bottom. I'm using the needles and two threads that came with the Leather Machine Company sewing machine.
TIA,
Duke

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

Does needle and thread size all correspond with each other?
I'm doing some single thickness harness work and I'm having a problem with either the bobbin thread pulling through and showing on the top or the bottom side not pulling the thread up into the leather. Looks like just a straight line of thread on the bottom. I'm using the needles and two threads that came with the Leather Machine Company sewing machine.
TIA,
Duke

Disclaimer:  I do not own a leather sewing machine and have never used one.  According to my wife, the seamstress ... This is a problem with bobbin tension.  If too loose, it pulls the thread to the top - If too tight it does not pull it up at all leaving the straight line.  Hope this helps and is not misleading when dealing with leather machines.

[DUKE DEADEYE NUKEM]

Disclaimer:  I do not own a leather sewing machine and have never used one.  According to my wife, the seamstress ... This is a problem with bobbin tension.  If too loose, it pulls the thread to the top - If too tight it does not pull it up at all leaving the straight line.  Hope this helps and is not misleading when dealing with leather machines.

Pretty much the problem and thanks for the reply.  
My needles might be to big too.

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

Pretty much the problem and thanks for the reply.  
My needles might be to big too.

According to the wife ... the top thread tension can also cause the same problem in the opposite direction ... you need to play with both tensions until the thread pulls to where you want it.  Hope it does not confuse you ... it sure does me. 

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Humph,

And they say women were not 'tempered' to be mechanical.

I have a 1916-17 Singer with all the buttonhole devices ... and I strongly state that ANYONE who could rig up one of these devices could become a mechanical engineer easily ...

[Biscuit Joe]

Duke
A straight line on the back side would indicate to me that your tension needs to be tightened some. the tension on the machine is governed by the two finger twist screws on the head of the machine. The ones the thread go through. Play with them  by tightening and loosening them. then view your results. You must adjust the tension for each project you do if the leather is of different thickness. Think of the tension as the pulling of the looped knot up into the leather to hide it.
I have a needle thread size chart I can post if it will help you out.

Before I start sewing a project I always sew a scrap piece of leather matching what I will be sewing in my project. I do this so I can measure the stitch length, and the thread tension.

[Biscuit Joe]

Oh yeah,, go buy an assortment of needle sizes. It is not one size fits all. I suggest looking at this chart  ( link below) and choose the needle and thread size to match.

[Freedom]

Duke,..To answer part of your ??...Yes the needle and thread size do have to match-up....your manual should list the sizes that match.


But if your problem seems to come and go, and your tension wheel seems to not be moving the lock position, try/check this....
One thing to check if you are having trouble is (if you can follow my poor discription  )...There is a lever on the back of your machine (top left) that is engaged every time you step on your presser foot lifter....this lever has a wedge on it that is forced between the tension plates of your primary tention wheel (the one on the back) This is what allows you to pull thread when you step on the presser foot lifter.... The screw that holds this lever to the back of your machine will self tighten(and loosen ) and lock this wedge between your tension plates... No amount of fussing with the tension screws will fix your lock position problem if this screw is not allowing the wedge to funtion properly... This is a total nightmare until you discover the problem )

Hope this helps

The other place to check is here...http://www.leatherpros.net/forums/forum.php Steve owns this site and is usually on and available to help out

[DUKE DEADEYE NUKEM]

Duke,..To answer part of your ??...Yes the needle and thread size do have to match-up....your manual should list the sizes that match.


But if your problem seems to come and go, and your tension wheel seems to not be moving the lock position, try/check this....
One thing to check if you are having trouble is (if you can follow my poor discription  )...There is a lever on the back of your machine (top left) that is engaged every time you step on your presser foot lifter....this lever has a wedge on it that is forced between the tension plates of your primary tention wheel (the one on the back) This is what allows you to pull thread when you step on the presser foot lifter.... The screw that holds this lever to the back of your machine will self tighten(and loosen ) and lock this wedge between your tension plates... No amount of fussing with the tension screws will fix your lock position problem if this screw is not allowing the wedge to funtion properly... This is a total nightmare until you discover the problem )

Hope this helps

The other place to check is here...http://www.leatherpros.net/forums/forum.php Steve owns this site and is usually on and available to help out

Thanks I'll check it out Freedom.