How well do sewing awls work?

[mccandmatt]

Like the topic says. Just curious how these work. Thanks!

 

[leatherman]

I betcha Gary will be with you soon, I hear he uses one of those.

One thing I read about these is its easier to use if you pre drill the stitching holes.

 

[mccandmatt]

I betcha Gary will be with you soon, I hear he uses one of those.

One thing I read about these is its easier to use if you pre drill the stitching holes.

I'm trying to steer away from drilling right now, trying to stick with the basics first then move on as my skill grows, so i might just stick with awl and hand stitch for a while till I get that down.

Another question, I was reading that hand stitching is stronger then machine stitching, atleast thats what Stolhman's book states, but is that really ever an issue on a sheath other than maybe the loop? I can see a saddle requiring some strong stitching

 

[leatherman]

Each method has its pro's and con's.

Hand stitching is indeed stronger and more wear resistant. If the sheath your making is intended for hard use then a saddle stitch is the strongest type out there. A stitch can get cut and the line will not unravel if the stitch is done properly. I treat my sheaths awfully, grinding around under the truck and car at oil changes and constantly under my truck for the never ending maintenance that older trucks demand. Outdoors use is dependent on how and what the conditions are, if your digging through that bramble looking for the hog you just shot and he shot into that mess then your going to tear up a jacket or two and other things on you are going to get dinged.

Machine stitching is very nice in and of itself. Lot more consistent in both looks and length of stitch. So much easier if you need to remove the stitching for replacement, cut a few stitches and start unraveling, my daughter can undo a machine stitched sheath in less than 5 minutes. I've unstitched a few hand stitched sheaths and its a nightmare to get them out. A proper machine (saddle stitcher) is fantastic at delivering nice, very tight, and very professional looking sheaths, no doubt almost always looks better than a comparable sheath that is hand stitched. Its also soooo much quicker, but for the maker a machine is another step that is eventually necessary as hand stitching to some is not possible because of arthritis and other ailments. I will be completely reliant on a machine eventually as my family has a strong tendency toward arthritis. My grandmothers hands looked like claws.

The awl stitcher combo above is a lock stitch type tool and produces the same stitching as a machine.

PS edit to add, I and a few of my customers have done a lot of testing between the two stitching types. All of us are incredibly hard on our equipment and not very tolerant of failure in such. I hand stitched exclusively for over 12 years, it honestly took a lot of thinking before I got my first machine. I was working with a couple of vendors that wanted product very fast so I bucked up and bought that machine under a lot of doubt if it could live up to my no nonsense view of sheath making. In short I still do a lot more hand stitching by customer request, I relegate the machine to my inexpensive line of semi production sheaths (that is when its working right) Most of my custom designs just plain wont work on a machine either. Since both those vendors went south, I am left with no one to work semi production for and now staring at this dusty machine wondering what the heck was I thinking, aside from that day when I cant hand stitch anymore.

 

[mccandmatt]

Thanks for the information Mr. Puckett! Very helpful!

One day I might hog again did it a few times 18 years ago or so when I was living in Florida, quite a rush, and tasty. Much more thrilling than sitting in a stand or blind waiting for bambi (which I only have done twice in my life and did not care much for it). Sorry for off topic lol

 

[stitchawl]

I like (and use) these sewing awls for stitching canvas, cordura, and other heavy materials OTHER than leather. They are very fast, and do a good job securing gear. But for leather, you can't beat the strength of hand-stitching.


Stitchawl

 

[leatherman]

Thanks for the information Mr. Puckett! Very helpful!

One day I might hog again did it a few times 18 years ago or so when I was living in Florida, quite a rush, and tasty. Much more thrilling than sitting in a stand or blind waiting for bambi (which I only have done twice in my life and did not care much for it). Sorry for off topic lol

I dont know if I can handle a hog these days, especially those were encountering down here now. Those things look like cattle, some think its domestics and some escaped Russian variety, frankenpig.

But!

I've been itchin' to go though, but, ammo being what it is these days its like throwing silver dollars at them.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Yep, it's the only thing I use to sew with...ever, so maybe I just gotten use to it? Check This thread out, slip down to #10 post as it talks about how I prepare the holes, I also don't much care for drilling holes, only resort to that if I have a really really thick welt.

Also that small roll below the needle...toss that out the window, that never was a good idea, for me at least.
G2