Bobbins Test

There's a lot of confusion over which bobbin goes with which machine. So many part numbers, brands, etc., but it's not nearly as confusing as it seems. The easiest and most obvious way to choose the correct bobbin is by simply looking in your user manual. If you lost it, never had it or it doesn't exist, no worries, that's where GoldStarTool can help!

Lesson #1: Many bobbins are interchangeable with lots of machines and lots of brands. Some are not. Although most brands make their own plastic bobbins,  it is not necessary to buy brand-specific bobbins. A "Brother" bobbin may fit on many makes and models of non-Brother machines, for example. A Singer bobbin is not just one type of bobbin. Singer machines, as well as some other brands, have a few different models that use a few different bobbin types.

Lesson #2: Always replace a bobbin with the same type. If the sewing machine came with a plastic bobbin, only a plastic bobbin should be used. Machines with metal bobbins can sometimes take a plastic bobbin. Either way, choosing one or the other HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH QUALITY OR DURABILITY. Always test to make sure the tension and stitch formation are satisfactory. 

15 Class

This is the most common type of bobbin for modern machines. The dimensions are approximately 3/4" in diameter and 3/8" high, with a flat profile. If you have the type of machine with an oscillating shuttle where you remove the bobbin case to install the bobbin (front or end load), you may use the metal or plastic version. If you have a drop-in bobbin system that uses 15 Class bobbins, you should stick with the plastic version. Some of the drop-in bobbin machines use a magnet ring under the bobbin case to help hold it down in place. This magnet will also tend to pull a metal bobbin down, producing drag on the bobbin and increasing the bobbin tension.

Some of these machines use a Class 15 Bobbin
Baby Lock - Fits most lower end machines.
Brother - Fits most computerized machines.
Riccar - Fits a few.
Simplicity - Fits most lower end machines.
Singer – Class 15 machines.
White - Fits most machines.

Fits on NONE of these machines:
Bernina, Elna, Husqvarna/Viking, Janome/New Home, and Pfaff
Machines made in Sweden, Germany and Switzerland have their own special bobbins.

GoldStarTool.com carries Class 15 bobbins in either plastic or metal. You can order packs of 10, 50 or 100.

Class 66 Bobbin

Some Singer designed drop-in bobbin machines require a a 66 Class drop-in bobbin. The dimensions are approximately 3/4" in diameter and 5/16" high, with a rounded profile. They are slightly narrowing than a Class 15 bobbin. This is an exclusive Singer bobbin and was designed for their half moon shaped metal bobbin case from the late 1940's. The later plastic version from the 1960's is still in use today. In fact, there were so many machines made that use this bobbin, that it is commonly referred to simply as the Singer Drop-in Bobbin. It is available everywhere in metal or plastic. The plastic version can be used in other drop-in bobbin machines, including the Viking Designer series, but is a little difficult to remove, due to the rounded profile. They should not be used in front or end load machines with a removable bobbin case as the needle will contact the edge of the bobbin and chip it.

Fits Some of these machines:
Baby Lock
Brother
Simplicity
Singer – Class 66 machines

Fits NONE of these machines:
Bernina, Elna, Husqvarna/Viking, Pfaff, Janome/New Home

 

Pre-wound bobbins are typically L Class bobbins. This is as close to a universal, one size fits all bobbin as there is. The dimensions are approximately 3/4" in diameter and 5/16" high, with a flat profile. These bobbins will work in almost every machine. They will not work with the Singer 221 (Featherweight) or 301, and there are a few others. While they will work in numerous bobbin cases, they will not work on every machines bobbin winder.

Those are the 3 most common bobbin types. But there are plenty of Specialty bobbins:

Viking. Used to be a time when there was only one bobbin for Viking machine Very similar to an L Class bobbin. From all the way back to the 21-E, through the 10 hundred series (1020, 1030, 1040), on to the 64 hundred series (6430, 6440, 6460), the 65 hundred series (6540, 6570), the 5610 and the 5710 3/4 head machines, the first Viking electronic - the 6690, the 900 series of electronics, the 150 series.....All of them used the same Viking bobbin. The second Viking bobbin was an open back concave bobbin It was designed for the models 150E, 1100, #1, #1+ and some others. And they are incompatible, not just with other Vikings, but with every other brand. Except some of the Whites that were actually Vikings There is no other bobbin that will fit these machines. You must use the Viking open back bobbins. The third Viking bobbin, the Designer (Sew Easy) series, is a continuation of this It will only fit one way. And it is incompatible with the other two.

 

Pfaff. Up until just recently, there has only been one Pfaff bobbin style. Very similar to an L Class bobbin. A few early models (1221, 1222, 1222E) used a magnetic ring as the bobbin winder, which meant that you had to use a metal bobbin, otherwise it couldn't wind. All of the Pfaff's utilized a removable bobbin case. On the Electronic models with a low bobbin indicator, you have to use Pfaff brand bobbins if you want that feature to work. It will not register a low bobbin if you are using anything other then a Pfaff brand bobbin. And now there is the Creative Touch drop in bobbin system. With a new and different bobbin. The Easy Winder will wind all Pfaff bobbins. Except the Creative Touch. Which is designed to go in one way (sigh). By the way, the original Viking bobbin will work in the original Pfaff bobbin case. The original Pfaff bobbin will NOT fit into the original Viking bobbin case.  

Bernina. Another Company that utilized a single bobbin system. Until they changed it. For the longest time Bernina used a 15 Class bobbin system. In fact, the models 801, 730, 830, 930, 1130, 1230 and the 1530 (there are other models within these models) are considered by many (including myself) to be some of the best stitching sewing machines ever made. They had refined the oscillating shuttle to such a high degree of precision that the thread just had to obey. Perfect stitch formation. With the model 1630, Bernina introduced their first rotary hook system, with a new bobbin system. Similar to (of course) an L Class bobbin. However, I do believe that the low bobbin indicator requires you to use the Bernina brand bobbins to function properly. 

Janome (New Home). Most, if not all, use a 15 Class bobbin. Just be sure to use only the plastic version in the drop in bobbin models.

And Others. Such as Sears (Kenmore), White, Necchi, Riccar, Nelco, Elna, Brother, Kamikaze, Acme...Whatever... If you can't find the bobbins called for in the instruction book, do not despair. A general rule of thumb is, for a drop in bobbin system, use either a 66 Class Singer drop in bobbin or an L Class bobbin. Just make sure to use the plastic version. For a machine with a removable bobbin case, front or end load, use an L Class or (if it fits), a 15 Class. If it fits into the bobbin case but protrudes past the edge of the bobbin case, it doesn't fit.

The newest addition to the household family of bobbins is actually a commercial bobbin, the M Class. Commonly referred to as the 'big bobbin' it is 1" in diameter and 7/16" high with a flat profile. You will certainly not confuse this with a 'normal' bobbin. It is being used more and more in long arm quilting machines because of the amount of thread that can be wound on it.