c2369zulu Report post Posted September 18, 2012 Hello All, I tried to make one of the Al Stohlman "playing card" cases from the Volume One: Art of Making Leather Cases book and had quite a bit of trouble trying to hand stitch the "Miter Box" type stitching using the larger blunt tip stitching needles. I am sure they are the wrong type for this application as the larger eye would stretch open the hole too much, but do they make smaller blunt tip needles for finer work? I was under the impression that when hand stitching you would want to use the blunt tip needles to prevent piercing the thread and causing knots as you stitch, however I do know harness needles and such are sharp...............Rory Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ramrod Report post Posted September 30, 2012 just spotted this thread. i think that tandy sells a very sharp pointed needle called a glovers needle. thinking out loud here....i wonder if the tip can be dulled on either sandpaper or a small grinding wheel? that might be the needle you're after. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted September 30, 2012 I quit buying the "harness" needles a long time ago because of the large eye. Not that it's any larger diameter, but because it's a weak point. If you get any lateral movement while the eye is in the leather, you can easily bend or break the needle at the eye. Instead, I buy upholstery needles with a small eye which doesn't get bent nearly as easily. The sharp point can be dulled quite easily on a sharpening stone if you feel the need for it. I just pull the opposing thread 'back' and slip the point past it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c2369zulu Report post Posted October 1, 2012 Thanks for the responses TwinOaks and Ramrod! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Blea Report post Posted October 2, 2012 I quit buying the "harness" needles a long time ago because of the large eye. Not that it's any larger diameter, but because it's a weak point. If you get any lateral movement while the eye is in the leather, you can easily bend or break the needle at the eye. Instead, I buy upholstery needles with a small eye which doesn't get bent nearly as easily. The sharp point can be dulled quite easily on a sharpening stone if you feel the need for it. I just pull the opposing thread 'back' and slip the point past it. Hello, Where do you get your needles? I just tried looking up upholstery needles at the local fabric megastores and it looks like the smallest upholstery needles they have are 6 inches. Is that what you are using or do you have something smaller? Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horrrk Report post Posted October 2, 2012 Hello, Where do you get your needles? I just tried looking up upholstery needles at the local fabric megastores and it looks like the smallest upholstery needles they have are 6 inches. Is that what you are using or do you have something smaller? Bob I just looked on the UK eBay, Bob and some of the upholstery needles are 14" and 16" long!! I'd have to stand in the next room to sew something..lol The smallest I've seen is around 5", but even so, thats a beast of a needle.. Do you use the curved needles, Mike?? Regards Phil Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted October 2, 2012 (edited) OK, from the grump, just saw this: I've heard this before and I don't know where the hell folks are getting needles that break at the eye -- unless it's Tandy. Tandy was fairly decent 50 or so years ago, but I'd think that anyone reading some of the posts on here now, would see the number of gripes about their current stock of -- sh uh, 'stuff' -- and take heed!. Tandy, in my opinion, is fine for getting things for the kiddies to play with, but for ANY serious person wanting to work with leather it's THE place to shy away from -- again my opinion. (notice the disclaimer?) For needles you can go to "S-T Leather" (stleather.com), on the left side of their front page, click 'needles'. On the page shows up, go the the far right side, down to the fourth item listed therein, and pick out GOOD harness needles anywhere from size # 0000 (too damned big) down to size #5 (pretty damned dinky) About three years ago I purchased a 10 pac of #1 sized harness needles for $3.95 from them. Of the 10 needles purchased, I have - - - 10 needles, none with broken eyes. Only two have been used (one is slightly bent because I use pliers to pull the needle through the holes in my work) and the eight others are still in their original pac. Just saying. Mike Edited October 2, 2012 by katsass Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted October 3, 2012 What I get is a multi pack in the fabric sections of wally world and they're labeled as 'upholstery' needles They are from 2.5" to 3.5" long, depending on diameter. I use the two smallest pairs - the smallest for linen, and the next size for back stitching the threads from my Boss (277, and it just barely fits in the eye). Yep, Mike, I was talking about the Tandy needles. After the second, and third broke at the eye, I went and found a locally replaceable substitute. I wouldn't mind stitching with a 5-6" needle, though - I'd be able to push it through just about anything I hand sew and have enough to grab that I would't need the pliers. Tip for hand sewing: Use nitrile or rubber gloves (over a finger and thumb) for increased traction on the needle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted October 3, 2012 Well Mike, I'm not much hell bent on changing my way of doing things, and nitrile gloves drive me nuts when doing most kinds of work. To me they lack tactility (didn't know I had that in my vocabulary, did you ) I do wear them when doing firearm repair (I was trained as an S&W mechanic back when I became the armorer for the Dept. I was with) because Ma gets a bit irritated with the odor of Hoppe's solvent, and in the past I have been accused of using it as an aftershave. