Light weight press for making stitching holes quickly

[SteveOz]

I've been searching for a way to speed up punching holes for stitching. I'm not at the stage yet where I can justify the purchase of a sewing machine, but it's not far off.

I currently mark a stitching line on both sides of my work and then I punch half way through from one side with a diamond chisel. I then push all the way through with a needle to the other side. Then on the other side, I line the chisel points up with the pin holes on the second stitching line. And then I punch half way through again from the second side.

You're probably thinking what I already know... Yes, this is rather insane. But, I like to make neat stitching holes, what can I say.

Long story short, has anyone ever made a light weight press with a toggle clamp for making stitching holes? Please the attached photos. 

I think with an added guide fence, something like this could be very useful for light weight work...?

[dikman]

It might work, I guess, for lightweight stuff, but in my opinion you'd be better off using an arbor press with an adapter for the chisel. Or using a full size drill press.

[chrisash]

Have a look at the French style of irons, they have a flat blade rather than a diamond shape, and can slide to quite a thickness of leather with ease, and no need for the reverse side cut, if the leather is to thick and you don't want to use a awl then they sell French irons in a reverse direction for use on the back of the leather to ensure a nice stitch

[Wepster]

if you decide to make one, these toggle clamps from bessey auto adjust to maintain pressure over a range of thickness. Might be a good choice. 

https://www.bessey.de/en-us/bessey-tools-north-america/products/clamping-tools/auto-adjust-toggle-clamps

[SteveOz]

@dikman Thanks for your suggestions. I do have an arbor press that I use as a die clicker. I'm doing watch straps so they're 2- 2.5 mm at the most.

Edited June 22, 2023 by SteveOz

[SteveOz]

@chrisash Thanks for your suggestions. I've been toying with idea of getting some French pricking irons. I do like the look of the slots they make. But, I also like the way my Japanese stitching chisels are pointed and make it easy to align with the stitching line I make. They just drop into the groove. 

[SteveOz]

@Wepster Hey Wepster, thanks for that suggestion. That looks like just the thing and reasonably very reasonably priced too.

[RockyAussie]

Hi @SteveOz, you know I would favour a sewing machine myself but I would have a think about the multiple uses that can made with a cheap drill press. You can get very nice holes with a punch in a drill press and whether it is stitching chisel a little bit of fence building can save you a whole lot of time. The pics below are a setup I use when I want a line of holes spaced evenly apart and nice and quick as well.

Notice in the pic below where there is a little peg (3mm aluminum welding rod) which I have inserted into the wood. When I have made a hole it gets located onto the peg and the next hole gets punched. If I want a wider spacing I just move the fence in the vice and that's it.

Forgot to say they make great sanders and burnishes and the speed can be changed to suit the job. I will have to take a few shots of my little drill press that I use for a lot of that type of stuff.

Regards Brian

Edited June 22, 2023 by RockyAussie

[AlZilla]

11 minutes ago, RockyAussie said:

Hi @SteveOz, you know I would favour a sewing machine myself but I would have a think about the multiple uses that can made with a cheap drill press. You can get very nice holes with a punch in a drill press and whether it is stitching chisel a little bit of fence building can save you a whole lot of time. The pics below are a setup I use when I want a line of holes spaced evenly apart and nice and quick as well.

Notice in the pic below where there is a little peg (3mm aluminum welding rod) which I have inserted into the wood. When I have made a hole it gets located onto the peg and the next hole gets punched. If I want a wider spacing I just move the fence in the vice and that's it.

Forgot to say they make great sanders and burnishes and the speed can be changed to suit the job. I will have to take a few shots of my little drill press that I use for a lot of that type of stuff.

Regards Brian

That is a great idea. I think I'll use it but I'll have to look for a used drill press since the one in my shop tends to be covered in oil most of the time. I can see it being very useful.

[fredk]

3 hours ago, SteveOz said:

. . .  I'm doing watch straps so they're 2- 2.5 mm at the most.

For that a domestic sewing machine will work - for punching holes using a leather needle. 

