Needle Threaders

[Steam.Jo]

I've broken another wire needle threader



I thought I had finally found a needle threader that lasted but no. The cheap aluminium ones fall apart, the plastic ones need to be glued together and if you do the wire breaks.

I saw a rather lovely acorn shaped micro needle threader on line which has a flat hook profile but could not find a UK supplier and by the time I add in the postage Prym seem to do HUGE ones not micro ones ...

While I attempt to put a hook on the end of that piece of 0.16mm spring steel to see if that might work: Has anyone got any other suggestions?

Jo

[Serinde]

A friend of mine buys them by the 100...

[fccs]

I wish I could help. I have never been able to use the wire needle threaders and stopped trying years ago.

[richardandtracy]

Solder a piece of fuse wire to a little bit of sheet steel? That may work.
A strand broken out of an old bit of steel wire rope instead of the fuse wire?
The metal 'handle' could be a disc knocked out of an electrical socket box, the type buried in brick walls. Or even a steel washer M10/3/8" or so. Might need to file the plating/galvanizing off - can't remember if zinc can solder with lead based solders.

20 minutes would tell you if it's going to work..

Regards,

Richard

[Steam.Jo]

I've pulled apart an existing needle threader:



The hook is rather interesting and similar to the micro threader I had found:



I suspect that that little hook will break if it is not protected.

In the meantime I have ordered 100 more of the cheap wire threaders from China with a delivery date of this year sometime. The problem with these is they fall out of the handle so if I can find a replacement way of holding the wires that would work. I have also had a drill/file of that piece of spring steel. It is not that tough so I suspect it is Chinese spring steel This is what I have made:



It will thread a size 26 needle. I am going to have a play.

Jo

[Serinde]

Could you use a drop of glue to keep the wires in the handles?

[wendywombat]

I think you've got the solution there, Jo.
I used to have a couple of hook type threaders but they were useless on anything finer than wool and a very large eye needle. The metal was just too thick.

[rcperryls]

I have so many different ones and can't wait to start using and complaining about them.

Carole