Thin Awls

[whitIL]

Hello--

I'm sewing by hand and fairly new at it. Sometimes I would like to sew something that doesn't require much strength and that I would prefer to not draw attention to with standard size stitches. A couple of examples might make this clearer. To make a magnetic closure I recently sewed a small magnet between some 6-7 oz leather and a very thin piece of leather. The thin leather was on the inside, but the stitches came through the front and I would rather have had something more subtle. Another example would be a watch band where the leather is thin and the scale is small.

To solve my problem I've been looking for a thin awl that I could use. I tried filing down a Tandy small awl, but it was hard to keep the shape true and worse, as the awl got thinner, it got weaker so that I had trouble pushing it through the 6-7 oz leather along with the very thin piece of leather without bending the awl.

I'm surprised that diamond awls don't come in a substantial variety of thicknesses (especially small). How do people sewing by hand get small holes. I could drill small holes, but then they wouldn't be diamond shaped. Is that not important for small leather that doesn't require a lot of strength?

Am I missing something obvious like SmallAwlsAreUs.com?

Thanks.

--Whit

[barehandcustoms]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Beading-Awl-5-leather-punching-pin-pushing-sewing-Jewelers-hand-tools-4pc-T005-/201152863812?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ed5a51e44

I ordered a batch of these a long time ago and they were the smallest awl I have ever used. They are cheaply made but very small and get the job done. I would suggest pulling the small needle out and making your own handle. They are just heated up and pushed into the little plastic handles.

Another option is to drill a tiny hole into a wooden handle then press a sewing needle into it. Make sure the hole is just a bit smaller then the needle and apply a bit of glue to secure it. You can always resharpen the point if you dull it a bit when pushing it into the handle.

[Hi Im Joe]

I think OP wants diamond shaped awls.

[barehandcustoms]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leathercraft-Stitching-Awl-for-Sewing-Leather-Diamond-Point-2mm-/111415264500?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f0de04f4

2mm diamond awl thin enough?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Craft-Sha-Leathercraft-Stitching-Awl-Sewing-Leather-Standard-Diamond-Point/121271695228?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D24902%26meid%3D3171736558e2489195f41aecdd2c8abf%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D10502%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D121271695228

Another small diamond awl

I have always read that the smallest hole you can get away with is the best for a good looking stitch job. You might want to try a regular awl if the diamond awl is making holes too big. 2mm is still a pretty big hole if you are using small thread. Just a thought.

Edited August 20, 2014 by barehandcustoms

[TXAG]

I guess it would be too much to ask for a US-manufactured source of these? I have read in several places that the asian stuff is poorly made, made of inferior metal and dulls easily, etc.

[Hi Im Joe]

The Craft Sha from goods japan I have heard very good things about. Just make sure to pay for the shipping. The free shipping takes FOREVER.

I have this awl blade:

https://www.osborneleathertools.com/product_details.php?pid=362

The E42.

With this haft:

https://www.osborneleathertools.com/product_details.php?pid=356

[barehandcustoms]

http://www.sheridanleather.com/Awl_Handle_p/dt-awl-handle.htm

http://www.sheridanleather.com/Awl_Blades_p/dt-awl-blades.htm

*make sure you select slim from the drop down*

Excellent American made tool but quite expensive

Edited August 20, 2014 by barehandcustoms

[TXAG]

I'm not sure how thin those awls are...I am also looking for thinner awls for finer hand stitching, same as the OP...

Also, I already have an excellent awl handle.

[DavidL]

vergez blanchard has a great blade. Fineleatherworking.com stock vergez and has great service and reasonable prices on tools. Needs a quick touch up on a stone and green compound and works perfectly.

[TXAG]

Ok, again -- how thin are the blades? There are numerous other threads that cover awl blades in general...I am, like the OP, really only interested in hearing about great quality ***thin*** awl blades (diamond-shaped) for 9SPI or higher.

Last time I looked at fineleatherworking.com, they had an extremely tiny selection available.

Thanks.

Edited August 20, 2014 by TXAG