I'm lazy. I simply buy the thread with matching needles from sail rite.
Is have to look up the sizing, don't recall off the top of my head.
dj
The Sewing Machine Thread
- Thread starter jviss
- Start date
Is have to look up the sizing, don't recall off the top of my head.
dj
Tex 70 is equivalent to V-69 according to Sailrite. Tex 138 is a much heavier thread and requires a larger needle. IMHO, Sailrite is the best authority on all things sewing.
Personally, I use V-92 for my dodger, bimini, or sail-cover. I bought the V-138 to use the next time I repair my heavy winter cover, but in the past I have used V-92 on that as well.
When looking at an item on Sailrite, click on a single item. Scroll down a bit to Description - Documents - Reviews menu. Under documents you can usually find good guides.
I buy my thread from Sailrite and have price checked at some sites as WaWak and The Thread Exchange which are recommended on bag making sites. Comparable thread spools and cones are within a couple of dollars from Sailrite and less color selections in the Tex 70 and Tex 92 sizes.
I wouldn't trust buying thread from Amazon. Thread is the cheapest component of the materials I use, so I'm not going to cheap out on it. You want bonded polyester thread.
For most marine canvas projects Tex 90 / V92 is recommended but you can use V69 if you machine doesn't handle V92.
Most domestic machines can handle up to a Tex 70/ V69 thread, Sailrite Ultrafeeds can handle up to Tex 90/V92 thread and industrial machines like the Sailrite Fabricator can handle up to Tex 135.
I buy my thread from Sailrite and have price checked at some sites as WaWak and The Thread Exchange which are recommended on bag making sites. Comparable thread spools and cones are within a couple of dollars from Sailrite and less color selections in the Tex 70 and Tex 92 sizes.
I wouldn't trust buying thread from Amazon. Thread is the cheapest component of the materials I use, so I'm not going to cheap out on it. You want bonded polyester thread.
For most marine canvas projects Tex 90 / V92 is recommended but you can use V69 if you machine doesn't handle V92.
Most domestic machines can handle up to a Tex 70/ V69 thread, Sailrite Ultrafeeds can handle up to Tex 90/V92 thread and industrial machines like the Sailrite Fabricator can handle up to Tex 135.
Repairs to our jib using our new machine. 100% jib from our H466. We used the banquet room of our Bremerton Yacht Club.
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Thank you for starting this thread. I bought a Sailrite machine and plan to sew a bimini this summer. Looks like Sailrite is only selling the kits with Sattler Marine fabric, not Sunbrella. That's a big change. Does anyone know why, or have experience with Sattler fabric? I had high hopes for Sunbrella but the patio umbrella I bought using its fabric did mildew a few weeks after I put it on the patio. I guess there's no magic fabric.
Congratulations on the Sailrite machine. It can save you a lot of money. After you do the Bimini, you'll find plenty of other projects to do with the sewing machine.
I used Sattler marine fabric for a friends sail cover. I found it to have a softer feel to it compared to Sunbrella. My friend was happy with the cost savings which was about $15 per yard. When I replace my Bimini and dodger, I'll be looking for Sunbrella. A couple of times I've found it on eBay at a very decent price from a seller in GA.
As far as a Bimini kit is concerned, if you call Sailrite you should be able to customize the kit. I've done that with the sail cover kit. There are only two items that are listed as Sattler on the Bimini Skin Kit. The fabric and the bias tape. Tell them you want to switch the items to Sunbrella fabric and bias tape. They should do it for you and the price will be much higher. They also include a 29" x 68" clear vinyl in the kit when you will probably only use about a 12 x 12 piece for the viewing window in the Bimini. If you don't need the window, tell them to delete it.
Also know that the kit is a "skin" kit. You still need the Bimini bow kit.
Good luck with your project.
I used Sattler marine fabric for a friends sail cover. I found it to have a softer feel to it compared to Sunbrella. My friend was happy with the cost savings which was about $15 per yard. When I replace my Bimini and dodger, I'll be looking for Sunbrella. A couple of times I've found it on eBay at a very decent price from a seller in GA.
As far as a Bimini kit is concerned, if you call Sailrite you should be able to customize the kit. I've done that with the sail cover kit. There are only two items that are listed as Sattler on the Bimini Skin Kit. The fabric and the bias tape. Tell them you want to switch the items to Sunbrella fabric and bias tape. They should do it for you and the price will be much higher. They also include a 29" x 68" clear vinyl in the kit when you will probably only use about a 12 x 12 piece for the viewing window in the Bimini. If you don't need the window, tell them to delete it.
Also know that the kit is a "skin" kit. You still need the Bimini bow kit.
Good luck with your project.
Hi Ward,
Thank you, this is very helpful. I'd certainly rather spend the extra money now for the peace of mind of a proven brand. I will ignore the sale price in the cart and give them a call. There are a lot of changes on the website. I do have a bimini bow- an old aluminum one, but it should do. I'm tempted to upgrade to stainless, though.
Best,
Skipper J
Thank you, this is very helpful. I'd certainly rather spend the extra money now for the peace of mind of a proven brand. I will ignore the sale price in the cart and give them a call. There are a lot of changes on the website. I do have a bimini bow- an old aluminum one, but it should do. I'm tempted to upgrade to stainless, though.
