Dacron Sail Stitching.

[science abuse]

What are the recomended/required/excluded types of thread when stitching 5.5oz Dacron sails?
I've got some material coming in to play with, I'm considering making a simple jib or ginny, so I can fail at something simple first. cotton based organic threads are obviously not right. I've used a braided Fluorocarbon fishing line in all of my stitching prjects (nylons, leather, cotton) up to this point, some of which have been holding heavy loads for over a decade now. Would it be safe to use that?

Thanks in advance
Eric

[hoytedow]

I would use dacron thread.

[Typhoon]

You'll have issues with fishing line, Dacron is a fairly tough and dense sort of material, it heats the needle quite a bit, the nylon will be constantly breaking on you.
I would use a V69 waxed polyester thread with a 100 needle. Make sure to get your bobbin and top thread tensions as low as you reasonably can to reduce seam puckering.

Regards, Andrew.

[hoytedow]

Dacron is the trade-name for polyester, by the way.

[Typhoon]

Originally Posted by hoytedow

Dacron is the trade-name for polyester, by the way.

Yep, it's one of them!
Finding a thread labelled polyester is usually easier, so that's why I suggested polyester.

Regards, Andrew.

[science abuse]

Makes sense. Is there a standardized sizing for these threads? recomendations?
I should note that I'll be stitching this, as with everything, by hand, likely over the course of winter... unless you think a standard sewing machine could handle punching through a few layers of the 5oz fabric, my neighor does quilting and has the related equipment/skill.

[hoytedow]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...7107663762394#