Looking for advice on a stitch groover

[plinkercases]

For those who do not use a groover I assume you also do not tap the stiches down with a cobblers hammer afterwards?

I am still working out which approach I prefer as I still see advantages to both and am not afraid of the groover boogie man of weaken the leather (as I don't groove on anything less than 6 oz) I also don't groove deeply....

I suspect I am leaning towards just scoring a line to follow....

[geargarcon]

4 hours ago, Matt S said:

Evenin, GG.

Perhaps not a popular opinion or one you're seeking, but I really don't like stitch groovers or the effect they achieve on the seam, except in the very few circumstances where their effect is necessary. Leaving the stitches semi-proud of the surface is perfectly fine in 90+% of circumstances, and I think gives a more impressive tactile and visual effect than burying them. I'm sure both of these groovers are excellent quality but I can think of some far better uses of the $$$ 

Just my two cents as they say. No offence intended, I'm sure you know what you're doing and the effect you want to achieve. Certainly not trying to tell you how to spend your beer tokens, just offering a slightly different perspective.

So I actually don’t intend to use it for stitching.  I plan on using it to cut channels in thicker leather to facilitate folding and molding corners in bag gussets.  While the channel won’t be as visible as it would be on a stitch line, I want something that is easy to use and leaves a clean cut.

[geargarcon]

3 hours ago, plinkercases said:

For those who do not use a groover I assume you also do not tap the stiches down with a cobblers hammer afterwards?

I am still working out which approach I prefer as I still see advantages to both and am not afraid of the groover boogie man of weaken the leather (as I don't groove on anything less than 6 oz) I also don't groove deeply....

I suspect I am leaning towards just scoring a line to follow....

I only mark a line, I do not cut a groove.  But I do tamp down the stitch line with a cobblers hammer afterwards.

[Matt S]

3 hours ago, plinkercases said:

For those who do not use a groover I assume you also do not tap the stiches down with a cobblers hammer afterwards?

I suspect I am leaning towards just scoring a line to follow....

Heavier stuff I rarely tap as I find it tends to sit neater than lighter work, and I like the feel of the stitches slightly proud. Lighter stuff I will tap if it's a little uneven, or to encourage the thread to fill the awl holes better if they're looking a little empty.

6 minutes ago, geargarcon said:

So I actually don’t intend to use it for stitching.  I plan on using it to cut channels in thicker leather to facilitate folding and molding corners in bag gussets.  While the channel won’t be as visible as it would be on a stitch line, I want something that is easy to use and leaves a clean cut.

Perhaps you are looking for something that makes a particularly narrow channel but have you looked at a V- or U-gouge, or perhaps even a race? These are designed for exactly this purpose and often have a flat facet which can be run along a straight edge. They have a blade that's less likely to jam up when taking a heavy cut than a stitch groover, though in all honesty the only true stitch groover I've used is an Ivan, which is certainly not the best quality.

[geargarcon]

2 hours ago, Matt S said:

Heavier stuff I rarely tap as I find it tends to sit neater than lighter work, and I like the feel of the stitches slightly proud. Lighter stuff I will tap if it's a little uneven, or to encourage the thread to fill the awl holes better if they're looking a little empty.

Perhaps you are looking for something that makes a particularly narrow channel but have you looked at a V- or U-gouge, or perhaps even a race? These are designed for exactly this purpose and often have a flat facet which can be run along a straight edge. They have a blade that's less likely to jam up when taking a heavy cut than a stitch groover, though in all honesty the only true stitch groover I've used is an Ivan, which is certainly not the best quality.

I don’t want to remove very much leather and I want a high level of consistency which is why I am looking for a stitch groover rather than a v or u gouge.

[ScoobyNewbie]

It depends on whether I have thick braided thread or the hemp thread. Thick thread I usually hammer down, I feel that the thinner hemp thread is pretty flat already.