I belong to a Facebook group, Just Stichin with the Brother Luminaire, and an Australian member named Ann Blyth posted a link to your video. I am one of those people who use a variety of different types of thread for different purposes on my Brother Luminaire 2 and have trouble getting the tension correct. I can't tell you how many times I have blamed the thread and the machine for "not liking the thread". I watched your video yesterday and immediately after put in my order using PayPal. I must say that I was happy to see the Exchange Rate price adjustment. Thank you Gary for the very informative video and thanks to Ann for posting the link! I'm really looking forward to the arrival of my Towa Tension Gauge. Happy sewing!
this video saved my backside, LOL... I purchased a new Ve2300 and it never really stitched out correctly, I spent over 6 hours yesterday trying to fix the tension,,,, top/bottom,,, Honestly I didn't know what I was doing really even though I've been sewing for over 40+ years and embroidering over 20... then I saw your video... In my sewing room at 3am turned down my bobbin tension and WALA!!! It's a miracle!!! Any whoooo, just ordered the tension gauge with the adapter and another new bobbin case. I'm in the US, so excited to get it! Again THANK YOU!!!! No body else here on RUclips had this exact information. Big HUG!!!!
@Vaness-pe1fo That's great to hear - we love knowing we have successfully helped someone problem solve! We appreciate you letting us know your success story!
This is great thanks. I took a professional Sewing machine repair course and even they avoided how to precisely gauge tension on a drop in bobbin case. I am able to do it fairly well a hanging postal scale, but your adaptors are the fix for sure. Your explanation and instruction on the whole bobbin tension adjustment task is spot on!
@CatafamoGallery We would recommend setting your bobbin tension and then adjusting your top tension to suit. If you are getting bobbin thread to the top then you will need to loosen the top tension. If it is pulling too much top thread underneath, you need to tighten the top tension.
Happy New Year! Since I bought the Brother 880e I am watching your videos on machine embroidery and learn a lot. You are quite thorough and clear. Regarding bobbin tension: if I wind my bobbins on the 880e itself instead of using pre-wound bobbins, do I have to expect the same potential issues as with the pre-wound bobbins?
Hello Gary! Will this Towa work in my 1969 Kenmore model158.13031 sewing machine? It uses an 'A' type metal bobbin. Thank you for the great videos and for sharing your knowledge with the sewing community. Kind Regards, Donna
The manual that came with my Innovis 1200 stated that if the bobbin tension screw was coloured GREEN (which mine is) the screw should not be adjusted. Can you elaborate on this please? Having so much trouble with this machine.
@erinundra If you are having issues with your tension then yes you can adjust the bobbin case screw if needed. Manuals will state not to as sometimes people don't understand how to adjust it properly. Can you let us know what issues you are having and we will try to help you. Our email is the best place to contact us: support@echidnasewing.com.au Attach any relevant photo's, details of the machine and issues you are having. Also if you haven't had it serviced in a while, getting it serviced will help with the tension issues if it is the machine/bobbincase.
Hello! Sorry we don't have a distributor for the Towa Gauge in the US. If you were interested in the adaptor only this is something we had developed so you would need to purchase from us in Australia.
Hi Gary, in a previous video you had said tension should be around 30 to 35. In this video you say you prefer 25. for regular sewing machines what is the preferred bobbin tension?
Hi Cindy, in previous videos the measurement was using a slightly different technique and I think by memory a different Gauge. Previous to having the Brother adapter that we now produce to fit the Towa gauge we had to measure the tension with the Bobbin being drawn from within the machine. This requires more force due to the angles or path that the thread subjected to. It can add up to 10 grams of extra force - Hence the lower setting when using the Towa Gauge with the adapter. But at the end of the day a setting between 25 and 35 will usually be quite usable regardless of how you measure it. As for regular sewing, generally the tension is a little lighter and a setting of between 15 and 20 grams using the Towa Gauge is about normal. If you are measuring with the Bobbin in the machine it will read about 5 to 10 grams more. Of course different machines will sometimes have slightly different requirements so it's not an exact science. Best thing you can do is measure the tension while your machine is stitching perfectly and use that measurement as your ideal starting point. Hope this info helps Cheers Gary
Hi Brenda, there is no need to oil the XE1 at all. Your technician will clean and relubricate the appropriate way. All you need to do is make sure the bobbin area is clean.
