Correct Way To Use Pricking Irons? I Am Confused

[jhw]

hi i am new to leather making. i took a workshop at tandy which went over basics for making a little suede pouch. i am trying to make handbags using thin leather. i bought some nice remnants from a good local store just to get started. i have a 2 teeth and 4 teeth pricking iron 7 tpi blanchard which i really like.

okay so here is where i get confused. i have searched online and its hard to find compact info..

for multi layers, seam of bag, do i mark and prick one layer and then line up the other layer underneath and prick the second layer? ( clamp together with binder clips)

or

do i glue or tape layers together and prick through both layers

or mark each layer and prick separately

or prick one layer and use an awl to go through the 2nd layer

or prick the layers but not all the way thru and use soft awl to make hole larger for needles to go thru (i saw this method in one video but again that was use on very thick leather .. i am afraid i might damage the leather if i try this with very thin leather)

what to i do for a very thin strap? (leather folded in half so only using single seam) .. what i tried is taping the leather and pricking thru both layers.. not sure if that was best way to use the pricking iron .. it looked fine but ....

also wondering if its bad for the pricking iron to be going through tape or glue...

how do i added piping .. that is in terms of making the holes? is it best to mark and prick all the holes i will need to stitch the sides of the bag together?

thanks in advance for any help.

the information i have been able to find online has been mostly for very thick leather and i am not sure if the same processes apply for thin leather or methods are either not fully explained or alternatively there are so many methods shown that it just confuses me more ):

[25b]

Wow, that's a lot of questions. Stand by and I'll try to answer...

for multi layers, seam of bag, do i mark and prick one layer and then line up the other layer underneath and prick the second layer? ( clamp together with binder clips)

or

do i glue or tape layers together and prick through both layers

or mark each layer and prick separately

or prick one layer and use an awl to go through the 2nd layer

or prick the layers but not all the way thru and use soft awl to make hole larger for needles to go thru (i saw this method in one video but again that was use on very thick leather .. i am afraid i might damage the leather if i try this with very thin leather)

what to i do for a very thin strap? (leather folded in half so only using single seam) .. what i tried is taping the leather and pricking thru both layers.. not sure if that was best way to use the pricking iron .. it looked fine but ....

also wondering if its bad for the pricking iron to be going through tape or glue...

I wouldn't gunk up mine like that, but it shouldn't hurt them as long as you clean them afterward.

how do i added piping .. that is in terms of making the holes? is it best to mark and prick all the holes i will need to stitch the sides of the bag together?

thanks in advance for any help.

the information i have been able to find online has been mostly for very thick leather and i am not sure if the same processes apply for thin leather or methods are either not fully explained or alternatively there are so many methods shown that it just confuses me more ):

I don't really understand what you're asking about piping, but this book covers how to do piping pretty well...

http://www.amazon.com/Leatherworking-Handbook-Illustrated-Sourcebook-Techniques/dp/1844034747/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441291421&sr=8-1&keywords=the+leatherworking+handbook

Edited September 3, 2015 by 25b

[jhw]

thanks much, yes that video was one of the ones i found, as you can see its for 4 very thick pieces of leather. the leather i am using is thin and might rip if i use his method (soft awl to widen holes .. i dint think i need to widen the holes unless i really tap lightly on the pricking iron.

piping question .. sorry basically i meant reinforced sides that look like piping but no additional strand of 'piping' is actually added ...

stitch sides and bottom with seams facing out, put a narrow strip of leather folded over the seams, stitch folded leather together

- or possibly all 4 layers are stitched together not sure but that seems like a bear to try to do properly.

will check out the amazon book in thr meantime.. thanks again

[25b]

Ok, well that explains the confusion...you're talking about a bound edge...not piping.

[DavidL]

I find it best to only go through a tiny bit on the backside, just 2 mm ( I may be able to shape the awl even thinner so it is same size as 2mm past the tip). The pricking iron goes 50 percent through the piece, stitching pony vertical and I watch the awl placement on the back so that it is spaced evenly. Some have amazing control that they dont look at the backside. All my opinion and may change as I go on.

Another easy way is to put cork under the leather, sitting flat on a desk. Stab the awl straight down. Sharpening the tip so that it is rounded helps to sit in the pricking iron hole the same every time.

Edited September 3, 2015 by DavidL

[Art]

Pricking irons and stitching irons are different. Pricking irons are made to mark, then you do the work with an awl. Teeth on a pricking iron are more conical. Stitching irons are made to go all the way through the leather, and you don't even need an awl, the harness needles will do all the work. The sides of stitching iron teeth are parallel.

Art

[jhw]

hello Art,

thank you for your response.

i just doublechecked to make sure : the pricking irons by blanchard i bought are also considered stitching irons at least according to the fine leatherworking blog and several other sources online. It is shown used as a stitching iron in the blog post on their website, although the blogger does mention using an awl for a second layer.

i think tandy and probably other companies have pricking irons just for marking as you mention, i seem to remember getting confused at the tandy store when our instructor tried to explain which was which (:

good to know for future reference that pricking irons might not be the same as a stitching iron depending on the maker. i will definitely doublecheck from now on, appreciate the tip!

Edited September 3, 2015 by jhw

[25b]

Pricking irons and stitching irons/chisels are not the same thing and are not shaped the same. Art's description of each is correct. I have both and use both...they are not the same, regardless of whether certain people try (wrongly) to aver they are.

[jhw]

hello art and 25b,

i finally found the forum post on pricking irons.. unfortunately i cant seem to post the link here .ipad issues...

looks like i have not been using my pricking irons correctly as you both said here politely.

ok live and learn...

well in defense of the fine leatherworking folks, i might have misunderstood the blog post, he does also use an awl.

in any case still learning, thanks for your kind help!

[Art]

Jhw,

You don't prick THROUGH (your words) anything. Pricking is marking. With thinner leather, a pricking iron may, and probably will, go through. I looked at the fine leatherworking blog and indeed they were using thin leather. I suggest you watch Nigel Armitage video on using Blanchard Pricking Irons. Notice he does not drive them all the way through the leather. You might want to look at his whole series of stitching iron and pricking iron videos to get an idea how each type is used.

Art