Posted by:
roger wilson
(---.hsd1.mn.comcast.net)
Neil,
If you have some age on your tension device, you can refresh the tension disks by the use of 800-1000 wet and dry sandpaper used wet.
Basically, all that you need to do, is to polish the disks with the wet and dry paper used wet and then rinsed off. Put the disks back on the device, set the tension and you will be good to go.
When, adjusting the tension device, start with it loose and gradually tighten the nut until you are where you need to be for the correct tension.
I use the same device and have never done anything to the disks and have built hundreds of rods using the device.
I do not use metallic thread with this device, since there are potential issues with metallic thread and pinching the thread.
But, I never main wrap guides with metallic thread. I do use metallic thread for trim wraps, but do not use any tension device. I will cut off a foot to 2 feet of thread for the trim bands and hold tension as needed with my hands. Easy and no issues using this method at all.
Millions of articles of clothing are made every day of the year using sewing machines that are essentially identical to the tension device that you mention. They have no issues with the tension devices and as long as the thread is not metallic - you should not either.
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By the way, if you run across a spool of thread that is giving you fuzzies, take it and pitch it into the nearest garbage can.
You may try to use it and put it back into your thread supply only to have it happen again, when you try it some time in the future.
Over the years, over many many different spools and different brands of thread, I have had about 4 spools of thread that gave me issues with fuzzies. Into the garbage they went, never to be used again. No thread in the thread box with fuzzies, so no thread ever used on the rod.
By the way, I have made my own rod stand and for changing thread direction, I use a ceramic insert rod guide for changing the thread direction. Never an issues with the rod guide causing any issues with the thread.
A picture of the thread tension device that I have used to build all of my rods over the years.
It is an oak board to hold the tension device and a piece of nylon cutting board to supply the base and have it nice and slick so that it moves easily over the surface of the rod bench.
I couple of holes in the front for a steel shaft to hold the thread as well as a spare spool of thread.
[
www.rodbuilding.org]
When I use lb spools of thread, I use this thread stand that was made from a pine board and a coat hanger. The thread is taken off of the top of the spool in a fashion that is identical to the way that thread spools are set up for industrial sewing machine. No added tension trying to turn a heavy spool of thread that would affect the thread tension.
The thread path comes off the top of the spool over to one side, and then back down to be at the same level as the thread guide is on my thread tension device. I just set the large thread spool behind my tension device so it is convenient but out of the way.
[
www.rodbuilding.org]
A video on using a thread stand and the tension devices on an industrial sewing machine.
Similar to millions of machines used daily around the world.
[
www.youtube.com]
