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Choosing the Right Thread
Thread is an integral
part of many items that we use daily. Certainly the various components
of our apparel are joined with thread but what about the string that
is attached to our tea bags? |
What would happen to
upholstery, seat belts, and head liner of an automobile if the thread
were removed? What about the seams in our tents, back packs, sleeping
bags, and other camping equipment? How are the components of baseballs
and footballs joined?
Each of these products
requires a thread with different physical properties to achieve optimum
performance. If you consider the many uses of thread, the complexity of
designing a thread becomes apparent. Consideration must be given to:
Sewability, loop strength, linear strength, elongation, shrinkage,
abrasion resistance, colorfastness, and resistance to chemicals, heat,
light, etc. Each can affect the desirability of a thread for a particular
end-use. A&E threads are designed for many general and specific
end-uses.
Selecting the proper thread for your product can be simplified
if these basic factors are considered: required seam strength; type of
seam; stitch type and number of stitches per inch; type of material being
sewn; type of sewing machines and related equipment; conditions under
which the product must perform; normal life of the product; and cost
effectiveness.
Analyzing these
factors would give an indication of which physical properties are most
important in the thread. Selection then becomes a matter of choosing a
thread with the most desirable properties. Of course, thorough testing is
necessary to confirm that the thread chosen is indeed the correct one.
A&E will be glad to provide any necessary technical assistance to help
you select the best thread for your use. (See Technical
Services.)
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Making the Right Choice:
For information on
selecting the right thread for the right job, see
Selection Logic and
Thread Selection by End Use. Also, American &
Efird offers a thread education workshop, called
Threaducation®, on how to select the best thread for a
specific application. For more information, send an
email to our Industrial Sales Division. |
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