Stick a needle in my eye

[riddler 0]

I've been working on a new project for the last week, and I've been breaking needles right and left. The last needle just broke, and a sliver of it hit me in the eye. Does this happen often? Should I wear protective goggles while sewing?

FYI, I'm using 100/16 denim needles. I have 110/18 leather needles, but I'm thinking that might be overkill. I'm sewing a couple of layers of denier, 1" nylon support tape and using e-thread. I wouldn't have guessed they would need a thicker needle than 100/16. Any recommendations?

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[ChrisClark 0]

Use 130/21 size in round point, this is usually denoted by an R.
Do not use leather needles as the point cuts the material.
Your needles are probably breaking due to the small size and they can't handle the E thread or material thickness.

[riddler 0]

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Use 130/21 size in round point

K, it's a bit embarrassing, but, err - my machine is a pretty simple one. It's not a bad little machine, but after seeing hooknswoop's new machine, I realize that "industrial strength" has a few different meanings.

I can get the larger round-point needles, but would it work on a machine like this? Or should I get a better machine?

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[hookitt 1]

Get a better machine, but in the mean time use the 18s

Good luck!



edit: apostrophe misuse

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[Martini 0]

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The last needle just broke, and a sliver of it hit me in the eye. Does this happen often? Should I wear protective goggles while sewing?

You just had a warning shot. Find a way to not risk your eyesight. If that means wearing safety glasses until you find a solution to your problem then wear the glasses. Please.

Sometimes you eat the bear..............

[marinho 0]

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Does this happen often? Should I wear protective goggles while sewing?

Safety first! In our company is mandatory to have protective glasses when using a sewing machine or any equipment. This includes for visitors too. We also have signs saying that.
Cheers,

Gus Marinho

[darkwing 5]

16 is too small for e-thread. I'm not sure why you are breaking needles though. Ordinarily for a novice I'd say you were forcing the fabric feed, rather than guiding or encouraging the feed.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[riggerrob 643]

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16 is too small for e-thread. I'm not sure why you are breaking needles though. Ordinarily for a novice I'd say you were forcing the fabric feed, rather than guiding or encouraging the feed.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I have fed plenty of E thread through 16 needles, but it does feed more gracefully through 18 needles.

I agree that the original poster is probably breaking needles because of a hand feed problem.
hand feed problem.
I have broken dozens of needles that way.
Typically, the needle gets half way through the fabric, then the dude pushes it sideways a little. Then the needle strikes the throat plate and breaks, evidence the little dents in the throat plate. The short term solution is learning to not move the material when the needle is on its way down, while the long term solution is a stronger sewing machine.

The dude definitely needs safety glasses.

[jumper03 0]

I knew to wear safety glasses when using a bar tacker, but didn't think the needle on my singer could go poof. I've now got a pair of safety glasses by each machine.

Thanks for the lesson - sorry bout the eye though.

Jump

Scars remind us that the past is real