Is 'Speedy Stitcher' suitable for hammock webbing?

[garethw]

In addition, waxed cordage holds knots very well. The various "super braid" fishing lines are crazy strong, but slick. Getting a knot to hold is challenging, and my guess is that lock stitches probably won't hold particularly well.

If you know the right knots its not a problem to get them to hold. I find that braided line holds fine. (Nylon monofilament however doesn't hold well).

Its just a question of pulling tight and doing a decent knot. If you couldn't do a locking knot you'd never catch a big fish on it. Many of these braids hold 70-80% of linear strength knotted.

I've used waxed dental floss on many occasions for tying baits on... I use it in the place of braid because it flattens out around the round bait and holds better than a round section braided line.

Finally the braids I use are nice dull colours... brown, black or green... floss is invariabley white.

cheers
Gareth

[oldgringo]

If you know the right knots its not a problem to get them to hold. I find that braided line holds fine. (Nylon monofilament however doesn't hold well).

Its just a question of pulling tight and doing a decent knot. If you couldn't do a locking knot you'd never catch a big fish on it. Many of these braids hold 70-80% of linear strength knotted.

I've used waxed dental floss on many occasions for tying baits on... I use it in the place of braid because it flattens out around the round bait and holds better than a round section braided line.

Finally the braids I use are nice dull colours... brown, black or green... floss is invariabley white.

cheers
Gareth

Agree on all points.

The beauty of waxed twine is that any old half-assed granny knot will hold 'till it thunders.

[DavyRay]

Agree on all points.

The beauty of waxed twine is that any old half-assed granny knot will hold 'till it thunders.

So don't use waxed twine for anything you want to untie, ever. I have tried to undo some waxed twine knots. Even simple loops stick.

[BillyBob58]

Anyone use it for lighter stuff? I was just thinking this could be good for sewing stuff onto existing packs where you cannot get a sewing machine and that are a PITA to hand sew with a normal needle - like adding on a tie down strap, a mesh pocket, or something like that.

I went to a local craft supply store and found some sewing machine needles designed for denim that worked perfectly in my Speedy Stitcher. I used regular thread to repair the corner on a pocket on my jeans. Worked like a charm, though I did miss the wax coating on the thread. It can get dicey dealing with uncoated thread because it rolls out too easily from the bobbin even with many wraps around the tensioning pin.

That waxed small stuff is very handy to have around, in the same way that duct tape is.

Did a quick youtube search and found this video. How to wax linen thread

Seems like a simple process to wax whatever thread you want to use. I have neither a sewing machine or the speedy stitcher. I may have to remedy both shortcomings.

If you run out of Speedy Stitcher thread... use dental floss.....

I, a total sewing ignoramous, just read this whole "thread". As Rock asked, can it be used for lighter stuff? Like sewing Velcro onto quilt nylon, or sewing Velcro over (worn out) Velcro that is already in place?

Is it just a matter of getting smaller needles than what comes with it? And can you do that, use it with smaller sewing machine needles and thread?

What size needle would that be, that would be used to sew nylon shells together, or to sew Velcro on top of other Velcro, or Velcro directly to nylon shells?

[L.D. Cakes]

I've used reg. sewing needles when I sewed something that was finer and they do OK. The difference is they are shorter than the speedy stitcher needles. Sewing machine needles are all the same length just different gauges depending on the thread you're using and or fabric. They work but there just half the length of a SS needle.

[Ramblinrev]

Sewing machine needles are all the same length just different gauges depending on the thread you're using and or fabric. They work but there just half the length of a SS needle.

For most practical purposes that is a fairly accurate statement. However, if you scour high end and commercial suppliers you can find industrial and serger needles that are longer than the usual sewing machine needle intended for home use.

There is one major difference between the Speedy Stitch needle and a normal sewing machine needle which would make a slight difference in the way it handles. The speedy stitch needle has a groove running the length of the needle that allows the thread to tuck in. The lack of the groove might make a difference in how the lacing loop is formed but it should not be an insurmountable problem.

As long as the eye of the needle is close to the tip and the shank can be tightened into the collet of the Speedy Stitcher you should be good to go

[ewhammock]

Ain't pretty, but these Speedy Stitches are going nowhere - bomber!

http://s1115.photobucket.com/albums/...er_media_share

[Tim_807]

There is one major difference between the Speedy Stitch needle and a normal sewing machine needle which would make a slight difference in the way it handles. The speedy stitch needle has a groove running the length of the needle that allows the thread to tuck in. The lack of the groove might make a difference in how the lacing loop is formed but it should not be an insurmountable problem.

I picked up a generic pack of #16 sewing machine needles at Wally World yesterday. They fit my speedy stitcher and do have a groove running down one side. The needles worked well using braided fishing line. Even without it being waxed when you pull the awl back you get the loop thing you need for the lock stitch.

It took some experimenting with some fishing knots that I found online, but I settled on the Yucatan knot to tie off with. I figured out how to tighten this knot down (as compared to something like the double uni).

+1 on a dot of superglue (just in case).

[DemostiX]

There are two competing sewing awls on the market. I'd like to buy the right one, $10 more is of no consequence for a good and long-lasting tool.

One model, the Speedy Stitcher has the bobbin in handle, and tensioning pin on the side.

And there is a likely knock-off Harbor Freight is currently selling for just $5. The equal to the Speedy Stitcher, or just the equal to most of the barely-good-enough from Harbor Freight?)


Another model, such as the Tandy Leather puts the bobbin just below the needle.

Is this strokes-for-folks, or is one of these definitely prone to failure, good only for large hands, etc etc? Will only one of these take (the right size) sewing machine needles not just their own?

[Tim_807]

I have the actual speedy stitcher shown in the picture. All the metal parts feel like they will hold up for quite a while and it feels solid. I have never seen the Tandy version in person the only thing I could see really being different between them would be how you would have to wind the bobbin. The speedy sticher bobbin just falls out of the body once you remove the cap so it is pretty easy to deal with.

Opinions:

• The speedy stitcher doesn't require a wrench to tighten anything.

• There is a spot in the handle to store two extra needles which is nice.

• I think someone mentioned just using a regular sewing bobbin in the speedy stitcher cavity which I am not sure would work with the Tandy.