Stitching leather

A

alexmin

Joined
Nov 16, 2005
Messages
513
I've been making holes for stitching with stitching awl at 45 degrees to the stitching line. It's pretty hard to go through 4 layers of 8oz leather.
I want to try poking holes with a round awl clamped in a drill press.

What awl diameter should I use? I've read somewhere that it should be 2mm. It seems like too much to me.

Thanks,
Alex
 
for realy thick stuff i use a 2mm drill bit in the drill press . gos thru like butter and keeps me str8 on the exit side
 
I use a small finish nail,cut the head off and chuck it in the drill press,then hold a file against the point to sharpen it while the drill press is running....Now with the press running punch the holes,it goes through like butter and doesnt remove any leather like a drill bit so the hole will close back on the stitching just like it does with the hand awl.Just look at the hardware store for a nail the diameter you would prefer,a small pack will last you forever (unless you lose a bunch)..

Good Luck,
Bruce
 
Does the round rod stay straight on the back side? My hand awl always goes off course and a have to wiggle it a bit to set straight.
 
I use a 5/64" drill bit, and also have used a 5/64" sharpened rod as Bruce described. I find either works well. A 1/16" bit can wander in heavy leather.
 
A great drill awl can be made from a bicycle spoke. Snap off a piece (it is hardened) and sharpen it. Polish it well and chuck it in the press. Turn it on and the awl will go through almost any thickness smoothly.With the press running the awl does not tend to wander.
Stacy
 
Bruce Evans said:
I use a small finish nail,cut the head off and chuck it in the drill press,then hold a file against the point to sharpen it while the drill press is running....Now with the press running punch the holes,it goes through like butter and doesnt remove any leather like a drill bit so the hole will close back on the stitching just like it does with the hand awl.Just look at the hardware store for a nail the diameter you would prefer,a small pack will last you forever (unless you lose a bunch)..

Good Luck,
Bruce
Click to expand...

Ditto :thumbup: thanks again for that Bruce :)
 
i use a small bit in a dremel flex shaft... its abit tricky to keep it straight but once you get the hang of it...... it fast fast drillin

G
 
Unless you somehow bend the nail/rod it will not wander at all...That is as long as you keep the sheath straight on the press and dont let it lean in any direction.That is one reason I sharpen and polish on the drill press,it keeps the awl centered to your drill press.

Another option it to take the heavey awl needles and chuck it in the drill press and without turning it on just use the press as a handy awl,put a board under the sheath with a small hole for the needle to pass through,Tim Lively's wife shows this tecnique on his video,only she uses it with the thread and sews the sheath as she goes just as you would with one of those hand sewing awls...

Bruce
 
Another tip for those who use a drill press.Cut and notch some wood for laying the sheath on.The notch is for belt loop clearance and it keeps the stitch line nice and level.I also made a table for one of my drill presses out of aluminum and UHMW. It helps the wood slide around easier.Dave:)


sheathjig1.jpg
 
DC KNIVES said:
Another tip for those who use a drill press.Cut and notch some wood for laying the sheath on.The notch is for belt loop clearance and it keeps the stitch line nice and level.I also made a table for one of my drill presses out of aluminum and UHMW. It helps the wood slide around easier.Dave:)


Just a question ,could you not just have the belt loop facing up when you poke the holes in the sheath or do the dimples show up to much on the front ??
Click to expand...
 
Re : Tim Lively Vid ,I found his page but couldn`t find the sheath making video.
Do you have a link
 
Tinbasher,it is not a sheath making video,it is his knifemaking video using his charcoal forge,his wife does a section on the sheaths she makes for his knives.

Bruce
 
Just a question ,could you not just have the belt loop facing up when you poke the holes in the sheath or do the dimples show up to much on the front ??[/QUOTE]

I suppose you could but since most embellishments such as tooling and inlays are done on the front, it makes more sense to do your layouts on the front of the sheath. This keeps all your lines symetrical.The other reason for the notched wood is it allows for the curvature of the sheath, like on a pouch sheath. Dave:)
 
bladsmth said:
A great drill awl can be made from a bicycle spoke. Snap off a piece (it is hardened) and sharpen it. Polish it well and chuck it in the press. Turn it on and the awl will go through almost any thickness smoothly.With the press running the awl does not tend to wander.
Stacy
Click to expand...

I *knew* there was a reason I never threw away old spokes! Gotta try that.
 
One thing about drilling the holes front side up is that any little variation will be at the back, not rite out there in the front. Pluse most of my pouch sheaths are formed to fit the knife and most of the forming is on the front side which makes it thicker, so again you run into the problem of keeping the leather flat.

I like your stitching jig, DC, I'll have to cut a board up similar. I normaly use a 2x2 piece of hard wood and hold the sheath on the edge and try to keep it flat as posible. Your solution looks like a lot better way to do it.
 
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