Chisel Size for Pocket Projects?

[Tugadude]

15 minutes ago, SUP said:

@Tugadude Yes I see. Everything ready and, like I mentioned to @fredk I feel its like cheating when everything is cut and punched and ready to sew.

Finally, nothing quire like a pattern,  piece of leather, some cutting tools and chisels to work with. 

I think the value of these kits is as a starter project.  For example, in scouting, these can make a relatively easy project and the kids can decorate them in a variety of ways.  They end up with a usable item that they crafted, even if it is only assembly.  From there, they might want to tackle something else, and on, and on.  My older brother did that.

[fredk]

14 minutes ago, Tugadude said:

I think the value of these kits is as a starter project.  For example, in scouting, these can make a relatively easy project and the kids can decorate them in a variety of ways.  They end up with a usable item that they crafted, even if it is only assembly. 

Agree.  OT now; I'm making up some basic kits for the ladies & 1 man in my 'Knit & Natter' group to make up coin purses like the one in the earlier picture. I'll be pre-punching most of the holes, but to my standard. Thus, assembly should be speedy

@SUP One other thing to do which helps the leather close up and grip the thread is to go over the stitching tapping it down with light-weight mallet or hammer. A small plastic and/or rubber headed hammer is good. Just lightly tap down the sewing line. Leave no marks on the leather. You'll notice a difference

[SUP]

@Tugadude yes that is absolutely true. 

Not growing up here, had no idea of their uses in that way.

[SUP]

@fredk tapping on the stitches sounds simple but whenever I do it, it looks smashed, even with a light rubber mallet. I will need to be even lighter. Too impatient, I think. My scissor sheath last night has stitches looking a little the worse for wear because of that.

Your coin wallet pattern is really nice - simple and elegant. It is a key chain too, isn't it? I make one but not a key chain. That makes it even more useful.

[fredk]

2 hours ago, SUP said:

@fredk tapping on the stitches sounds simple but whenever I do it, it looks smashed, even with a light rubber mallet. I will need to be even lighter. Too impatient, I think. My scissor sheath last night has stitches looking a little the worse for wear because of that.

Easy easy, very lighty taps. The smaller your mallet the lighter it is and thus lighter taps. I mean really light taps, just use the weight of the mallet to drop down, no extra force required. I use the rubber side of this type of mallet, its pretty useless for anything else;

I use the plastic head, the yellow part, for tapping down glued edges, when required

Some times I use a lightweight tack hammer, it weighs less than 3 ounces;

Again, just very light taps, mainly just the weight of the head dropping on the threads, no extra force.

Hold either mallet or hammer in a grip using just your thumb & forefinger and let the hammer pivot there, let the head drop, your almost open palm will stop the tail end.

I guess I'm used to holding this way and the motion as that's how I held the grip on my sports swords during sports fencing.

Edited June 14, 2023 by fredk

[SUP]

@fredkWill try that technique for my next project. Thank you. 

[Burkhardt]

15 hours ago, Heartless said:

look at the hole those make - diamond shaped - they most definitely ARE diamond chisels.

I would suggest that you should do some homework on the difference between chisels and diamond point. As you can clearly see in the picture it is sharp on 2 sides, not 4. Just as with these is also sewing machine needles, diamond point or LR, RL and others. One cuts a diamond shaped hole and the others at a angle.

[Heartless]

On 6/14/2023 at 9:02 PM, Burkhardt said:

As you can clearly see in the picture it is sharp on 2 sides, not 4.

and it has nothing to do with how many edges are sharp - it is the SHAPE that is being referred to - the shape of the teeth, and the shape of the hole they leave behind.

and as far as doing my homework - pretty much everyone out there says that is a diamond point. Weaver leather, Tandy leather, and a bunch of leather artists as well. so, yeah, I have done my homework, and lots of it before I even thought about purchasing anything for this craft.

sorry, but I am not finding this place all that great after all... bunch of self righteous people insisting that any way besides their way is wrong.. my stitches are gonna look like crap because i dont use an awl.. Not a great way to encourage people new to the craft.

See ya.

 

[SUP]

The people here are experienced leather craftsmen and they generously share their knowledge from their own experiences. It is up to each person asking advise to use what works best for them, or not. 

 

 

 

[Burkhardt]

3 hours ago, Heartless said:

and it has nothing to do with how many edges are sharp - it is the SHAPE that is being referred to - the shape of the teeth, and the shape of the hole they leave behind.

and as far as doing my homework - pretty much everyone out there says that is a diamond point. Weaver leather, Tandy leather, and a bunch of leather artists as well. so, yeah, I have done my homework, and lots of it before I even thought about purchasing anything for this craft.

sorry, but I am not finding this place all that great after all... bunch of self righteous people insisting that any way besides their way is wrong.. my stitches are gonna look like crap because i dont use an awl.. Not a great way to encourage people new to the craft.

See ya.

 

That's comical from someone who underlines what are and are not like a expert, and they're wrong.