bkm Report post Posted March 18, 2015 I make straps and groove the leather to recess my hand stitching. I've been using a Tandy Pro Stitching Groover set with the grooving blade on the axis of the handle, and an adjustable guide that runs along the edge of the leather to groove along straight, parallel lines. I can make near-perfect grooves parallel with the edge of the leather. However, I have not been able to consistently make the grooves come to a point in the center of the strap. The first method by which I tried to make the grooves to a center point was to remove the guide from the Pro Stitching Groover and use it freehand. I found it works best to start in the edge groove and arc it toward the center point, then repeat for the other edge. I had a harder time if I started in the center and tried to arc toward the edge. In any event, I could only get a decent looking point three out of four times. I cannot afford to ruin that many straps. If I cannot find a better method, I will just use parallel grooves only. I could try a straight-edge as a guide, but I do not just want triangles. I want a taper something like a gothic arch. The Pro Groover works fine with its guide, but no so well against a raised edge guide. I thought something like the Craftool Pro Stitching Groover or the Hand Stitch Groover from Weaver Leather might work better. I know the tool names are almost the same, but the groover I have now uses a little hole in the end of a shank. The groover I think will work better along a raised-edge guide or even freehand uses a steel blade with a long slit. I think if I had such a tool, I may still be better off using the Tandy groover with the edge guide for the edges, and using the slit-type groover for the points. After the grooving I use a overstitch wheel and then a diamond awl and harness needles to stitch. What do you think? Any other advice for grooving straps for hand stitching? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TinkerTailor Report post Posted March 18, 2015 Have you thought of making a cardboard template of the stitching profile you want and groove around it the same way you would cut out a piece? You would use the grooved without the guide, using the edge of the template as a guide instead? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted March 18, 2015 You didn't say how long the sides of these were, . . . I'd opt for some clear plastic French Curves, . . . lay the groover next to it, . . . do one side, . . . flip it over, . . . do the other side. May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TinkerTailor Report post Posted March 18, 2015 (edited) You didn't say how long the sides of these were, . . . I'd opt for some clear plastic French Curves, . . . lay the groover next to it, . . . do one side, . . . flip it over, . . . do the other side. May God bless, Dwight Or get some of these: http://www.blackriverlaser.com/leather-craft-templates-gauges/ Edited March 18, 2015 by TinkerTailor Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bkm Report post Posted March 18, 2015 The plastic guides are exactly what I have in mind, only a little more deluxe. I would probably just make my own as I only need one size and could cut it out of some plastic sheet (discarded packaging) simply enough. But I had only thought of making them for the outside of the edge (a cut-out v instead of a tongue). I like the idea of the tongue that guides the inside edge of the groover. My only other question is whether I have the right kind of groover or not, but I certainly have enough to try it now. Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TinkerTailor Report post Posted March 18, 2015 The ebay store seems to be down but those tools were like 10-30 bux a set last time i checked. Not that out of line. some of the other ones are really usefull and would be hard to replicate. They also will custom lasercut pattern templates for not to much money as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted March 18, 2015 The plastic guides are exactly what I have in mind, only a little more deluxe. I would probably just make my own as I only need one size and could cut it out of some plastic sheet (discarded packaging) simply enough. But I had only thought of making them for the outside of the edge (a cut-out v instead of a tongue). I like the idea of the tongue that guides the inside edge of the groover. My only other question is whether I have the right kind of groover or not, but I certainly have enough to try it now. Thanks I've never used the tool you have, . . . but I have this one, . . . and it does ALL my extra grooving that my two edge groovers are not suited for. I've made some interesting free hand stitch patterns with this. http://www.tandyleather.com/en-usd/search/searchresults/88074-11.aspx May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
