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Using the Towa Bobbin Case Tension Gauge
One question we hear over and over is “What number should the tension be?” I wish there was a simple answer to that question, but the fact is there is no magic number. Many different factors can alter tension settings. The Towa Bobbin Case Tension Gauge is a great tool, but like any other tool you must learn how to use it. Hopefully the recommendations below will serve as an adequate guide to get you on the right track. First of all it helps to know your machine. If you really aren’t familiar with how your machine works and how to use it, you would be wise to brush up on the basics before you proceed with making adjustments of any kind. Browse through your owner's manual paying particular attention to any information provided about the thread path and tension settings. You must also realize that every embroidery machine is different. They may look similar, but that doesn’t guarantee they are identical in every way. Top tension disks could be slightly different or there could be more or less resistance in the thread path. The tension adjustments you make with your gauge will be for your machine only and a little experimenting will be required to find the proper settings. It would also help to understand just what tension is all about and how the top thread and bobbin thread work together to create a perfect stitch. To achieve that perfect stitch there must be a balance between top and bottom tension. Think of it as a tug-of-war. The strongest team always wins. What we’re striving for is a draw – no winner and no loser. Both teams should be of equal strength. To get your tension right you’ll need a place to start. You can create a reference point by setting all of your top thread tension knobs as close to the factory settings as possible. If you have no idea what the factory settings are, try setting each knob in the same mid-range position. I’m not familiar with every machine on the market, but this shouldn’t be too difficult to achieve on any commercial machine. On the Brother PR600 and the Babylock EMP6 for example, the top tension can easily be reset close to factory settings by bending down and viewing the tension knobs from the side. You should see just two black lines showing on the inner knob. If you see less than two lines your tension is probably too tight. If you see more than two lines your tension is probably too loose. Turn each knob either clockwise or counter-clockwise as necessary to make the adjustments. It’s not important to get them exact, but they should all be relatively the same. Once you’ve done that you’re ready to begin the bobbin tension adjustment. Begin by setting the bobbin case tension between 20-25 gf on the gauge (200-225 mN on newer models). Adjust the tension screw as necessary to achieve this setting. When you have done that hoop a piece of scrap fabric and run the built-in test pattern on all six needles. Now look at the back side of the embroidery. All six columns should show similar results. If they are significantly different the top tension may not be the same for all needles. Some minor readjustment of the top tension knobs may be required to equalize them. If all six look pretty much the same you are ready to move on to the next step. Using the “rule of thirds” check to see how much top thread is showing on each side of the columns. You should see equal amounts of top thread on both sides and bobbin thread in the center. If you see more than 1/3 top thread on each side, your bobbin tension is too tight. If you see less than 1/3 top thread on each side the bobbin tension is too loose. If necessary use your gauge again to readjust the bobbin tension. If the tension was too loose turn the screw in a clockwise direction to increase tension. If it was too tight turn the screw counter-clockwise to decrease tension. Run another test pattern. Repeat as necessary. It's important to remember that you have only a limited amount of adjustment possible on your bobbin case. If you over-tighten the screw you run the risk of stripping the threads or distorting the spring which will render your bobbin case useless. Make all of your adjustments in very small increments. If you simply can't seem to get enough bobbin tension no matter how much you tighten the screw, try loosening the top tension a bit and start the entire process over. Also be sure to check for foreign objects lodged under the spring of your bobbin case. Tiny unseen bits of thread can really throw things off. Once you find the correct setting, make note of it. This will allow you to duplicate the bobbin tension setting with ease. If you don’t change the top tension you should have perfect stitches every time. To prevent disasters make it a habit to check every new bobbin you install. It takes only a few seconds, but is well worth the effort. There’s nothing worse than being halfway through a design when you suddenly see bobbin thread showing on top. Remember too that thread matters. Different brands or types of thread have different resistance factors. More or less resistance means more or less tension as a result. If you change your brand of bobbin thread, you may need to re-run the above tests to insure your settings are correct. The same thing applies to top thread. If you change brands or types of embroidery thread it could affect your tension settings. It isn’t difficult to keep your machine’s tension settings right where they should be. Using your gauge in conjunction with the built-in test pattern should prevent you from ever having tension headaches again. One last thing. It's not a bad idea to have an extra bobbin case on hand just in case. In the unlikely event something unexpected happens you'll be prepared. Finishing that big project on time may depend on it.
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