1. I picked up a working domestic in a charity shop for under £10. I also got an old (1970s) domestic 'free' with a sewing machine table I bought for £20. I use a domestic Singer 99K for punching holes around the perimeter of wallets and card cases

2. On manual, which I do, you can control the speed of making the holes, fast or slow

3. I use a magnetic guide on the sewing machine to set my edge to hole distance

[Handstitched]

2 hours ago, fredk said:

For that a domestic sewing machine will work - for punching holes using a leather needle

Yup, I've also used my  big 441 clone machine for that as well , mainly when time is of the essence, holes are nice , neat and even  . 

HS

[SteveOz]

@RockyAussie Hey Brian, That's a really good idea to use a drill press that way. If my little hobby turns into something a little bigger I'll definitely invest. Thanks again for your input here!

[SteveOz]

@fredk Hey Fred, thanks for your tip there. I've got a Singer Heavy Duty 4411 machine. It's a domestic model and thought it would not be happy with leather going through it. I thought the feed dogs (just like the four legged variety) would chew up the leather. I'll have to give this a try too for making holes as I really enjoy doing saddle stitching.

[SteveOz]

@Handstitched Hey thanks for the tip there. I'll have to find some leather needles at my local haberdashery. I'm wondering if you've filed the feed dogs down on your machine or lowered them to stop them marking up the leather...?

[fredk]

4 hours ago, SteveOz said:

@fredk Hey Fred, thanks for your tip there. I've got a Singer Heavy Duty 4411 machine. It's a domestic model and thought it would not be happy with leather going through it. I thought the feed dogs (just like the four legged variety) would chew up the leather. I'll have to give this a try too for making holes as I really enjoy doing saddle stitching.

 

4 hours ago, SteveOz said:

@Handstitched Hey thanks for the tip there. I'll have to find some leather needles at my local haberdashery. I'm wondering if you've filed the feed dogs down on your machine or lowered them to stop them marking up the leather...?

On my Singer domestic I just used the minimum of presser foot pressure. Just enough grip to help me push the leather through. It was content enough to go through approx 4mm leather. Its happier doing it on manual drive, less stress on the drive system. Your 4411 may well take 4mm and say 'pah!, give me more!'

Other fixes are to; cover the feed dog teeth with thick tape, eg duct tape or plastic electrical tape, or use a couple of layers of low-tack painters tape on the leather

[SteveOz]

@Handstitched Thank you once again for your suggestions. I'll definitely be dusting off my Singer very soon then. And the tape tip is a great!

[Handstitched]

8 hours ago, SteveOz said:

I'm wondering if you've filed the feed dogs down on your machine or lowered them to stop them marking up the leather...?

I use a different plate,  a holster plate  

4 hours ago, fredk said:

Your 4411 may well take 4mm and say 'pah!, give me more!'

yep, these brute of machines can take up to 20mm . 

[SteveOz]

@Handstitched Could you please post a pic of your holster plate?

[Handstitched]

Yes, I'll try to  

HS

[SteveOz]

@Handstitched Thanks 

[dikman]

I think there may be a bit of confusion here, Handstitched is talking about a 441 heavy duty harness stitcher, SteveOz has a Singer 4411 domestic machine.

I started out using a Singer 104K domestic machine (no thread) to punch the holes which I then used an awl on to saddlestitch the item. This gave me uniform spacing and was pretty quick. Your machine should work fine for doing that on the thin leather you're talking about.

[SteveOz]

@dikman Thanks for pointing that out Mate. I had completely missed it. 

[Handstitched]

G'Day, I haven't had a chance to take a pic of my plate, but I did find a sample pic.  More of a 'slotted' plate than a holster plate, pfft, does the same job. . I use it for just about everything belts , cases , making holes ...etc. works great .   I have my machine set up just the way I want it.

Out of general interest,  roughly  in what part of Oz are you? I'm in the Central Wheatbelt , WA. They call it the ' Wheatbelt' but its mostly Canola . Should call it the ' Canola Belt ',  lol .  Smells l like rotten cabbage when it flowers !! 

HS

[SteveOz]

@Handstitched Thanks for that image. I'm based in suburban Melbourne. 

[Handstitched]

1 hour ago, SteveOz said:

Thanks for that image. I'm based in suburban Melbourne.

 All good   

somewhere near ' Lefflers' Leather ??  Now that would be handy eh ?   

HS