pricking irons, thonging chisels and overstitch wheels

[sheridanman]

hi guys!

can anyone pls tell me if a diamond four prong chisel is used to mark stitch holes for the awl to stab thru or is it used to be punched thru the sewing channels of the leather and thus producing diamond shaped holes and that it would be easier to secondarily follow up with the real diamond bladed awl?

and for example if im going to buy a diamond prong chisel and if i want a 5 stitches per inch on my leather what prong size should i get is it a 3/32 or 1/8 diamond chisel?

i will be buying a 5 stitches per inch and 6 stitches per inch overstitch wheel carriage i just dont know what diamond prong chisel number should match the two wheel carriages.

and lastly just curious are 3/32 and 1/8 numbers on a diamond prong chisel the distance of each prong from each other or is it the size of the holes it makes thru the leather.

thanks and i was hoping someone can let me know if anyone here sell the 5,6 and 7 holes per inch english pricking irons and i can sleep well. i was inspired by singteck and some other members stitch work here and now im so hooked i dont even bother tothink of getting a sewing machine for now.

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sheridanman

[OutBackP]

Hi, can't really help answer all your questions, but being broke and spending all my money on leather, heres what i do.

First i use my home made creasers to create a channel for my stitches then i use a pair of dividers set to my stitch length. I have found them fairly quick to use and plus it's easier to judge spacing when i get to the ends. Also i have no problems getting round corners.

With practice you don't need the angle marked on the leather it just comes naturally. When I was starting out I thought it might help to put a dab of red nail varnish on one side of the awl, to help keep the diamond consistent.

I find hand stitching very satisfying and doesn't take to long. Just to keep it more interesting I also roll my own thread from a single linen thread.

Hope that's some help Tony

[Rawhide]

hi guys!

can anyone pls tell me if a diamond four prong chisel is used to mark stitch holes for the awl to stab thru or is it used to be punched thru the sewing channels of the leather and thus producing diamond shaped holes and that it would be easier to secondarily follow up with the real diamond bladed awl?

and for example if im going to buy a diamond prong chisel and if i want a 5 stitches per inch on my leather what prong size should i get is it a 3/32 or 1/8 diamond chisel?

i will be buying a 5 stitches per inch and 6 stitches per inch overstitch wheel carriage i just dont know what diamond prong chisel number should match the two wheel carriages.

and lastly just curious are 3/32 and 1/8 numbers on a diamond prong chisel the distance of each prong from each other or is it the size of the holes it makes thru the leather.

thanks and i was hoping someone can let me know if anyone here sell the 5,6 and 7 holes per inch english pricking irons and i can sleep well. i was inspired by singteck and some other members stitch work here and now im so hooked i dont even bother tothink of getting a sewing machine for now.

-------

sheridanman

The diamond chisel is meant to punch through thin leathers. the overstitch wheel will not match the chisels. It's best to use one or the other. I like the overstitch wheel with a stitching awl because the diamond hole is much smaller than with the chisel. that way your holes disappear when you stitch through them.

Marlon

[sheridanman]

hi! thanks tony iwill keep this tip in my mine. it sounds pretty paractical and a money saver. not to mention its so hard to get tools like you guys use there and you can jsut get from supply stores. me i have to fabricate every tool i need. like you i fabricated my own creaser too from a single tool layin around the house which i dont know what tool is this for its not for leather that i know but it worked really well for a creaser. the channels are not too deep that theread would group or hug the leather too tight tothe extent of going to the next hole. im building a swivel knife barrel too the right size fit of my hands. it will be form a real ivory rod. the blade will be ivory. it will be a one piece unit with the barrel no screws at the side of the barrel locking the blade liek you see on common swivel knives. i cant get my hands on a knife i can try to fit my hands first before buying so i will build one. the 3/8 blade i built out of bones cut better than my old swivel knife steel blade. this is just my opinion as i can see it glides even without stropping for months. doesn'e stick to leather as well or drag. i carve sheridan style and the bone blade works wonders for me. send me an email i will send you a pic of what a bone blade can do. i have no pictures of the blade but the bag i made for my mom has sheridan carvings i cut from bone blade. its worth it! this is what i do since i'm handicapped with the absence of leather supply stores here in my country. this is not cowboy country and leather tools here is out of reach. thanks again!hi marlon! good to hear from you my friend! i will take your word for it. yeah it seems like it. the chisels will be bigger than my awl blade. i am too afraid to use them on my thin leathers if thats the case. its good to know this info. at least i have a peace of mind. thanks again! take care!--------

[tonyc1]

hi! thanks tony iwill keep this tip in my mine. it sounds pretty paractical and a money saver. not to mention its so hard to get tools like you guys use there and you can jsut get from supply stores. me i have to fabricate every tool i need. like you i fabricated my own creaser too from a single tool layin around the house which i dont know what tool is this for its not for leather that i know but it worked really well for a creaser. the channels are not too deep that theread would group or hug the leather too tight tothe extent of going to the next hole. im building a swivel knife barrel too the right size fit of my hands. it will be form a real ivory rod. the blade will be ivory. it will be a one piece unit with the barrel no screws at the side of the barrel locking the blade liek you see on common swivel knives. i cant get my hands on a knife i can try to fit my hands first before buying so i will build one. the 3/8 blade i built out of bones cut better than my old swivel knife steel blade. this is just my opinion as i can see it glides even without stropping for months. doesn'e stick to leather as well or drag. i carve sheridan style and the bone blade works wonders for me. send me an email i will send you a pic of what a bone blade can do. i have no pictures of the blade but the bag i made for my mom has sheridan carvings i cut from bone blade. its worth it! this is what i do since i'm handicapped with the absence of leather supply stores here in my country. this is not cowboy country and leather tools here is out of reach. thanks again!hi marlon! good to hear from you my friend! i will take your word for it. yeah it seems like it. the chisels will be bigger than my awl blade. i am too afraid to use them on my thin leathers if thats the case. its good to know this info. at least i have a peace of mind. thanks again! take care!--------

Which country are you in, Sheridanman?

Tony.