How Can We Help?

Print

Needle Types

Choosing a Needle

Your machine utilizes DBxK5 needles. Among other things, this means that they are industrial needles with larger eyes.

Video Demonstration:

YouTube Play Icon with no background

Needle Sizes


Needles come in a variety of sizes, and most are marked with two numbers. For example, you will find 75/11 needles. The first number is metric and is the diameter of the needle blade. It is measured in hundredths of a millimeter.
A 75/11 needle has a blade that is 0.75mm in diameter.

Standard sewing conditions will utilize needle sizes ranging from 65/9 to 80/12 needles.

Smaller needles work well for finer materials, thinner threads, and delicate detail work.

Larger needles work well for tougher and more abrasive materials. As the holes made by the needle are larger, sewing creates less friction on the threads and helps prevent thread breaks.

Melco Needle Sizes Table

Needle Points


Needle points also come in a variety of options. The main two are sharp and ball point. Sharp point needless are generally better at cutting through materials and are usually used on tightly woven or non-woven.

Melco Needle Coatings

Ball point needles are most often used on knit materials. They tend to move the threads of the material to the side of the needle as they sew. Ball point needles are usually marked with a “BP” on the package.

Needle Coatings


Needles are offered with a few different coatings. Standard needles are silver in colour and offer a sewing life of approximately 4 to 6 solid sewing hours.

Melco Needle Coatings

Titanium needles are gold in colour and offer an extended sewing life of 2 to 3 times the life of a standard needle. While they are stronger needles, they have little flex. If deflected, they will often break instead of bend. Titanium needles are usually marked with a “PD” on the packaging.

Other needle coatings exist the cut down on the heat built up when travelling through synthetic materials.