Is backstitching with a leather point needle a problem?

[Gymnast]

An experienced sewing machine guy in another forum have warned me, that there is a high probability, that you severely damage the thread in the leather hole, when you make the cutting needle point enter into the previous stitched hole.

I have never heard of such a problem before, and I have not got that much experience sewing leather.

Have you ever experienced a problem of this kind?

Edited 12 hours ago by Gymnast

[Samalan]

Yes, I have had this problem. A leather-point needle can cut the thread in half. Ask me how I know lol.

[Gymnast]

Thanks for the answer.

I think it is not entirely trivial to find out the problem, if the thread is only partially cut. One possibility is to make tests with many stitches, and then pull the thread out and see if it has been damaged.

The type of leather tip on the needle can probably also be important.

[Samalan]

Definitely not trivial, it depends on what you're sewing. If it's in a stitching groove, you don't need that slant look anyway. I did a holster one time at the very end. I cut the thread in half. I now use diamond or round point on almost everything, unless I need the look you get with a leather-point needle, then I'll backstitch by hand. It's easy, and I get a better job. The problem is that when you use a leather point, it's designed to slice through leather, and it will slice through thread just as easily.

[friquant]

5 minutes ago, Samalan said:

I now use diamond or round point on almost everything, unless I need the look you get with a leather-point needle

Are you saying diamond point is less susceptible to cutting threads in a backstitch than a slant needle?

[Samalan]

Yes

[Samalan]

I generally use them on nylon strapping, but yeah, they don't slice the leather like a leather point. I'm not saying they are the best thing to use, but anything that separates threads isn't a good thing; even a round point can compromise thread strength if you're sewing a shirt, no big deal. If you're sewing a holster, now you want all the thread strength you can get.

[Samalan]

Passing anything through the thread where the  lockstitch forms is not helping; that's    IMHO

[kgg]

2 hours ago, Gymnast said:

Have you ever experienced a problem of this kind?

 

I have on occasion had this happen but only when I am sewing leather using multi layers say 6 oz that has not be glued together first. 

My thought is it was probably my fault because: 

I didn't hold the layers tight enough together so a layer moved slightly or the needle wasn't the correct size for the thickness leather I was trying to sew or the needle bent slightly when I tried to push the sewing thickness limit of both the machine and or the needle. I have stop using the servo motor to do reverse stitching and just handwheel the machine in reverse for those couple of stitches. Also if you do the typical forward few stitches then reverse to lock and then continue to the seam you are basically have a lot of bulk in those holes. To help reduce that bulk start and reduce possible cutting of the thread set the needle in about 3 stitches and Reverse then go forward.

Another factor is the individual machine, maybe the forward and reverse are not properly setup. A simple check to that is put a piece of paper or cardboard under the presser foot and without thread in the needle do a few stitches forward and then do a reverse. If the machine is setup properly the needle will fall into same holes made when forward stitching.  

kgg