1/2 Ton Arbor Press For Pricking Iron

[DavidL]

Im looking to use an arbor press for pressing a pricking iron into 2 layers of 3/4 oz veg tanned glued together. Has anyone done this with any success? 1/2 ton strong enough for pricking iron and stamps to be pressed.

[Macca]

I already posted in your last post about this.

It won't work, the tool is not designed for this

You will damage the teeth

[Not Awl Together]

Sorry,

I'm coming at this from a little behind in the conversation and am a bit confused about the need or desire to use a press to drive a pricking iron to mark your leather for stitch locations through a couple of layers 3/4 oz. Veg.

Would you care to elaborate on your need?

This may be a dumb question and may have been brought up in an earlier conversation, that said, have you viewed Nigel Armitage's video demonstrating making stitch holes through 4 layers of 8/9 oz. Veg. ?

[DavidL]

Im moving into an apartment and the way I have it set up now it will make too much noise.

I have viewed his videos and the noise is more of the issue. I have been able to get the holes to line up properly through some practice.

Are you positive that the iron teeth will get damaged using a 1/2 ton arbor even with a poundo board? I have a dixon iron and the teeth are a lot stronger than vergez and looks like it would be able to hold up if I don't use with all my strength.

The iron is 7 SPI, and the teeth aren't that small. Only thing is I don't know if the press will be able to make an impression like a hammer would without distorting the leather.

It is not the traditional way but its one of the few options, other is to find a way to absorb the sound from the iron while hammering

[Macca]

the problem with using a press like this is to do with the taper on the irons.

the further you press the more pressure builds on the side of the teeth (the taper applies increasing pressure to the leather the further in it goes), there is only a little leather between the teeth & leather only compresses a finite amount, keep applying pressure and it will break (the more teeth on the iron, the worse this will be)

whereas a hammer/mallet has some give to it, the hammer will bounce off the iron rather than applying all the force into the iron.

Also, whether you use a hammer/press/ whatever.. If you punch all the way through with a pricking iron you will distort the leather too much (again, the taper spreads the leather more the further it goes in) & you will find the tool gets stuck a lot, removing it distorts the leather.

If striking noise is the issue I'd look at a pricking wheel (not like the US ones, a European one that makes marks like a pricking iron)

Use the wheel to mark the stitches then awl to open them up.

[BDAZ]

Macca. Have you actually tested your "theory" or is it pure speculations. I just tested some pricking irons on a suitable poundo board with a TWO ton press on 9/10 oz leather with ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS!

The only issue will be that the 1/2 ton press does not have the clearance for a standard pricking iron handle, nor does the one ton. Consequently you will have to trim the handle or purchase one with or have the ram modified with a hole bored to accommodate the handle. A small set screw would keep the iron in the ram.

I think it's an excellent alternative to eviction. Also great for cracking nuts!

Cya

Bob

[RavenAus]

I use an arbor press all the time with mine. As long as the leather isn't too thick it's fine. I don't sew at high SPI and I can see there'd be issues with that, but for what I do, no worries See Ian Atkinsons video here, about 1:05 in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0EL7K2NhYs

Just see Bobs answer and yeah, my press is a big old 3 ton model I got from work when they were closing a section. Sometimes I wish it were smaller but hey, it works!

Edited May 21, 2014 by RavenAus

[Macca]

well, Ive seen a 10 SPI pricking iron break when the owner tried to force it through too thick leather

a press would apply even more pressure so I would say the chance of damaging the tool is very high.

[Macca]

I use an arbor press all the time with mine. As long as the leather isn't too thick it's fine. I don't sew at high SPI and I can see there'd be issues with that, but for what I do, no worries See Ian Atkinsons video here, about 1:05 in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0EL7K2NhYs

Just see Bobs answer and yeah, my press is a big old 3 ton model I got from work when they were closing a section. Sometimes I wish it were smaller but hey, it works!

thats not a pricking iron, the teeth are not tapered, they are parallel so it will go through thicker leather without distorting

[RavenAus]

10 spi - well THAR'S yer problem!

Seriously, people do 10 spi? Way too much time on their hands I want to sew that fine I'll use a machine. 6 or 7 spi is fine in a press.