RStevenson Report post Posted March 1, 2015 Hello. I'm looking to start making leather wallets and my question is: are prick punches for stitching necessary? I'm on an extremely limited budget and a decent chisel is expensive not counting a full set of them. Can I make due with just the awl? So far I've ordered a 3/4 oz veg tanned shoulder from Springfield leather with two sizes of needles, some beeswax, and a scratch awl. I already own a nice metal straight edge ruler, some dark brown oil dye and I'm in the market for some polyester thread. Can I get away without a stitching groover and overstitcher? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhotonPhotographer Report post Posted March 2, 2015 I think the stitching will end up being quite inconsistent and aesthetically displeasing without the use a groover or a tool to lay down the line the stiching will be marked on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
byggyns Report post Posted March 3, 2015 (edited) Also, for stitching, you will want a diamond stitching awl. The scratch awl will make round holes that are not very well suited to an attractive stitch line. To get an evaluation of some more budget friendly as well as more expensive pricking irons, check out the new series of videos posted by Nigel Armitage. He goes through many of the most widely available irons out there. If you use a stitching chisel, you won't necessarily need a diamond awl, but it is a better idea to have one, than not. He outlines it well in his videos. Check out this thread where he gives some insights on what is out there. There aren't any video links in the thread, but he's easy to find on YouTube under Armitage Leather http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=60867 Edited March 3, 2015 by byggyns Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted March 3, 2015 Absolute bare bone beginner you can get by with as little as a fork (for stitch spacing) a diamond awl, harness needles, thread. There are a lot of other tools you will want later, but you ban start with that. A foam rubber ball, cut in balf, works well to push your awl into also. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RStevenson Report post Posted March 3, 2015 Okay so I visited my only tiny local leather place around and purchased a groover and over stitcher and to my displeasure he also told me that a scratch awl won't work for making holes it's just for marking. He didn't have any diamond awls or punches in stock so I guess I'm on the hunt for one. Hopefully I can find an awl at a hardware store or somewhere local because I can't wait another week for one to be shipped (to Canada). I've got wallets to make! Also, for stitching, you will want a diamond stitching awl. The scratch awl will make round holes that are not very well suited to an attractive stitch line. To get an evaluation of some more budget friendly as well as more expensive pricking irons, check out the new series of videos posted by Nigel Armitage. He goes through many of the most widely available irons out there. If you use a stitching chisel, you won't necessarily need a diamond awl, but it is a better idea to have one, than not. He outlines it well in his videos. Check out this thread where he gives some insights on what is out there. There aren't any video links in the thread, but he's easy to find on YouTube under Armitage Leather http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=60867 Thanks, I just discovered Nigels youtube channel last night and his videos are fantastic, I'm really learning a lot. Also the foam ball cut in half sounds like a fantastic idea, I will give it a try! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RStevenson Report post Posted March 3, 2015 (edited) doublepost Edited March 3, 2015 by RStevenson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
camano ridge Report post Posted March 3, 2015 (edited) A hardware store probably will not have what you want. You need a diamond awl. The diamond refers to the shape of the awl blade. I am amazed that Your Tandy had no diamond awl at all. They have a couple of different ones, as well as just awl blades that can be chucked in a handle with a collet. Edited March 3, 2015 by camano ridge Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Blea Report post Posted March 3, 2015 RStevenson, you could grind the profile down on your scratch awl to make it into a diamond shape. You would just need a grinding stone to work the round profile into a diamond shape with flat, equal sides. Then you could use fine grit wet/dry sandpaper to polish the blade for use in leather. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RStevenson Report post Posted March 3, 2015 RStevenson, you could grind the profile down on your scratch awl to make it into a diamond shape. You would just need a grinding stone to work the round profile into a diamond shape with flat, equal sides. Then you could use fine grit wet/dry sandpaper to polish the blade for use in leather. Thats not a bad idea. I ordered an Osborne diamond awl from amazon that will be here on monday...until then I heard you can also grind a nail into a diamond shape and I might try that to hold me over until the real one gets here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NavyVet Report post Posted March 6, 2015 I bought a 4 piece diamond awl set on Ebay from a China distributor that has a USA warehouse and they arrived within a week, for under 30. I try to buy my tools in larger lots but none of them had these fine ones for small work. Tim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
