Pricking Iron Or Saddle Stitch?

[mlapaglia]

Thanks Macca,

Thanks Camano ridge, I found that link a while back, but it doesn't say what length (or rather, width) each tooth is. The article also mentions the pricking iron can be used to punch all the way through, if the awl is not used.

From the same article it states: "Sometimes, depending on the thickness of the leather, you will find that the Pricking Iron has cut all of the way through the leather, however this is not always the case, and it is not, as already stated, really what a Pricking Iron is intended for." (Bold added)

[Tannin]

... It sounds like 3.5mm is Dixon's standard size (but why so big?) - perhaps, the thinner 1.2mm requires custom grinding and is only done upon special request? However, when I ordered my pricking iron from Joseph Dixon Ltd., I was very careful to specify "slim" at several points (including in email & on the phone) but the one they sent produces holes which seem way too long (yes, I would estimate 3.5mm - but I will check) and they said it had to be made to order. If you mark your stitching line ~6mm from the edge (per several of Nigel's excellent videos), the pricking iron cuts scarily close to the edge. Thinking of contacting them, rather than continuing to grumble.

...

Well, I contacted Joseph Dixons and...

... I would give Dixons a call & see if they will make things right for you, as I said earlier in this post it's been a good few years since I dealt with them & things may have changed. I never saw how the tools were modified, they used to just take a stock item off into the workshop, a few minutes later they would return with a hot, modified tool which was then wrapped carefully in oiled brown paper, the guys there in those days were lovely.

I really hope they make things right for you.

...they said just send it back. They re-ground it slim and returned it straight back to me. Quick & painless. The slots cut now are perhaps 2-3mm* (but it's really hard to measure accurately, esp. with my eyesight now, but almost twice the length produced by the Estone irons) but they now look right for the sort of work I do now. Happy

*Ah - I just noticed that I specified "1.8mm(-2mm)" for the re-grind, rather than the 1.2mm suggested by Nigel Armitage above, so my mistake this time. Apparently Dixons grind to order! Actually I am happy with it at 2mm, I was inclined not to cut it too fine anyway (so that it can be re-ground or sharpened in the future), which is why I added the "(-2mm)". I already expected to use the smaller Estone #8 irons (which probably are close to 1.2mm) for smaller, more delicate work & the Dixons #7 for larger pieces & thicker threads.

Lesson: Learn from my mistakes, order carefully, "Slim line, 1.2mm"

Edited September 2, 2014 by Tannin

[Jax]

Tannin, I as so pleased that Dixons put your pricking iron right for you, I may just go & see them & get a couple more now