Multiple Layers Awl Work

[Jaynkelley]

I am wanting to get to a more traditional area of leather work. I am having a hard time getting my awl through 3 or more layers of 2.5 to 3mm leather. I need help. Where can I look?

[billybopp]

FIrst and foremost, make sure your awl is sharp, sharper, sharpest. and the leather is well supported. Aside from that, this video is a pretty decent guide ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCFTDqQaEIc

Bill

[Equiplay Saddlery]

+1 for what billybopp said. Also check out Paul Zalesak's video "Awl of Spades" on his Leather Wranglers website. That is what a sharp awl should look like. Mine aren't there yet but I'm working on it. www.leatherwranglers.com and look at the demo videos.

[byggyns]

Your awl should be so sharp that when you shove it into your finger, you don't feel it until you see the blood when you are putting the needle through.

To prevent the blood, use an old wine cork on the back side when you are pressing the awl in. Even with a good clamp close to the stitch line, you will still get deflection.

When I am doing the stitching near the opening of a sheath & am going through 5 or more layers, I have that awl sharpened & stropped extremely well. I also have to use my larger sized awl so that the hole stays open enough through all those layers to get the needles through for the doubled stitching that is needed at the beginning and ending of the stitch lines.

[TheCyberwolfe]

Heh - one of my first projects, I stabbed my finger and managed to hit a nerve - couldn't feel the tip of my finger for a couple months after that.

Now I use one of those pink pearl erasers or a chunk of wax to support the back side.

[electrathon]

Now I use one of those pink pearl erasers or a chunk of wax to support the back side.

Pink eraser, rubber ball cut in half or the best thing I have found is mid-sole from a shoe repair place. It is about an inch thick, comes in a sheet and is very dense foam. Great and safe to push an awl into.

[billybopp]

I still prefer using a wine cork. Mostly because you get to drink a bottle of wine to get one.

A couple of other things that can help with getting through thick pieces in addition to sharp, your awl should be highly polished over it's entire working surface so that there is less friction against the already cut leather that it's moving through. Some folks also keep a cake of bees wax at hand and plunge the awl into it now and then to provide a little lubrication. You may not want to use that method, however, if you intend to dye after stitching since the wax might not allow dyes to penetrate.

It's probably also worth noting that the shape of the awl blade could be a factor as well!

Bill