sheridanman Report post Posted September 26, 2010 hi everyone hoping to get some infos here. i like to know if english style pricking irons are meant to punch thru the leather or are they just used to mark stitch lines like overstitch wheels? i saw some ids of some leatherworkers from different parts of the world using them to punch thru leather and tehy do go thru the leather. that's why i'm asking if they were meant to go thru or not how would the teeth hold up? and it would bring the user to sharpening it once in a while is it? i make cases and sometimes stitching a long line of marks using just my awl after the overstitch wheel is really time consuming. i would love to hear different suggestions about these tools main purpose and teir right usage coz i plan to get one just to speed up work specially stitching a very long line. i need to speed up while maintaining accuracy and neatness. been surfing for a while about these tools but i get no answer really hope Mr. Dixon himself could fill us all in for some answers. thanks in advance. fire away everyone! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyc1 Report post Posted September 26, 2010 They are only meant to mark where your stitch will go! Tony. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sheridanman Report post Posted September 26, 2010 hi tony! i saw one japanese bag maker who used pricking irons at you tube and he just hammered away never used an awl at all and the bags and strappings were hand stitched too. i might as well contact joe dixon but it seems their site does not respond to some inquiries. stitching the regular way with an awl is no problem its just that my work load is quite a bit and my stitch lines are like forever. i have no way or space for a sewing machine as well. and besides shipping it here to me is just insane. hope i could get more members here to reply if they had experience with these tools. thanks for the quick reply really appreciate it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gary Report post Posted September 26, 2010 Try looking at these previous posts. They were a quick search under 'pricking iron' but I'm certain there are others somewhere in the forums. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=20743&st=0&p=133851&hl=+pricking%20+iron&fromsearch=1entry133851 http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=20614&st=0&p=133144&hl=+pricking%20+iron&fromsearch=1entry133144 http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=25773&st=0&p=162423&hl=+pricking%20+iron&fromsearch=1entry162423 I occasionally tap an iron a bit too hard and it will go through some leathers but they're just for marking the stitch locations. Gary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sheridanman Report post Posted September 26, 2010 (edited) Try looking at these previous posts. They were a quick search under 'pricking iron' but I'm certain there are others somewhere in the forums. http://leatherworker...=1 http://leatherworker...=1 http://leatherworker...=1 I occasionally tap an iron a bit too hard and it will go through some leathers but they're just for marking the stitch locations. Gary thanks Gary for the links. appreciate it! you know what reading the older posts about pricking irons i think what i need after all is a 4 prong diamond punch. the tool in the you tube vid of a guy making guitar straps. it did go thu the leather and rawhide was right back there. if i go with this tool diamond punch all i need is to choose between the 1/8 or the 1/32 four prong sizes. gary do you know how many stitches per inch is a 1/8 diamond punch and a 1/32. it says its the distance of the prongs from one another? Edited September 26, 2010 by sheridanman Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TigerPal Report post Posted September 26, 2010 (edited) I use the 4-prong punch, with 1/8 inch spacing, that you mentioned (Tandy item #8067). It seems that the 1/8 inch spacing refers to the side-to-side distance between the "posts", while the center-to-center measurement is about 5/32. This works out to about 6 or 6-1/4 stitches per inch. From this, my guess is that the 3/32 inch (NOT 1/32 inch) punch would give you roughly 8 stitches per inch. Edited September 26, 2010 by TigerPal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sheridanman Report post Posted September 27, 2010 wow! thanks TigerPal for the detailed infos. i have no idea since i haven't seen it to measure it as i have only been looking at pictures online of it. but since you use it i fully trust your infos. thanks. those two sizes i think i might as well get. a 6spi is great for my bags and 8 spi for my wallets. both sizes are exactly what i am looking for. thanks again appreciate really! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gary Report post Posted September 27, 2010 thanks Gary for the links. appreciate it! you know what reading the older posts about pricking irons i think what i need after all is a 4 prong diamond punch. the tool in the you tube vid of a guy making guitar straps. it did go thu the leather and rawhide was right back there. if i go with this tool diamond punch all i need is to choose between the 1/8 or the 1/32 four prong sizes. gary do you know how many stitches per inch is a 1/8 diamond punch and a 1/32. it says its the distance of the prongs from one another? Not a clue, I'm afraid. Gary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
