Standard and Ballpoint Needles – Under the ‘scope

You may have seen the analysis of new and used standard needles along with generally accepted industry guidance on when needles should be changed elsewhere on the site. A couple of quilters reached out to me with questions on how ballpoint needles fared - since my wife doesn't use them a quilter named Deb Shetler agreed to send some, one new and several used Ballpoint needles arrived to go under the scope. You can clearly see the shape difference in the new needles - the end on the regular needed is very sharp and pointed, and the Ballpoint is more rounded - however - both of them hurt like the dickens when pricking one of my fingers while setting them up for photography. You can also see the same type of damage - bent tip in one example, and flattened tip in the other that the regular needles experience.

 
Standard and ballpoint needles under the ‘scope | Longarm-Tech | Delighting discerning quilters by helping them optimize the performance of their longarm machines & frames.
Standard and ballpoint needles under the ‘scope | Longarm-Tech | Delighting discerning quilters by helping them optimize the performance of their longarm machines & frames.
 
Standard and ballpoint needles under the ‘scope | Longarm-Tech | Delighting discerning quilters by helping them optimize the performance of their longarm machines & frames.
Standard and ballpoint needles under the ‘scope | Longarm-Tech | Delighting discerning quilters by helping them optimize the performance of their longarm machines & frames.

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Longarm MaintenanceKeith Hayes