Advice Wanted On Pricking Irons/stitching Awl

[Macca]

those look way too fragile, expect them to snap quickly

[Macca]

Dixon's sizing and vergez sizing are one number off. A vergez 7 is a dixon 6, they could be fractions of a mm off. If you are planning to buy more irons at the same size then you may want to get the same brand so they are same sized hole and distance. If I was buying an iron now I would get a portmanteau, the corner stitches angles are uninterrupted vs the regular iron that goes upwards rather than portmanteau downward stitch. Regular irons - stitches are flat around the corner, portmanteau angled downwards around the corner.

the sizing shouldn't be one off, blanchards have the SPI & the number of teeth stamped, the dixons only stamp the SPI so if you read it incorrectly the blanchards could be different, but when ordering by SPI they are the same spacing.

[Grey Drakkon]

I agree with the others, unless you're using them for really thin leather I'd be leery of those irons, and even then I'd be careful with how I used them.

As for the Joseph Dixon irons, I've ordered them and am anxiously awaiting them. Has anyone in the U.S. ordered from them? How long did you wait for them to arrive? I keep checking the mail every day for them.

Appologies for highjacking your thread but has anyone tried these https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/209814602/leather-craft-tool-3pcs-stitching-punch?ref=shop_home_active_12

Look nicely made but the points do look a little "fragile"

Any thoughts??

[DavidL]

the sizing shouldn't be one off, blanchards have the SPI & the number of teeth stamped, the dixons only stamp the SPI so if you read it incorrectly the blanchards could be different, but when ordering by SPI they are the same spacing.

When I measure the Blanchard number 9 It gives me 9 Teeth per inch and 8 stitches, my number 7 dixon gives me 7 stitches. Anyone else get the same thing?

[Macca]

When I measure the Blanchard number 9 It gives me 9 Teeth per inch and 8 stitches, my number 7 dixon gives me 7 stitches. Anyone else get the same thing?

Thats a number 8 you have then, not a 9

8 SPI 9 teeth is a No.8 - 9

Should be two numbers marked on it, the number closest to the teeth is the SPI, the other is the number of teeth.

They have 16 versions of the No.8 from No.8 - 2 (2 teeth) to No.8 - 20 (20 teeth)

Dixon only mark the SPI & you order by width (in half inch increments), not number of teeth.

[Oldtoolsniper]

Here is a picture of the irons I own.

Blanchard 7 8 and 7 2

7 indicates 7 stitches per inch 8 tells you the number of teeth on the iron.

Again 7 indicates stitches per inch and 2 is the number of teeth on the iron.

As you can see on the ruler 7 is the number of holes or pricks produced in an inch.

I'm not sure how other folks measure an inch but I'm betting if it says 7 stitch per inch then most reputable tool makers will shoot for that when they make or sell a tool.

As close as I can get it the tip measures at 1.8mm or about 0.071" but they obviously get wider as they go deeper into the leather.

[Macca]

wow, thats terrible, especially for the price of blanchards !

[25b]

wow, thats terrible, especially for the price of blanchards !

I don't get it. What is terrible?

[Oldtoolsniper]

wow, thats terrible, especially for the price of blanchards !

Not sure what you mean either.

[Macca]

Maybe it's just a bad angle on the picture, but that looks as though you would get 6 and a little bit SPI with that iron, not 7.

I'd have returned that, guess this is the issue David has seen with his.

For comparison , I just checked a few Dixons irons and they are absolutely spot on