Swivel Knife Inplace Of A Stitching Groover

[SooperJake]

Would it be possible to use a swivel knife in place if a stitching groover? It would seem a more intricate stitch pattern could be laid out that way, and the relief for the stitching would still be there. Am I all wet on this idea?

Jake

[terrymac]

Don't know if it would work or not. Just remember the groover is actually removing material, where the swivel knife is just cutting. I am inclined to think you will end up with some funny humps just using the swivel knife.\

terry

[bruce johnson]

Jake, I have used a swivel knife some for that, but for lines I wanted to bury. A cut line tends to close up. It also tends to go deeper than I maybe want for most things. I just have more control on depth and groove width with a stitch groover.

[PutnamLeather]

Bruce is right, in Hand Stiching by Stohlman it's called a hidden stitch just for that reason. It's also used on the soles of shoes so you won't walk the thread bare. But you could try beveling both sides of the cut before stiching to keep it open.

[ramrod]

i've tried this to a small degree. it does make a very nice hidden stitch. very useful for the backside (or inside) of an object that will see wear from being used. when i made a quiver, i used it on the backside to hide the stitching so the arrow heads wont cut them.

i like putman's idea about beveling to keep the cut open.

[Tree Reaper]

You can buy a free hand stitching groover.

Tandy 88074-11

[pabloz]

A trick that Bob Beard taught me about 10 yrs. years ago, that works really well, is to use a stylus which makes a dent instead of a slice. Make the dent while the leather is still cased, not dry and it will make a nice uniform depth. He explained that this is his method of choice because you do not remove any leather from the surface therefore the color behind the stitch is consistent. It also helps keep your stitches from sinking in too deep, should also make for a stronger finished product and won't close up on you like a slice. If you need to stitch an edge you can start the dent with dulled wing dividers and then finish it to the depth you want with the stylus. I tried it and it worked marveIously and have done all my stitching this way ever since and love the results.

Try it...might just be what you are looking for.

PZ

[SooperJake]

Thanks to all for these ideas!

I suspected it would work, or some similar technique, but since I haven't purchased a swivel knife yet, I thought I'd throw it out there to the experts.

Tree: I actually made a freehand groove cutter after I left my local Tandy store (45-50 miles) and forgot to purchase. It actually works superior to my purchased groover, and I have since made a a new cutter for the one I bought ( out of an annealed allen wrench) which also works better than the store bought model. I really dislike the locking mechanism they have, as it is unreliable, and comes loose quite easily. I've scratched out a new design to fix that, too. I sure wish I had access to a machine shop once more.

Pabloz: I suspect that the stylus trick ends up looking cleaner, like a machined stitch? Care to share a photo?

Thanks again, all.

Jake

[ramrod]

i'm interested to see your design to fix the locking mechanism. i hate that about mine....i end up using pliers to crank down on it to keep if from coming loose.

i also need a new cutter for mine. i must have nicked it or something bcause i just can't get it sharp enough now. it won't cut real smooth lines anymore.

[Dwight]

In John Bianchi's videos for making cowboy gunleather, . . . he never advocated a stitch groover, . . . dividers was his schtick, . . . works for me.

I do use a groover only because it puts them down deeper than the dividers, . . . but sometimes I do use the dividers, . . . but I would never use a swivel knife.

The swivel knife actually cuts a slice into the leather, . . . repeated pulling on the stitches will pull them right on through if the leather is not quite thick.

May God bless,

Dwight

[SooperJake]

i'm interested to see your design to fix the locking mechanism. i hate that about mine....i end up using pliers to crank down on it to keep if from coming loose.

i also need a new cutter for mine. i must have nicked it or something bcause i just can't get it sharp enough now. it won't cut real smooth lines anymore.

Ram, It is a sketch on an index card right now...I'll add a photo when the prototype is made, unless it is something I really think I can patent. Ideally I'd like it to be a piece that anyone could adapt to their current groover. I'm still in the "thinking about it " stage right now. A few more weeks maybe ..

Jake