Squid61

Make it as smooth and shiney as you think it should be or you will never be happy with it. I use a $3 WallyWorld hammer that is just as sold, never caused an issue with the leather. I'm probably the most destructive thing in my " shop" (one end of the kitchen table) not my economy tools.

My old ice pick, you know the kind with the wooden handle missing most of the old red paint, has a 5 inch spike. I think I'd have to cut it down to be useful.

I too have a hardware store scratch awl, I wasn't happy with the thickness near the point so I took a stone and wet or dry sandpaper to it. Works fine for marking lines, not so good for tracing thinner patterns since it tends to ride up on the pattern. Next time I'm around Tandy's I'll probably replace it.

I use diamond punches and awls for stitching and flat punches for lacing. Drills and hole punches leave holes that never close up, makes the stitching look like a summer camp project. I'd like to use pricking irons but decent irons are over my budget.

I often backstitch 2 holes and bring the ends out between the 2 leather pieces on the second hole. Once the 2 ends are hanging out I tie them off tightly with a square knot, the knot pulls into the seam and is not visible.

Later the day of the post YT crashed on me too. The issue I had was that I could not sign in so my subscriptions were gone, the left margin menu completely disappeared. All clear by late night.

Odd, not seeing any of that! Looks normal to me this morning.

Stubborn old fart that I am, I usually have 50's and earlier on including classic Country, mainly 40's blues and jazz.

Most likely melted packing grease, these are coated heavily to prevent rust in storage/shipping. I don't and won't own one but some folks here have made them "work".

Or, you could punch, or glue and punch, a managable thickness then glue the remaining piece(s) and punch them with your awl.

Not a stupid question at all. I used to pierce once but occasionaly had issues with the thread coming loose or bunching up making it hard to pull through. I now pierce twice so the thread forms a sort of S on the needle, seems to work better and pull through more smoothly.

Not sure of the model number. Like a lot of old stuff that accumulates, it's somewhat buried under a lot of other old stuff so I can't easily get to it but I can see it from here! For now I'm content hand stitching.

The only nice shiny machine I can afford is the occasional new package of hand stitching needles! Not sure where the idea came from that I even have a sewing machine, oh yeah, there is the wife's old Singer that I have yet to evaluate.

Frodo, my remaining life expectancy and limited income can tolerate time and money expenditures that directly support my hobby or I can, as you say, piddle both away on a hit or miss - may work sometimes Chinese erector set. I choose leather.

It's amazing how persistent this question is! I guess if the question is asked and answered enough one might eventually get an answer that enables a purchase.