Any Handstitchers Here? (Advice on Awls Wanted)

[redsquid2]

I have not done much sheath making. I don't have a drill press, so I punch the holes through the leather with an awl, by hand. I have an Osborne scratch awl, which works OK, but it also stretches the leather a lot, and requires some muscle to use, because it has such a thick shaft.

Therefore, I am thinking of buying the awl haft - product #145 - and #E44 awls. Does anybody here use this setup for punching your holes?

Thanks,

Andy

 

[cschol]

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/tools/88043-535.aspx

I use these, have a single point for curves and a 4 point for straight runs.

 

[FeOxide]

Douglas tools makes the best I have ever used. They are more expensive but the difference is amazing.

http://www.sheridanleather.com/Awl_Blades_p/dt-awl-blades.htm

 

[high desert]

I use these also with a stitch groover. I am also working with leather which has been wetted.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/tools/88043-535.aspx

I use these, have a single point for curves and a 4 point for straight runs.

 

[rayban]

Douglas tools makes the best I have ever used. They are more expensive but the difference is amazing.

http://www.sheridanleather.com/Awl_Blades_p/dt-awl-blades.htm

Another vote for a Bob Douglas awl.....I quality awl makes all the difference.

 

[rayban]

I don't have a drill press, so I punch the holes through the leather with an awl, by hand. I have an Osborne scratch awl, which works OK, but it also stretches the leather a lot, and requires some muscle to use, because it has such a thick shaft.

Quality awl blades come in different sizes.....and they are sharp......not much force at all required to go through three layers of 8oz.....again, see Bob Douglas.........and stay away from the drill press for this work.

 

[redsquid2]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Andy/redsquid2

 

[jaymack9100]

I have read about Bob Douglas and his haft and blades and people swear by them. Is it the fact that the blade is incredibly sharp out of the box? I could never justify paying $30 to $40 for an awl blade and can't imagine that it's anything more than that.

 

[thepaladin]

I use these :
http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/search/searchresults/3003-00.aspx They punch the hole without stretching, simply cut out a tiny circle of leather then I hand stitch. It's not the way for large numbers but I do 2 or 3 sheaths in a day or whatever other project I work on.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

Rayban -

Newbie Q - Why stay away from a drill press for this work? That is how I was told to make my holes by the guys at the local Tandy store.

 

[rayban]

Rayban -

Newbie Q - Why stay away from a drill press for this work? That is how I was told to make my holes by the guys at the local Tandy store.

That's because they may have never learned how to hand-stitch either.
I believe hand-stitching is an art-form....you won't learn it by drilling your holes. JMO

I will add, if all you're looking for is to slap a couple pieces of leather together for some project, then drilling holes is the fast and easy way to get this done...but if you want to learn the craft, you should learn to handle an awl.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

I totally understand about true craftsmanship. It's just that, for me, when I tried to punch the holes by hand, I ended up "dyeing" my sheath a nice splotching blood-red color due to about a dozen and a half "self-inoculation" incidents. Probably due to trying to do it too quickly without supervision and trying to remember what my grandfather had shown me over 45 years ago before I was a teenager.

 

[jaymack9100]

zzyzzogeton, been there, that's what black dye for!

 

[zzyzzogeton]

I know. But I was trying to duplicate/replace a classic Kabar tan sheath. Probably not the best "desired end result" for a rookie's first attempt, but it was usable. Enough so that I sold to a guy for $10 bucks. Ended up black. Tried dark brown, but the blotches were still very apparent. So black it became. Did a bunch of experimentation with that one.