Lacing Fid

[Davm]

Just getting into lacing.  Now I need a fid.  A lot of tutorials have punched holes, well fast and easy but when you're done the holes are visible.  So, what's the drill?  I plan to punch slits (I have 1 prong, 3 prong and four prong also slanted. These slits will allow once pass but on a braided edge you go through the same hole twice and need a biggger slit but not as big as a hole, so... I am guessing that's the purpose of the fid, to enlarge the hole so you can make a second pass through that hole.  For a beginner such as myself, using 1/8" leather lace, what would be a good fid? I have a Tandy store near where I live and buy most of my supplies there but will consider other options as well.

I first was using rawhide, some of which I cut.  I got the width okay but home made rawhide can be too thick in many instances. You can get away with it on a plain wrap but it is too thick to braid an edge. I've switched to leather.

[fredk]

I just use a regular sewing awl.

If you have a spare sewing awl you can round off the point

[tsunkasapa]

A small flat tip screwdriver works as well.

[LatigoAmigo]

1 hour ago, Davm said:

what would be a good fid?

I would say that the best fid is one designed specifically as a fid such as this one available on Amazon. for less than $9. You will find a fid like this is invaluable if you ever get into the various knots that are in the Bruce Grant Encyclopedia.

 

[Davm]

LA: one more question. I see You-Tubes where the edges are honed on sand paper, etc. I assume this is for making a hole but if you use the same tool to loosen or tighten lace as you braid an edge- it seems the crisp edge might cut the lace, so it seems you would need at least two tools, a fid which makes the hole and then another to pull or tighten up the lace.  Another question, in the past I've used a vise with several wood boards to hold the leather, but on a holster, or large piece of leather, you would have a lot of leather below the edge- is there a way to clamp a holster edge? Right now I have used C clamps and 1/4 plywood and cut two pieces of plywood in the contour of the holster edge.

[LatigoAmigo]

1 hour ago, Davm said:

you use the same tool to loosen or tighten lace as you braid

That is all I use this for. I've never used a fid to make a hole... that is what a punch is for.

[fredk]

As I said, I use a sewing awl, for widening holes, but for pulling lace up tight or to loosen I use a hooked dental probe, which I have blunted

[tsunkasapa]

13 hours ago, Davm said:

Another question, in the past I've used a vise with several wood boards to hold the leather, but on a holster, or large piece of leather, you would have a lot of leather below the edge- is there a way to clamp a holster edge? Right now I have used C clamps and 1/4 plywood and cut two pieces of plywood in the contour of the holster edge.

Yes, it's called a Stitching Horse.

[LatigoAmigo]

13 hours ago, fredk said:

for pulling lace up tight or to loosen I use a hooked dental probe

I'm sure that works great. I had to reform one of my fids to accomplish the same task.

[Davm]

Thanks all, I love the stitching horse, maybe I'll make one.