Awl for cantle binding

[figthnbullrider]

What kind of awl do you use for your cantle binding and where do you get it. i got one and it bent

[jwwright]

I took the advice of several folks here, and a while back bought a couple awl blades made by Bob Douglass. There are great. I also got an awl haft (handle) that Bob made. It is very well made, but I found the end where it rests on my palm to be a little too pointed for me when going through some heavy material.

I got my Douglass awl blades from Vandy at Sheridan Leather Outfitters. 888-803-3030

[mulefool]

I love my Douglas awl haft and blades. But I imagine the feel of that end in your hand could be a subjective thing. I try to always have a couple extra blades around. I hate the thought of being almost done with a cantle binding, break a blade and have to let it sit til I get a new one.

[Bob]

Does Mr. Douglas make the awl blades in different sizes? I wouldn't know, cause I've been using the same awl blade from Osborne for many many years. It makes decent holes for about 5 stitches per inch, in a straight line.... I'd like to have a smaller awl blade. 7 - 8 stitches per inch would be more suitable for what I'm doing. Does anyone know what size blade would do that?

Bob

[D.A. Kabatoff]

The blades that Bob is selling are without a doubt the best thing going... properly shaped, sharp, polished and ready to go. I agree with you JW about the handle being too pointed. When you run into some hard spots on a cantle binding you really start to feel that point.

Bob, if you call Bob Douglas direct and tell him what you want, he may be nice enough to go through his blades and find one on the thinner side. They only make them in two sizes but they are handmade so they vary somewhat. A few months back I told him I needed one on the thinner side for 7 or 8 stitches per inch and he managed to find one that works pretty good for that kind of work.

I've attached a photo for anyone wondering what the blades and handles look like. The groover also came from Bob Douglas. Ignore the leather piece cause the holes on it were made with a pricking iron and not the awl.

Darc

[figthnbullrider]

what does an awl like that cost ya

[Randy Cornelius]

He does make slim blades for what you are wanting.

[superchute]

Im not shere but have been told some use a dremal with # 56 drill bit to make the holes. then use two needles to sew it. You might want a sewing machine foot feed to slow it down.

Just my thoughts

Russell

[Steve]

what does an awl like that cost ya

I got a new price list the other day from Bob. The blades are $25 and the handles are $65. He makes a regular and a slim blade. The Douglas's are very good people to deal with

[mulefool]

I've got several of his stitch groovers, too. really nice. Just like everything else he makes.

[Tiffany]

I bought one of his "slim" awl blades and it worked great right out of the

box for 8 SPI. If I use a pricking iron to accurately mark the exact angle

of each hole and push the blade the minimum necessary,it will also work

well for 10 SPI. For 12 SPI. I was on a business trip to Atlanta and browsing

around the Tandy store when a "professional knife sharpener" pulled up in

an old VW van. He took the 2nd awl blade and tapered it down to the right

size for 12 SPI and charged me $10..you can barely even see the tip. He said

he's been doing this for 35 years. I've used it to effortlessly pierce 2 layers

of 15 oz skirting as if it was suede. He made a comment that the steel used

in making the Douglass blade was definitely top notch.

[pella]

Darc,

what brand is that stitching groover? Look nice

[D.A. Kabatoff]

Pella,

that stitch groover was made by Bob Douglas of Sheridan, Wyoming; same as the awl.

Darc