Awl-Chisel-Dremel

[harley45]

I'm slowly tooling up for holster work and am curious what the preferred tool is for hole making? Any of the above none? What say you guys?

Thanks

[camano ridge]

What kind of hole do you want to make, what is the hole to be for? If it is stitching holes an awl blade. I have an awl blde chucked into a drill press (that is not plugged in) make it nice for punching a lot of stitch holes. If you have the dremel mounted like a drill predd it will work the same. Some people drill there holes, I don't. That is another discussion, you can do a search and find some threads with discussions about drilling or not drilling. For round holes round punches for belt holes oblong punch or round punch hole at each end of the slot and connect the holed with a wood chisel.

Edited July 23, 2013 by camano ridge

[Dwight]

Tippmann Boss, . . . as I tell my students, . . . hands are for hamburgers, . . . machines are for stitching.

BUT, . . . in the rare exceptions where I cannot complain, cry, bellyache, or grunt loud enough to get out of it, . . . awl, . . . (no pun intended) . . . always.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Matt S]

Layout with a pricking iron then use a proper harness awl. Sharpen the all until you reckon it'll pierce your thumb before you realise... Then sharpen some more. Oh and practice. Then practice some more.

[Jeff L]

That awl is a great tool if you like bloody fingers... For hand stitching I lay out with the "pricking irons" aka chisels then drill with a Dremel... Hopefully I won't be doing much of that anymore because my Tippmann Boss arrived yesterday!!! It's all set up and seems to be working great... After a few hours or so of tighten this, pull that and twist this... Thank goodness I have a wife that can look at a stitch and tell what needs to be adjusted...

[jbossartcustomgunleather]

For years I have use a dremel in a drill press. My holes are just large enough to accomodate my needles with out drag. I do this because I have two torn rotator cuffs, along with carpal tunnel and chronic back pain, I just can't handle strenuous sewing. Forunately I picked up my first sewing machine today, smooth running and beautiful stitches- goodbye dremel!

[harley45]

I'm interested in the dremel method as I have hand issues also, care to share more info?

[jbossartcustomgunleather]

^{I use a black and decker with a knock off press rig, and a set of dremel brand bits and collets, but you can buy dremel brand in both, Make sure your dremel has the threaded end for attaching to the press. I use maine thread company waxed polycord in the smallest size, and very small blunt needles(I have used tapestry needles from the local walmart and stoned the tips in the past, lol) This process works for flat work, I cement my holster halves, sand the edges, do the lay out work, and drill. Then re tool the stich lines with the overstitch wheel and sew. I use as amall of a drill bit as possible that will still allow the needle and thread to pass through with little resistance. You can experiment with different hole/needle sizes to find a comfortable setup. I've done this for years with excellent results. Hope this helps}

[Fowlingpiece]

I am a traditionalist so everything is pricked and the stitching awl is used.

[harley45]

Thanks guys great info!