European Stitching Chisel From Goodsjapan

[Dangerous Beans]

Cheers Nigel just had a look at these on Goods Japan if i'm reading it correct it says the 2.5mm gives 10.2 stitches per inch so i'm a bit confused , seems to be a difference between what Nigel's getting and Goods Japan's description .

here's the link . http://goodsjapan.com/european-leather-stitching-chisel-leathercraft-pricking-iron-tool-6x25mm-1595-p.asp

You are quite right, the 6 x 2.5 is not 8spi it actually gives 9spi. This is measured with a ruler rather than working off the measurements on the packet. the size of the teeth and the distance make a difference.

Having measured 9 stitches with the vernier, it shows 24.3mm with 0.6mm tiger thread so 9 is as near as damn it!

I have so many irons here at the moment and I haven't catalogued this one yet as it had just arrived... i get confused easily :-)

Once the video is done, you can download the review document from the shop on my website. it's free! and it may help in making a decision about which iron would suit you.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Dangerous Beans

[Dangerous Beans]

It actually says 10.2 holes per inch, which should equate to 9 stitches per inch. I am curious though if Nigel was just estimating or if GoodsJapan has their measurements off.

It's me!!!! I'm wong!!!! I made something up... which is unlike me!!! not.

Sorry.

[Django57]

Don't beat yourself up Nigel you especially are allowed one hiccup given all the help and advise you impart on us mere mortals , Cheers for the photos , i'm in the position of having one Dixon pricking iron 7 SPI and have been toying with idea of buying the 2 teeth iron for going round corners , but i could buy the Goods Japan set for less than the single Dixon , now i know there of no worse a quality than the Dixon it's a no brainer ,

[Dangerous Beans]

Don't beat yourself up Nigel you especially are allowed one hiccup given all the help and advise you impart on us mere mortals , Cheers for the photos , i'm in the position of having one Dixon pricking iron 7 SPI and have been toying with idea of buying the 2 teeth iron for going round corners , but i could buy the Goods Japan set for less than the single Dixon , now i know there of no worse a quality than the Dixon it's a no brainer ,

But the difficulty is my record stands at about 1 hickup and hour... I was thinking of running a wheres the hickup competition for each video, but i couldn't afford the prizes

It is a no brainer... I have used Dixon irons for years and they do do the job, that has to be said. but the steel isn't strong, the two tooth irons, certainly in the slimline versions can bend and the finished quality leaves something to be desired.

I am quite taken with the Kyoshin European irons... I will add that the polished finish you see in the photo above is how they come. They do not stick in the leather like Dixons irons can, even when tapped gently.

I haven't had them long, I haven't been using them years like I have the Dixons, so this opinion is very much here and now, but... if you had a full set of the Kyoshin Elle irons, I do not think you would be disappointed.

I will also add that Goods Japan have excellent customer service.

For the price to quality ratio... at this time... a winner.

Nige

[Django57]

1 Hickup an hour that's chronic you need to see a Leather Doctor .

[JanC]

This sounds about right! Can't wait for the review.

Hi Jan C I have tested quite a few irons.
Tandy, Dixon, Osborne, Craft-Sha, Pro-Line (the name may be wrong as this is popular on eBay), Seiwa, Kyoshin and Blanchard. These are the most readily available irons today.
If you can think of any i have missed, let me know.

Nige

[JREESER1]

Mr. Beans, you are a legend. Thank you for everything you have brought to our craft/art/passion. Just knowing you take the time to read and add is very inspiring.

Thanks

jr

[Oldtoolsniper]

Ordered 2.5 mm set and the 3mm set as well as a wallet corner tool. Placed order via net on 18 Jan and they arrived today the 23rd of January. I paid the extra for EMS mail and figured it as part of the of the tools. That being said two sets of irons, the small $25.00 corner punch and expedited shipping was still cheaper than one set of Blanchard irons.

They are stainless, magnet won't stick so no rust issues around damp veg tan.

Blanchard's rust like any other carbon steel.

For those of you not familiar with Japanese tools the corner punches may be a little bit shocking to you. The pricking irons are beautifully polished.

The corner punches are hand forged and NOT at all polished. Same way you get the woodworking tools. They still do apprenticeships in Japan and sharpening is a skill you're expected to have. It cuts just fine but I'm the guy who sharpens his new utility blades before use so as far as in concerned I've never bought a truly sharp tool.

Now to go stick some leather.

Edited January 23, 2015 by Oldtoolsniper

[pgivens]

I forgot to update this thread but I too received mine this week. I paid for the mid-grade shipping and the tools arrived in 7 days (5 working days). First impressions are that they are very nicely polished. Any fears I had about the teeth being too large have been erased. I bought the 8SPI (3mm) set and I think that .8mm Tiger Thread is too thick for these holes. Need to pick up some .6mm now :[

These euro style pricking irons are harder to line up than I had anticipated. With the diamond chisels, you have a point to set on the line so it's easy to keep perfectly straight. With these, you have a sideways surface and you're trying to get the line right in the middle of it. I'm sure I will get better with some practice. There is also no issue with going all the way through two pieces of 4-5oz with these. It does make the hole on the front side pretty large to go all the way through, though.

[Django57]

Thanks for the update pgivens.