How to Use a Towa Bobbin Tension Gauge

Correct thread tension is important for ensuring that your embroidery and quilting machines sew properly and without any problems. If the thread tension is too tight, you may notice unpleasant reel thread showing on top, uneven stitches, and thread breaks. On the other hand, if the tension is too loose, your stitches may be too loose and the fabric may pucker.

To set the correct thread tension, you can use a tool such as the Towa TM-1 & TM-3 reel case thread tension gauge. This tool allows you to easily measure and adjust reel tension on your embroidery machine or longarm quilting machine. To use the tool, simply attach it to the reel case and adjust the tension until the gauge indicates that the tension is balanced. By consistently maintaining balanced thread tensions, you can ensure that your embroidery looks its best.

Instructions for Use:

To use the Towa TM-1 & TM-3 reel case thread tension gauge to set the correct thread tension on your embroidery machine or longarm quilting machine:

1. Remove the reel case from your machine and make sure the reel thread is not tangled.

2. Place the reel case with the reel inside it into the gauge slot and snap it into place.

3. Wrap the reel thread around the two pulley-block wheels and around the plastic hook at the end of the gauge.

4. Slowly pull the thread and note the reading on the gauge. This represents tension readings in grams. Correct reel tensions should be 180 to 220 grams (up to 250 grams when embroidering caps). Please note: If your gauge is shown in units of 10s, the correct reel tensions should be 18 to 22 grams (up to 25 grams when embroidering caps).

5. Adjust the reel case spring tension screw as needed to get the desired reading. To loosen the tension, turn the screw in small increments counterclockwise. You should only make small changes when adjusting or loosening the tension screw.

6. If you experience a bouncing, erratic reading on the gauge, it may be due to a dirty or defective reel case. In this case, you can try sliding a card back and forth beneath the reel tension spring to clear any dirt.

It is important to maintain balanced thread tensions to ensure that your embroidery looks its best and to prevent problems such as uneven stitches and thread breaks. The Towa TM-1 & TM-3 reel case thread tension gauge is a useful tool for measuring and adjusting thread tension to ensure that your machine is working properly.