Hand sewn

NixKustoms

NixKustoms

Sheath and Knife Maker
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
5,883
Who else does all their leather sewing by hand? I'm just a part time hobbyist so I really have no use for a machine; though it would be nice sometimes.

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4 layers of 8-9oz on the top welt.
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I do both. :)

About 50/50. Some people prefer hand stitched, some machine. My machine is a Tippman BOSS, its a manual stitcher, so I guess its in a slightly different category than an electric.

There's some things I just cant do on a machine, and also some things that machine just cant be beat at.
 
I got a chance to look at one of your sheaths in person. It was black with a red ray skin inlay; I believe it was for a Busse knife. Needless to say I was impressed.


Which do you prefer; the machine or hand stitch??
 
Good looking sheath there Crazy....looks like it will last forever.

I'd still be hand stitching everything if I hadn't gotten the belt bug. Now I machine stitch everything I can, but Leatherman is right....there's always a need to hand stitch ...there's nooks and cranies a machine just can't get to.

Interesting note....I've never had someone ask how I do my stitching....the ave Joe doesn't care how it's done, just so they get a good, solid, using product.
 
MyWifeThinksImCrazy said:
I got a chance to look at one of your sheaths in person. It was black with a red ray skin inlay; I believe it was for a Busse knife. Needless to say I was impressed.


Which do you prefer; the machine or hand stitch??
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Thank you! :) I remember that combo, rayskin is one of my favorite materials to work with.

I honestly prefer hand stitching, but when it comes to "bulk" orders the machine is great! Anything over five sheaths of the same thing and I get bored.

I get asked a bit more about stitching types, but I think its because I directly offer either style to everyone where its applicable. Large orders I try to keep on the machine, its faster and easier.

I agree with rayban, I would NOT want to hand stitch a belt again if I don't have to. I've done several in the past, mostly ranger belts, and that's simply too much stitching by hand.
 
I hand sew my sheaths. When my stitches turn out right and straight and pretty, it's a matter of personal pride for me to say "I hand stitched that."
 
100% hand-stitched here. I'd love to have a machine, but it will have to wait awhile. I'm learning a lot doing it by hand for now though.
 
Drill press my friend, drill press. Then I went back with my tapered round awl in my dremel and burnished each hole after wetting to set the fibers back into place. Drilling works, but makes the holes look "chewed" if you don't take the time to go back and correct them.
:)
 
At first, I was just using the tapered round awl in the dremel to push through the leather while it was running to make my holes. This works fine for thin stuff, but 3 layers of 8/9oz starts to mess the holes up. The taper gets too large before the awl is all (haha) the way through, and stretches my holes out. I need to grind it down some to reduce the diameter.
 
I believe that I have been sewing leather before most of the members here were born. This is not a plug for sympathy but a God given fact!!! What ever that is worth!!! It is my opinion that any one that does enough leather work to warrant a stitcher should acquire one as soon as he/she can do so for a variety of reasons. It is a labor and time reducer that allows you to be more competive in the sales arena. It is less abusive to your hands. Unless you are very proficient in hand stitching (?) the machine stitch will be more consistent. Very few people can tell the difference between a well executed hand stitch and a machine stitch.

The craftsman that states the hand stitch is stronger than the machine stitch is speaking without knowledge of that fact in order to increase the stated value of the product he has produced in order to compensate for the increased time and labor involved------without producing a superior product. The fact is, that a comparable product, hand stitched or machine stitched is generally overkill and the strength of the stitch is not entered into the equation as STRONGLY advocated by the person with the sore paws. It stands to reason that the more economically you can produce an article, the more competively you can price it, which definitely gives the machine stitch an advantage. This situation is what causes the hand stitcher to tout his work as superior in order to compete at a higher level of compensation. Although I hesitate to state that the maker is prevaricating as stating facts is concerned---that is basically what is happening

Some of the best known, most superior in knowledge and skills in the leather crafting world, universally use machine stitchers to accomplish that which they do so remarkably well. If you can find fault with the fact that they have diverged from hand stitching (which they all know too well) to using that which science and industry has developed over many decades, show me the valid reasons that one might have come to those conclusions-----and I will be the first to back down on what I have written here.

