studawg03 Report post Posted November 3, 2013 I was wondering if anyone had a preference between Dixon pricking irons and The Blanchard pricking irons. Is it worth the extra money for the Blanchard ones over the Dixon models? I am stitching with 3 cord Barbour linen thread and was debating between a 9 or 10 TPI tool. Any thoughts would be wonderful and much appreciated. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jk215 Report post Posted November 4, 2013 Ive never used the Dixon's but have used the Blanchard tools and they are beautiful. I think there is a post somewhere comparing the two brands and the consensus is spend a little extra for the Blanchards. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Macca Report post Posted November 4, 2013 (edited) Ive never used the Dixon's but have used the Blanchard tools and they are beautiful. I think there is a post somewhere comparing the two brands and the consensus is spend a little extra for the Blanchards. Its not a little though, its a huge amount more, buy a few sizes in different SPI & it gets scary expensive buying the Blanchards they may be finished a little better but I would question the usage or end result being any better looking at a single iron 1 inch, 12 SPI blanchard 180 euros dixons 66 euros Edited November 4, 2013 by Macca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjmt Report post Posted November 4, 2013 The quality of the Dixons stuff hasn't been great of late - I don't know if you have a recent Dixons iron there Macca but I haven't been impressed with their output recently.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Macca Report post Posted November 4, 2013 I got a set of 10SPI irons couple of months ago Cant fault them in all honesty, some of the other tools weren't great, creaser etc but the irons were spot on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjmt Report post Posted November 4, 2013 I got a set of 10SPI irons couple of months ago Cant fault them in all honesty, some of the other tools weren't great, creaser etc but the irons were spot on. Fair enough, you can only speak as you find! I know one of the girls who works for us had to send a 1" 10 spi back 3 times to get a good one, but the good one is really rather nice. Ive always been a Dixons man but their oval hole punches of late have been so awful Im wondering wether to go the Blanchard route as well.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Macca Report post Posted November 4, 2013 hmm, maybe I got lucky with my set, might have to go Blanchard if this is common, just hate the idea of paying 3X the price ! heres the dixons I got Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tanda4 Report post Posted November 4, 2013 Is there really any options besides Dixon and Blanchard? Is there really any options besides Dixon and Blanchard? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Macca Report post Posted November 4, 2013 chinese knock offs unknown quality though goodsjapan do pricking irons, more like diamond shaped punches, very different type of tool, but still good quality. http://www.goodsjapan.jp/category/pricking-irons-stitch-punch/catId=4252442 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jk215 Report post Posted November 5, 2013 Is there really any options besides Dixon and Blanchard? Is there really any options besides Dixon and Blanchard? I think CS Osborne makes 1 size but Ive never seen it for sale retail. I wish there was a quality USA made alternative with the amount of options Blanchard offers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
studawg03 Report post Posted November 5, 2013 Thanks so much for all of your input!! I think I am going to bite the bullet and buy the Blanchard b/c I just need one at this point Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simontuntelder Report post Posted November 9, 2013 I've tried both. Blanchard may be slightly better, but I would definitely go with Dixon because of the price. However I haven't heard about a decline in Dixon's quality... There are some Japanese makers of pricking irons (ie with the angle and NOT the diamond shaped) and I recently purchased a full set. They were a whole lot cheaper than Dixon - I think I paid in the region of $175 for 6 irons. But I haven't received them yet, so I don't know about the quality. But Japanese made tools are often rather good, but not quite as good as European/British tools. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Macca Report post Posted November 13, 2013 I've tried both. Blanchard may be slightly better, but I would definitely go with Dixon because of the price. However I haven't heard about a decline in Dixon's quality... There are some Japanese makers of pricking irons (ie with the angle and NOT the diamond shaped) and I recently purchased a full set. They were a whole lot cheaper than Dixon - I think I paid in the region of $175 for 6 irons. But I haven't received them yet, so I don't know about the quality. But Japanese made tools are often rather good, but not quite as good as European/British tools. Link to the Japanese ones ? Very interested Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simontuntelder Report post Posted November 13, 2013 Hi Macca, I can't share a link sorry. It's not that I don't want to, but because I simply haven't got one. I bought them directly through the seller, but I can let him know that there's more interest in them, and if they become widely available I'll forward a link to you straight away. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Macca Report post Posted November 13, 2013 Many thanks ! Very interested to see what they are like Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jk215 Report post Posted November 15, 2013 Very interested to see how the Japanese irons are as well! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greekgod Report post Posted December 1, 2013 Try leathercraft.jp then use google translate to view the website. You will see them under "European punches" or something to that effect in the "Tools" category. DO NOT USE the English Website version you would not get half the things available on the Japanese version. Hope it helps Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
awharness Report post Posted December 1, 2013 I use Blanchard, have seen the dixons, but never used them! I'm very happy with the blanchards! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pablo27 Report post Posted December 2, 2013 http://www.goodsjapan.jp/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Firdaus Hilmy Report post Posted December 12, 2013 I don't know if this qualified as a pricking iron or not, but I'm pretty sure this is not a diamond chisel. They called it Diagonal Chisel. At first, it's only available in their Japanese website, but after contacting them, about 30 minutes, they replied and the chisel is now available in their English website! http://www.leathercrafttools.com/shouhin.jsp?id=3882 *sorry for my bad English Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
