Barbour linnen thread, 3, 4 or 6?

[parspektiv]

I´m about to order some barbour linnen thread. Which to choose, 18/3, 18/4 or 18/6?

[parspektiv]

By the way, I will use it for strings, flemish.

[avcase]

What is your source for this?  Is it Barbour's "Pure Flax Sinew"?  I have been using an old roll of 18/4 with great results.  Breaking strength is pretty high given the small diameter (26-27 pounds).  If it is "Pure Flax Sinew", then make sure it isn't the brushed or SOFT variety, which is much weaker.
-Alan

[parspektiv]

I´m not sure, really. But I´ve been told that it´s the "right" thread. It´s sold in a store selling leather.

[jturner]

I have been using Crawford Threads 18/4 to make Linnen strings, I have been using 12 strands and not had 1 failure up to 55 lbs. But im just learning to make strings and was told that I should be using more strands, I bought this from a leather/ craft store.

jake

[markinengland]

This info is quite good at explaining the confusing numbers attached to linen.

No.1 yarn is 1 pound of flax spun to a length of 300 yards.
No.2 yarn is 1 pound of flax spun to a length of 600 yards.
And thus;
No.18 yarn is 1 pound of flax spun to a length of 5,400 yards.

Taking for example a 18/3 thread:

The "3" refers to the number of yarns that have been plied together.
The "18" indicates that it takes 5,400 yards of such yarn to weigh a pound.

It can be seen why bigger numbers mean smaller thread -- the thinner the yarns, the more of them it takes to make a pound.

In conclusion.
A 25/3 thread is made of three yarns, each made from 1 pound of flax spun out to 7,500 yards and then twisted together.

[avcase]

Mark,
That was a good explanation. The textile industry can be pretty confusing about their system of measurements.
Alan

[parspektiv]

Thanks a lot! I´ve always wondered about those numbers.