Is A Punched Hole Stronger Than An Awl Hole?

[robbied196]

I stitch some 1.2-1.5mm leather around metal tubes and every now and then one of the awled holes will tear when I pull the stitching tight. My thinking is that an awl hole is basically a small tear so a punched hole would be stronger, am I right?

I'm looking for the general consensus of the wise experts

[DavidL]

since the leather is being stitched horizontally from one side to the other side, the pressure will be applied to the awl cut, which will tear if pulled too hard. A small hole won't have that issue.

[shtoink]

I think that the issue has more to do with the thickness of the leather, but let explain that a little further.

The awl will make a hole based on the shape of the awl blade, typically a diamond shape, which may have sharp corners within the hole and doesn't remove any material. A punch will give you a round hole, but removes a portion of material.

You mention pulling tight on your stitching, which could be a cause for trouble if there is a sharp corner within the hole as it could become a point for tearing to begin under a heavy load. Heavy loads, such as being pulled tightly at a point the width of your thread/lace.

If you had a round hole, the chances of ripping out might be less, but not by a very large margin due to the thickness of the leather. Since you are using leather that is rather thin, the switch to round holes will likely give you a decrease in tears, but the fact remains that the leather is still thin and a bit fragile.

I realize this probably isn't a simple, yes or no, answer you were hoping for, but I'm not one to take things at face value and wouldn't want the answer without a solid basis for why that answer was what it was. Also, without more details or pictures, my confidence in the answer gets a bit fuzzy. There might even be a simpler way to go about things that just hadn't occurred to you. I know I've had plenty of those moments.

In short, yes, a round hole will have less chance of tearing through, but the reason for using a specific method of making stitching holes can have many factors. It can depend purely on the style desired, the direction you want your thread to lay, the size of the thread/lace, the relative thickness of the leather, or even what you have available to you tool wise. The bottom line is to test it out and see what can meet your requirements while still having the desired look or effect.

[ramrod]

in reading the OP's description again, i focused on the term "one of the awled holes will tear when the stitching is pulled tight". i think that is the key - along with the thickness of the leather. the "bearing surface" , if you will, of the thread is extremely small. and if pulled tight enough, it will rip out any hole. or, in the case of a punched hole, will rip into the leather regardless if it is round or not.