Permalock Needle/lacing Problem

[DoubleC]

This has been one of the most confusing threads ever.

As best as I can figure out, the only difference between a life eye and a perma loc needle is the name. Here is a link showing life eye: http://books.google....0needle&f=false Look on page 171.

Both are round needles with a round hole in the end that is tapped inside the hallow tube so you can thread the lace inside. As best as I can tell, the only way for a layman to tell them apart is to read the name brand on the side of them.

I stand by my original statement: Round needles are for round lace, flat needles are for flat lace. I want to add one more line: Round holes are for round lace, flat holes are for flat lace.This seems so simple. I am guessing that a lot of people use way over sized holes when lacing, making it seem like the perma loc needle fits easily (holes the size of a Tandy kit for example). If I am mistaken, someone please correct me.

If you want your lacing to look good, use smaller holes, closely spaced together and larger lace. I have posted a few pics of what my lacing looks like when done this way (rawhide has also posted pics of his work in the past, he crowds his lace too) in other threads. I see lacing on some peoples work on here and do not understand how it can be so inconsistent. Lacing is very easy, but it also takes a lot of time. The two prong needles are crap. The lace constantly falls off them and just make you frustrated. Lok eye needles hold and hold well. From a pull on them and they stay on perspective they are at least 5 times stronger than any other needle I have ever used. A lot of people confuse lok eye needles with two prong needles, they are a world apart. I do acknowledge, lok eye needles do not last very long. If yo want to lace 5 different items with one needle, it likely will not happen. But they are cheap, just replace them.

Wow, I went to sleep and woke up in leather fantasy world. I just got my first sewing awl, the speedy stitcher, and even though it was old it had instructions. that I understood. I threw a party after I did my first lock stitch. It took me 1/2 this thread to realize what you were talking about, and now I find out there is something that LACES too? I have been making a set of rythym beads when I'm done with other crap at night, and have laced on by hand over 300 pony beads, plus the bells . I'm having so much fun here and learning so much already in just the last few days. Cheryl

[Dave Richardson]

I stand by my original statement: Round needles are for round lace, flat needles are for flat lace. I want to add one more line: Round holes are for round lace, flat holes are for flat lace.This seems so simple. I am guessing that a lot of people use way over sized holes when lacing, making it seem like the perma loc needle fits easily (holes the size of a Tandy kit for example). If I am mistaken, someone please correct me.

The two prong needles are crap. The lace constantly falls off them and just make you frustrated.

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Being new to leather working I have been working on small projects ( Tom Thumb style coin purse) that require lacing. I found the above two statements to be RIGHT ON !!! I am using flat 1/8 inch Tandy imperial lace. I have been drilling my holes but do not like the looks of flat lace in a round hole. And I can not keep the lace on a two prong needle. I would like to ask, are the loc eye needles still the way to go ? And to make flat holes are the lacing chisels the tool of choice and which one ?

Thanks so much,

Dave

Edited August 21, 2012 by Dave Richardson

[electrathon]

I still always use loc eye needles.

For a punch I have not found anything that even comes close to the pliers style punches from Craft Japan. Not sure of the link right now. They are fast, simple and very easy to use. Perfect slots every time. It is how I got them so nice on the wallet posted above.

Aaron

[Dave Richardson]

Thanks Aaron, Im going to give the loc eye needles a try. I know the pliers type punches your talking about, seems like they are aroind 50 bucks, may be something I work up to after I can keep a dang needle on the lace !!!!

Ya know, ole George on the Tandy video said you can use pliers to attach the two prong to the lace OR you can use a mallet to tap it down....after looking for something larger in a mallet than the 2 lb ball peen I was using I realized you just cant hit them things hard enough to attach em !

Dave