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted October 3, 2012 Mike, I got in LOADS of trouble about a year ago when my wife asked me what fragrance perfume I liked (for her to wear, of course). I offhandedly replied "I like the smell of Hoppes #9." She spent a few days looking for it at various department stores and finally asked where to find it. When I showed her what it was........ouch. And I wasn't trying to say that you should use the gloves. When you've got permanent indentions in your fingers...that just happen to be the same size as your needles...well, there's not much need for it. But for some of our new members that haven't got the hang of it yet, it's a good aide. At least until they realize they need that pair of smooth jaw pliers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted October 3, 2012 Well Mike, Hoppe's can be used for a number of purposes, but I guess that as a scent it seems to fall a bit short for most folk. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horrrk Report post Posted October 3, 2012 It sounds like you have an especially loving wife there Mike..dedicated enough to try and get a scent that you'd like her to wear..plus once she found out exactly what she'd been asking the staff for in the stores..she actually left you alive.!! Haha! She's a keeper!! lol Regards Phil Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChuckBurrows Report post Posted October 4, 2012 Thread - I like 25/3 linen or the standard 18/3 linen. Another option is fine hemp thread or silk thread (not the embroidery floss) for needles #2 or #3 Osborne egg eye needles ( get them from Campbell-Bosworth) or the excellent John James needles which are made in England. Since you're in England you can get the 18/3 linen and the needles in the proper sizes from Leprovo, which will save a bit on shipping and VAT. Also grind/file down your awl blade to a finer size and then polish it well. As katsass noted the harness needles now offered by Tandy/LF are crapola - they used to carry the John James but apparently no more and the new ones break eyes easily - with the Osbornes or James I've only broken eyes only when either bending them or wearing them out from long term usage. BTW - I for sewing and getting a better grip I use the rubber fingers tips that you can get at most office supply stores I use one only on my index finger and find that sufficient most of the time, but you can also use on on your thumb - I seldom use pliers except in extreme cases... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Blea Report post Posted October 4, 2012 Thanks everyone! This has been very helpful information. I need to stop by wallyworld today anyway and I'll look for those upholstery needles. I could probably use the rubber finger covers too. Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horrrk Report post Posted October 4, 2012 Since you're in England you can get the 18/3 linen and the needles in the proper sizes from Leprovo, which will save a bit on shipping and VAT. Also grind/file down your awl blade to a finer size and then polish it well. Hi Chuck..yeah I have a list of things which I'm going to order from Le Prevo, as and when the pennies allow, including a pack of 25, size 1 saddlers needles, some 18/3 linen and a 2" awl, among other things.. I've done hours of surfing around and nine times out of ten, they come up the cheapest for a lot of things I need, toolwise anyway.. As far as Tandy goes..we don't have a UK one now, but one in Europe, I believe..and after reports on the quality of Tandy's products, I don't usually look at their site to see what they have to offer. Just found a guy on our UK eBay who sells Fiebring's Oil based dyes, but hasn't listed any yet..so he's on my 'to order from' list too..lol Sigh..the never ending list.. Thanks for the advice folks..I sincerely hope it's helped c2369zulu out with his dliemma, cos it's helped me along the way.. Regards Phil Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LoneStar Report post Posted October 17, 2012 ramrod was spot-on with the glovers needles. much tougher than tandys regular stiching needles. Bought a pack of ten and am still using the first one a month later. Just dull the tip a bit and you're in business. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoosterShooter Report post Posted October 17, 2012 (edited) Coming from a new guy .... I bought 1 package of every type of needle offered at Tandy Leather. I wasn't sure which one would fit me best, and am glad I did. In doing different projects, I have found that some needles suit the application better than having a 'one needle does all' approach to things. In doing different projects I have found that where one needle might be perfect for 'Project A' ... another type of needle might be better suited for 'Project B', and so on and so forth. Hope that helps you. Think outside the box! Oh yeah .... do yourself a favor and pick up a cheap pair of small, flat jawed jeweler's needle nose pliers at your local art supply store. I paid $4 for mine at Hobby Lobby with the printable 40% coupon from their website. Your hands will thank you for it! Edited October 17, 2012 by RoosterShooter Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