Best,
Skipper J
With the investment in materials for the skin, now is a good time to upgrade to 1" SS. It will be much stronger when crew use it as a grab handle.
Have fun!
Twenty plus years ago I bought my wife a Swiss made Bernina 1000 sewing machine. She hated it from day 1. It was used two or three times and then put away, finding itself moved once in a while, while sorting or purging. Every Annapolis Sailboat show I'd go to, I would end up spending much time in the Sailrite section, salivating over the machines, Always asking myself, how I can scrape together that much money? Dont get me wrong, worth every penny. Then recently my wife pulls out the old Bernina, hours before her flight to Ireland and tries to hem her new Jeans she wants to wear on the plane. She comes out of the room, saying "I'm done with that machine, you try it!" Never being the person who shied away from a challenge, that night while she's on her way to Ireland, I took a piece of Sunbrella and tried my luck. First two layers, then four, both with various stitching patterns. I was doing well. I cut more cloth and teaching myself various seaming and stitching techniques. Thats when disaster struck. The needle struck the bobbin case and snap. I put fresh needles in, but all it did was bend or break them. I pulled what I could apart, cleaned and oiled, but to no avail. I decided, while my wife was gone, I would get it fixed. A week later it was home. While at the store, I asked the owner, if this was a medium or light duty machine. He showed me what it could do. To my amazement it stitched a leather belt. He said the trick is to have the correct needle, thread and speed for each type of material. I went home with a new excitement, spent the evening, measuring, cutting, ironing and sewing, making line covers to go over my white line cushions, using velcro and string ties. Now I have a list of things I want to make, just need to find the time to make them.
So I'm on a roll here. Having requested help from both my daughter and my wife to make some shades to go over my windows, I have continued my education in using a sewing machine, albeit the machine had to go back to the repair shop as i must have screwed something up. Yes, I admitted this to the repair tech. I think he took pity on me and fixed the issue at no charge. Today, raining again, I decided to continue on the shade project. I had made the frames and fitted them on the boat. I brought one set home to start the experimental and design process.
I made a small sample and fitted it.
Being happy with the results, I made three full size panels and assembled them on the frame.
Now to do side two.
Sometimes I just amaze myself......
I made a small sample and fitted it.
Being happy with the results, I made three full size panels and assembled them on the frame.
Now to do side two.
Sometimes I just amaze myself......
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Wow, I'm impressed with the projects people have completed. I have trouble getting started! It's mostly because I'm indecisive about the exact pattern. Top of my list are hatch covers and winch covers.
Then, I'm seriously considering trying to duplicate my dodger and bimini, but I consider those advanced projects. I'm also afraid that copying existing canvas may not result in a correct fit.
Then, I'm seriously considering trying to duplicate my dodger and bimini, but I consider those advanced projects. I'm also afraid that copying existing canvas may not result in a correct fit.
Hey Ward, your post prompted me to look up what I have purchased for thread, and it's described as "Bonded #69 T70 Nylon Sewing Thread for Upholstery leather canvas outdoor Seats." It's an exact match of the color "Toast" Sunbrella I have. May I ask, what is it that you think I have?
For a machine, my walking foot machine is an Alpha Sew, which is essentially the same as a straight stitch Sailrite, but perhaps without the same level of quality control.
Hi John, Do you know the brand of your thread?
Sailrite sells Anefil and Fil-Tec bonded nylon thread. Fil-Tec has no UV protection additives. Anefil does have UV inhibitors but Sailrite cautions that it should not be used on items having a lot of sun exposure.
They suggest using UV Resistant poly thread for items like biminis, dodgers, etc. I use the A&E SunStop bonded poly UV resistant thread on all of my marine projects. If fact, there is a color "Toast" listed in that thread. I mostly use the V92 thread for marine projects.
Now a days I mostly sew wallets using cork, faux leather, Cordura and vinyl. On wallets all stitching is "top stitching" so I need as perfect a stitch as I can get. I also need more color selections than the 16 Sailrite lists for the Sunstop thread so I started buying from WaWak. I tried several different brands before finding one that works very well in my Leatherwork machine which is a green LS1 straight stitch machine for the various materials and thicknesses found in my wallets. For these projects I use the V69/T70 thread in a bonded nylon from Amann called Strongbond.
Probably more info than needed but I've been researching and playing with different threads for a few months now and finally found one I like for my wallet making.
I wouldn't use the thread you listed for your marine use.
Hi Ward, thanks for the detailed reply! You're way ahead of me on this.
The thread I bought is Superior Threads Solar Guard Thread, #92 (Tex 90) UV-Safe Bonded Polyester; Weather Resistant, Fade Resistant (UV).
Superior Threads
The thread I bought is Superior Threads Solar Guard Thread, #92 (Tex 90) UV-Safe Bonded Polyester; Weather Resistant, Fade Resistant (UV).
Superior Threads
I think this is the exact thing I bought, but they don't call is Solar Guard anymore, apparently, 'though it's still billed as UV & Weather Resistant, and for marine sewing.
Bonded Polyester #012 Toast (Size #92)
Bonded Polyester #012 Toast (Size #92)
Thanks. It turns out that that thread and heavy Sunbrella are fine on my Singer 503a "Rocketeer" machine, which can do many different stitches. My walking foot machine is straight stitch only. Of course, you need the right needle. What kind of needle are you using for this application?