FACT-----the finest articles produced from leather are usually machined stitched by professionals that will not revert to hand stitching unless the area can not be reached by the stitcher that they have at hand. The argument over the virtues of hand stitching over machine stitching is a fallacy perpetuated by the craftsman that does not produce enough to warrant the expense of the machine. Been there, done that----Sandy
 
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GrizzlyBear said:
Drill press my friend, drill press. Then I went back with my tapered round awl in my dremel and burnished each hole after wetting to set the fibers back into place. Drilling works, but makes the holes look "chewed" if you don't take the time to go back and correct them.
:)
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I'm using an old school small table top drill press now, and it has made things so much easier. I haven't done the tapered awl to burnish the wholes though. I'm gonna have to figure something out to try that one. :)
 
As usual the master of all things leather, Sandy, has said it best. :D

The thing keeping me from getting a nice electric is money, credit is shot thanks to the economy and getting all the money in one place is next to impossible. Someday I will get one, its just too handy.
 
For sheaths and such I will always hand stitch them, For no particular reason other than I just prefer to do it that way. Belts and other things that take would two lifetimes to stitch generally get the machine. A drill press and your own jigs are your friends, If you want smooth holes just load up your bit with wax every so often.
 
I hand stitch all my work. No place and funds for the machine yet. Also, I have the time and I like it. Having machine when you are full time leather worker is good idea, no doubt here. However, some people are willing to pay more to have hand stitched item and even ask for it. Is makes for them the item more unique and I'm the last person to argue with them. It's like with photography, analog or digital, you process the photos in the dark room or on the computer. Same goal different means.

Mat
 
MyWifeThinksImCrazy said:
I'm using an old school small table top drill press now, and it has made things so much easier. I haven't done the tapered awl to burnish the wholes though. I'm gonna have to figure something out to try that one. :)
Click to expand...

The shank of my tapered awl just happens to fit in the standard bit insert for my dremel (the mandrel?). And, since mine is variable speed, I just turn it on low setting and hit each hole. Helps to dampen the holes first.

Skystorm suggested loading the drillbit with wax...I had never even considered that and will do so next time to check the results!
 
helmar4578 said:
I believe that I have been sewing leather before most of the members here were born. This is not a plug for sympathy but a God given fact!!! What ever that is worth!!! It is my opinion that any one that does enough leather work to warrant a stitcher should acquire one as soon as he/she can do so for a variety of reasons. It is a labor and time reducer that allows you to be more competive in the sales arena. It is less abusive to your hands. Unless you are very proficient in hand stitching (?) the machine stitch will be more consistent. Very few people can tell the difference between a well executed hand stitch and a machine stitch.

The craftsman that states the hand stitch is stronger than the machine stitch is speaking without knowledge of that fact in order to increase the stated value of the product he has produced in order to compensate for the increased time and labor involved------without producing a superior product. The fact is, that a comparable product, hand stitched or machine stitched is generally overkill and the strength of the stitch is not entered into the equation as STRONGLY advocated by the person with the sore paws. It stands to reason that the more economically you can produce an article, the more competively you can price it, which definitely gives the machine stitch an advantage. This situation is what causes the hand stitcher to tout his work as superior in order to compete at a higher level of compensation. Although I hesitate to state that the maker is prevaricating as stating facts is concerned---that is basically what is happening

Some of the best known, most superior in knowledge and skills in the leather crafting world, universally use machine stitchers to accomplish that which they do so remarkably well. If you can find fault with the fact that they have diverged from hand stitching (which they all know too well) to using that which science and industry has developed over many decades, show me the valid reasons that one might have come to those conclusions-----and I will be the first to back down on what I have written here.

FACT-----the finest articles produced from leather are usually machined stitched by professionals that will not revert to hand stitching unless the area can not be reached by the stitcher that they have at hand. The argument over the virtues of hand stitching over machine stitching is a fallacy perpetuated by the craftsman that does not produce enough to warrant the expense of the machine. Been there, done that----Sandy
Click to expand...

I quoted this long response by Sandy, because it needs to be re-read and digested. He was not bashing either method. He was stating absolute facts!

I would now almost pass an order on to another maker should it involve hand stitching. It takes me about one minute, 60 seconds or less to stitch an average sheath or holster, and I'll be glad to compare the results in both looks and strength with any hand stitched item. There is no appreciable difference in the quality assuming both were done with care by a knowledgeable craftsman.

If your volume of production warrants, or even nearly warrants the expense of a machine, by all means get one!

A quick PS: Those really thick layered sheaths as in post #10.....there are several neat ways to get around that without much trouble, but that's another topic. My phone is always available if you are curious.

Paul
 
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