The needle of system 135X16 has a left cutting point (135°) for working leather, synthetic leather and other coated materials – never for woven fabric, since the cutting action would sever the weave threads. It is used in industrial sewing machines for leather and synthetic-leather work, where the cutting point produces a clean puncture. Suitable machine classes are found, among others, at Juki (classes ACF, ALS, AMS, APW), Brother (classes BAS -300E, BAS -311A, BAS -311E, BAS -311EL) and Singer (classes 61, 107, 111, 112).
Thinner needle sizes are used, among others, for thinner to medium-weight leather, and the thicker versions for very thick, firm leather and multi-layer leather joins. As sewing thread, a bonded polyester or nylon thread such as Amann Saba or Coats Dabond is usually recommended, in a thickness matching the needle size chosen. A cutting point is required here to create clean puncture channels in firm materials.
