Awl or chisel?

[Jake907]

What is the purpose of a diamond chisel? I've seen them used numerous times and by scores of different people, but I can't figure out why it would be better than a diamond awl for saddle stitching. 

I was taught to use a diamond awl, and to punch the holes on a flat surface like a work bench, with a firm backing like foam insulation or thick cardboard. So I guess the the question of why people punch their holes on a stitching pony is one for another post.

But I still don't understand the chisel, it seems like an awl can do everything and more that a chisel can do, and quieter. 

Can someone older and wiser than me shed some light on this?

[Webicons]

Like every tool, there are benefits and drawbacks to each and each tool should be chosen for the task at hand.  

If I were to make a box I would choose an awl but if I were to lay down 100 holes in a strait line then I would choose a chisel.  

[thekid77]

4 hours ago, Jake907 said:

What is the purpose of a diamond chisel? I've seen them used numerous times and by scores of different people, but I can't figure out why it would be better than a diamond awl for saddle stitching. 

I was taught to use a diamond awl, and to punch the holes on a flat surface like a work bench, with a firm backing like foam insulation or thick cardboard. So I guess the the question of why people punch their holes on a stitching pony is one for another post.

But I still don't understand the chisel, it seems like an awl can do everything and more that a chisel can do, and quieter. 

Can someone older and wiser than me shed some light on this?

 

Hey Jake, good questions I really think that both the diamond awl and the diamond chisel shine in their own way, depending on the application...

The advantages of the chisel would be that it is designed to punch all the way through the leather, and you are punching multiple holes at a time, which will save you time...also, you are guaranteed a straight line of holes as long as you keep the teeth of the chisel steady on the stitch line.

I make wallets with stacked pockets (t-slots). When I am going through the leather with the chisel over the stacked slots, I am guaranteed that the line of stitching will remain straight. If I am using a diamond awl, if one of the holes I need to punch is between where the card slots meet, it's hard to see where I'm going through the leather with the awl. If I'm off by just a little bit, the line of stitching will look bad on the opposite side of the leather.

The only diamond chisels I've used so far are the Craftool Pro Chisels from Tandy. They are really nice, but the only thing I don't like about them is that the teeth of the chisel cut too long of a hole. I feel like this weakens the leather along the line of stitching significantly. I found this out when I stitched a wallet with the chisel on some really dry leather, and I could literally just tear the leather along the stitch line like perforations on a postage stamp.

The really nice thing about the awl is that generally, most awl blades I've seen poke a much finer hole than the chisels. The thread sits tighter in the holes and it's not cutting through as much leather, thereby maintaining the strength of the leather.

 

Hope this helps!

 

 

 

[zuludog]

The traditional method of sewing leather is to mark the stitching holes with a pricking iron (which has short teeth) or a stitching wheel then transfer the work to a saddler's clamp and make the holes with an awl

Then the stitching chisel was developed to combine the two jobs; it both marks and makes the holes. It is, in effect, several awl blades mounted on a handle, but because it would be difficult to push through several blades by hand, it is made into a chisel so you can hit it with a hammer. Some people find this method faster and easier

A chisel can be used just to mark the hole positions if you only tap it in slightly

So those are the two usual  methods - an awl & a clamp, or a chisel on a flat surface. Using an awl on a flat surface is a bit unusual, but if it suits you, fair enough. Presumably you mark the hole positions first with another tool?

I make mostly knife sheaths from 3 to 3,5mm veg tan, so the combined thickness is around 10mm. It can be difficult to pull out a stitching chisel when it has been knocked right into that thickness so I have developed my own technique. I only knock in the chisel about half way then transfer to a pony and finish it with an awl. That means the chisel is easier to pull out, and it is easier to push the awl through a thinner layer of leather. As the saying goes 'it works for me'

I use Tandy chisels and I've polished the prongs with a small file or wand I made by glueing wet & dry paper to a lollipop stick

I used to hammer the chisel onto an old plastic kitchen chopping board, but recently I use cork. I bought a set of cork table mats, about 10" x 12" and use 4 thicknesses of them. Don't glue them as the glue will blunt the prongs; also you will not be able to swap them round when the top layer becomes worn. Just tape them together along the edges

[terrymac]

Not sure what you are calling a stitching Chinese.  If you are referring to a stitching iron, you can punch numerous holes at once and they will be in a straight line and it is easier to maintain a straight vertical hole   Keeping a straight line on the front is easy, the real skill comes is keeping that straight line on the backside.  If you are referring to a pricking iron, then an awl is still needed to go all the way through the leather, the pricking iron gives you the hole placement.  If you watch the good guys, they are using an awl and are stitching as each hole is punched, thus the reason for a stitching pony or horse.  If you have punched the holes prior to stitching, the pony or horse holds the leather, leaving your two hands free to use the needles.  It just makes the sewing a lot faster and efficient. I've tried just using my hands, and there is no way you can do it as fast without using a clamp of some kind. Watch the Nigel Armitage videos, you will learn a lot on correct saddle stitching and how to make the front and back of the stitch look the same.

Terry

[Jake907]

Thanks for all the great responses folks, I can see a little better what a chisel would be good for now, but I still cant see myself ever using one, just like my awl a lot better I guess. 

 

@zuludog @terrymac If I have time today I'll shoot a quick clip of my process and put it on youtube.