Thread Question

[hackish 8]

So I'm reading Poynter again... I'm not sure if this is a typo or my not understanding...

P. 83 in the poynter II manual under 4.0.56
Cotton Thread

It says:
Thread numbering: The numbers on the spool indicate the size of the yarn used in the thread. "24-4" is made of four number 24 yarns. Lower numbers indicate heavier yarns. For example 61-4 is heavier than 24-4.

I figured for sure this was just a simple typo so I looked in the lady's thread box and located some thread stamped 244 and some 604. Sure enough the 604 was like twice the size.

I did some searching on these forums and found nothing. Asked my friend google and it came up with a variety of different answers. The local fabric store was completely useless and their threads were labelled only T1-T12.

So which is correct?

-Michael

[councilman24 37]

Well first we have to deal with the typo in your post. "16-4" not 61-4. Looks consistent with the photos and breaking strength tables.

Were you looking at cotton thread or something else? There seems to be very little pure cotton sewing thread around.

And your probably the first person to read that paragraph since Dan wrote it!

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[hackish 8]

Fortunately or unfortunately every error in a book seems to jump off the page and bite me. Maybe I'll see if I Can find contact info for Dan so the correction can be made in future revisions.

As for the thread I was digging through it is probably older than me so I've got no way to tell what it is made out of. I suppose I could try a burn test or something.

-Michael

[howardwhite 6]

Quote

Maybe I'll see if I Can find contact info for Dan so the correction can be made in future revisions.

DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com

HW

[JayhawkJumper 0]

Don't bother with local fabric stores. For instance, the thread we use for a lot of repairs (E thread) is referred to sometimes as 69 nylon. I initially went around to fabric stores and asked for type E thread. They looked at me like I was an idiot. Then I asked for 69 nylon. Still they looked at me like I was an idiot. The lady said "that sounds like some sort of weird fabric."

If you want thread, I would order it from paragear or DJ and associates.

If you want to find it locally, go to a shop that sells industrial machines and equipment. You can ask for 69 nylon, 3 cord, 5 cord etc... and they actually know what your talking about. Places like Joann's fabrics are useless... unless you want scissors.

[riggerrob 643]

We will cover threads in detail next week.

Parachutes only use limited number of sizes of thread and only one of them is cotton.

red cotton, Safety Tie 4.75 pounds MBS

nylon B thread sewing skinny Vectran suspension lines

nylon E Thread, 8.5 pounds MBS, most sewing

nylon FF Thread, ? MBS, sewing container corners

nylon 5 Cord, 40 pound MBS, most harness sewing

nylon 6 Cord, ? MBS, a few harness manufacturers

The Rigger A exam also asks a couple of questions about Cotton 3 Cord, but that is rapidly disappearing from service, along with the military-surplus PEPs it is used in.

There's a good exercise for you: look up the MBS on all those threads.

And like the other poster said, forget about finding parachute-quality thread in your local sewing shop. You might find a similar commercial grade (i.e. substitute commercial 69 for E Thread) in an upholstery shop, but in the long run, you will end up buying most of your thread from Para-Gear, DJ Associates, Hemingway and Bartlet and the handful of other material suppliers who belong to PIA.

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

Fortunately or unfortunately every error in a book seems to jump off the page and bite me.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000929.htm