Hi Candace - I believe we are the only ones that have it . Here is the link www.echidnasewing.com.au/brother-drop-in-bobbin-adapter-for-towa-tension-ga
Hi Connie yes you can use the same Gauge for both machines. Here is the link showing how to use it for a domestic machine and a PR model. You may need to scroll down to view the RUclips videos www.echidnasewing.com.au/digital-tension-gauge
The principles are the same, it's just a lot harder to read a non-digital gauge! Also different gauges give slightly different readings so you might have to target a different tension reading. Also note that our Brother bobbin adapter only suits the digital tension gauge.
I belong to a Facebook group, Just Stichin with the Brother Luminaire, and an Australian member named Ann Blyth posted a link to your video. I am one of those people who use a variety of different types of thread for different purposes on my Brother Luminaire 2 and have trouble getting the tension correct. I can't tell you how many times I have blamed the thread and the machine for "not liking the thread". I watched your video yesterday and immediately after put in my order using PayPal. I must say that I was happy to see the Exchange Rate price adjustment. Thank you Gary for the very informative video and thanks to Ann for posting the link! I'm really looking forward to the arrival of my Towa Tension Gauge. Happy sewing!
Thanks! Happy sewing to you too!
this video saved my backside, LOL... I purchased a new
Ve2300 and it never really stitched out correctly, I spent over 6 hours yesterday trying to fix the tension,,,, top/bottom,,, Honestly I didn't know what I was doing really even though I've been sewing for over 40+ years and embroidering over 20... then I saw your video... In my sewing room at 3am turned down my bobbin tension and WALA!!! It's a miracle!!! Any whoooo, just ordered the tension gauge with the adapter and another new bobbin case. I'm in the US, so excited to get it! Again THANK YOU!!!! No body else here on RUclips had this exact information. Big HUG!!!!
@Vaness-pe1fo That's great to hear - we love knowing we have successfully helped someone problem solve! We appreciate you letting us know your success story!
This is great thanks. I took a professional Sewing machine repair course and even they avoided how to precisely gauge tension on a drop in bobbin case. I am able to do it fairly well a hanging postal scale, but your adaptors are the fix for sure. Your explanation and instruction on the whole bobbin tension adjustment task is spot on!
Hi Dana, we're glad you found this video helpful. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
How do you use a scale ?
Thank you for the wonderful video. Happy holidays to you
Same to you!
Thank you. My wife has a 15-needle Happy Embroidery machine and is struggling with tension. Is there a tension for the thread on top?
@CatafamoGallery We would recommend setting your bobbin tension and then adjusting your top tension to suit. If you are getting bobbin thread to the top then you will need to loosen the top tension. If it is pulling too much top thread underneath, you need to tighten the top tension.
Happy New Year! Since I bought the Brother 880e I am watching your videos on machine embroidery and learn a lot. You are quite thorough and clear. Regarding bobbin tension: if I wind my bobbins on the 880e itself instead of using pre-wound bobbins, do I have to expect the same potential issues as with the pre-wound bobbins?
Happy new year! As for tension issues, you can definitely have similar issues as tension can vary as a matter of course.
Hello Gary! Will this Towa work in my 1969 Kenmore model158.13031 sewing machine? It uses an 'A' type metal bobbin. Thank you for the great videos and for sharing your knowledge with the sewing community. Kind Regards, Donna
Hi Donna, we don't sell the Kenmore here in Australia. Would be unsure whether it would work. Thank you for your feedback!
The manual that came with my Innovis 1200 stated that if the bobbin tension screw was coloured GREEN (which mine is) the screw should not be adjusted. Can you elaborate on this please? Having so much trouble with this machine.
@erinundra If you are having issues with your tension then yes you can adjust the bobbin case screw if needed. Manuals will state not to as sometimes people don't understand how to adjust it properly. Can you let us know what issues you are having and we will try to help you. Our email is the best place to contact us:
support@echidnasewing.com.au
Attach any relevant photo's, details of the machine and issues you are having. Also if you haven't had it serviced in a while, getting it serviced will help with the tension issues if it is the machine/bobbincase.
Do you or will you have a USA distributor for this, i.e., Lindee G?
Hello! Sorry we don't have a distributor for the Towa Gauge in the US. If you were interested in the adaptor only this is something we had developed so you would need to purchase from us in Australia.
@@EchidnaClub, yikes shipping was as much as adaptor.🙃
Hi Gary, in a previous video you had said tension should be around 30 to 35. In this video you say you prefer 25. for regular sewing machines what is the preferred bobbin tension?
Hi Cindy, in previous videos the measurement was using a slightly different technique and I think by memory a different Gauge. Previous to having the Brother adapter that we now produce to fit the Towa gauge we had to measure the tension with the Bobbin being drawn from within the machine. This requires more force due to the angles or path that the thread subjected to. It can add up to 10 grams of extra force - Hence the lower setting when using the Towa Gauge with the adapter. But at the end of the day a setting between 25 and 35 will usually be quite usable regardless of how you measure it.
As for regular sewing, generally the tension is a little lighter and a setting of between 15 and 20 grams using the Towa Gauge is about normal. If you are measuring with the Bobbin in the machine it will read about 5 to 10 grams more. Of course different machines will sometimes have slightly different requirements so it's not an exact science. Best thing you can do is measure the tension while your machine is stitching perfectly and use that measurement as your ideal starting point. Hope this info helps Cheers Gary
@@EchidnaClub Thank you.
Great video thank you.
Glad you liked it!
Gary, was wondering about oiling my machine...I heard it should be done once a year...what areas should be oiled?
I have Brother Stellaire XE1.
Hi Brenda, there is no need to oil the XE1 at all. Your technician will clean and relubricate the appropriate way. All you need to do is make sure the bobbin area is clean.
I have brother ve2300 and just got new bobbin case put it in and it’s only showing top thread on back no white bobbin
@fionacauchi2914 We are happy to help you Fiona and give you a call.
If I was to buy the Annual Subscription from Echidna Sew Would that give me free shipping to the US?
Hi Janetta, unfortunately we are unable to give free shipping to the US but thank you for your interest in our products :)
Which adaptor for a heavy-duty Singer?
Hi Dana, unfortunately we don't have an adaptor suitable for the Singer heavy-duty machine.
I live in Lansing, Illinois. I’m not finding the drop-in adapter anywhere. Where can I find the Echidna adapter for Brother’s embroidery machines??
Hi Candace - I believe we are the only ones that have it . Here is the link www.echidnasewing.com.au/brother-drop-in-bobbin-adapter-for-towa-tension-ga
@@EchidnaClub Thank you
@@candace1684 Welcome! have a great day.
I have a Stellaire xj1 as well as a PR 670e. Would this one work on both or would I need 2 different ones?
Hi Connie yes you can use the same Gauge for both machines. Here is the link showing how to use it for a domestic machine and a PR model. You may need to scroll down to view the RUclips videos www.echidnasewing.com.au/digital-tension-gauge
Hi, is this Gauge just for embroidery machines ? Or can it be used for the sewing side of my V5?
The Towa gauge is really designed for embroidery because of the need to adjust tension. It isn't as important to adjust the bobbin with a sewing.
@@EchidnaClub Thank you
Will this work with a non digital towa gauge?
The principles are the same, it's just a lot harder to read a non-digital gauge! Also different gauges give slightly different readings so you might have to target a different tension reading. Also note that our Brother bobbin adapter only suits the digital tension gauge.
@@EchidnaClub Thank you for the information and quick response!