Inexpensive diamond Stitching chisel for making stitch holes in holster ?

[bcraig]

7 hours ago, Hardrada said:

Bcraig, the bit about "all STITCHING chisels" being diamond-shaped is wrong. Some chisels are European style and their holes are not diamonds but slits like these: \ \ \ \ \.

I just got me a pair of those from KS Blade. They are NOT cheap, though. (https://ksbladepunch.com/product/pricking-irons-black)**

Seiwa makes an economical version of the European style chisels, which you can get from Goodsjapan.com; I wasn't impressed with the reviews I watched of them, though. I've no problem swearing by the Seiwa diamond-shaped, but their European style just didn't rock my boat.

Part of the confusion with these items comes from diluting the definitions/boundaries of two different items that are used for stitching: i.e. PRICKING IRONS vs. stitching CHISELS. The exhibit Spyros posted above from Blanchard is a European style PRICKING IRON, whereas the one in the picture below is a Seiwa diamond CHISEL.

 

Note that even Goodsjapan.com is labeling the latter as a 'pricking iron' (AND as a chisel ). See? Even suppliers do it, adding to the confusion.

So, what's the difference then?

A pricking iron is designed to MARK where the stitching holes on the leather will go. The holes are actually made by piercing the leather with a stitching awl, whose blade is usually diamond-shaped. Pricking irons are NOT designed nor meant to pierce (punch) through the leather and make the holes –although I reckon it's possible to use them as punches if you strike them hard enough with a mallet and your leather is not too thick.

A stitching punch, on the other hand is designed to not just mark where the stitching holes will go but to make them as well. They are punches—built strong enough to pierce through thick layers of leather without breaking. So, you no longer need an awl to stitch. Chisels are now preferred by many leather workers because it speeds up the process and neats up the stitching. As mentioned above, you can have chisels in both diamond and European style. They even make round ones (https://ksbladepunch.com/product/round-dent-black), and, yes, for lacing too. Lacing punches, however, are not angled, but horizontally oriented, like so: – – – –.

In your specific case, I would recommend the Seiwa diamond chisels: https://www.goodsjapan.com/seiwa-diamond-leather-stitching-chisel-leathercraft-pricking-iron-tool-6x4mm/a-19162

I linked you to the 4 mm version, but they have them in other stitching measurements, such as 3 mm. It all depends on what you're making. See here: https://www.ianatkinson.net/leather/leatherguide.htm#stitching

_____________________________

**Again, you have a manufacturer adding to the confusion by labeling a punch a 'pricking iron'.

Thanks for all the information and the links.
 

 

7 hours ago, Hardrada said:

Bcraig, the bit about "all STITCHING chisels" being diamond-shaped is wrong. Some chisels are European style and their holes are not diamonds but slits like these: \ \ \ \ \.

I just got me a pair of those from KS Blade. They are NOT cheap, though. (https://ksbladepunch.com/product/pricking-irons-black)**

Seiwa makes an economical version of the European style chisels, which you can get from Goodsjapan.com; I wasn't impressed with the reviews I watched of them, though. I've no problem swearing by the Seiwa diamond-shaped, but their European style just didn't rock my boat.

Part of the confusion with these items comes from diluting the definitions/boundaries of two different items that are used for stitching: i.e. PRICKING IRONS vs. stitching CHISELS. The exhibit Spyros posted above from Blanchard is a European style PRICKING IRON, whereas the one in the picture below is a Seiwa diamond CHISEL.

 

Note that even Goodsjapan.com is labeling the latter as a 'pricking iron' (AND as a chisel ). See? Even suppliers do it, adding to the confusion.

So, what's the difference then?

A pricking iron is designed to MARK where the stitching holes on the leather will go. The holes are actually made by piercing the leather with a stitching awl, whose blade is usually diamond-shaped. Pricking irons are NOT designed nor meant to pierce (punch) through the leather and make the holes –although I reckon it's possible to use them as punches if you strike them hard enough with a mallet and your leather is not too thick.

A stitching punch, on the other hand is designed to not just mark where the stitching holes will go but to make them as well. They are punches—built strong enough to pierce through thick layers of leather without breaking. So, you no longer need an awl to stitch. Chisels are now preferred by many leather workers because it speeds up the process and neats up the stitching. As mentioned above, you can have chisels in both diamond and European style. They even make round ones (https://ksbladepunch.com/product/round-dent-black), and, yes, for lacing too. Lacing punches, however, are not angled, but horizontally oriented, like so: – – – –.

In your specific case, I would recommend the Seiwa diamond chisels: https://www.goodsjapan.com/seiwa-diamond-leather-stitching-chisel-leathercraft-pricking-iron-tool-6x4mm/a-19162

I linked you to the 4 mm version, but they have them in other stitching measurements, such as 3 mm. It all depends on what you're making. See here: https://www.ianatkinson.net/leather/leatherguide.htm#stitching

_____________________________

**Again, you have a manufacturer adding to the confusion by labeling a punch a 'pricking iron'.

Thanks for the Information and the links.
I really appreciate you taking the time to explain these things to me .
I can see now that this can get confusing though as the width of the prongs can make a difference in the size of the hole and the spacing can vary depending whether it was measured from the center of the hole or the edge of the hole.
(I THINK that is correct !)

It is a little more complicated than the last holster I made ,I Made a Pancake holster for a Bersa Thunder 380 ACP and I used a Table fork (about 4 SPI)to mark the stitch holes then used a Finishing nail to open the holes and then sewed it with 346 thread using a single needle and a lazy man saddle stitch.
Turned out pretty good ,DWIGHT ,A Super nice guy on this forum helped me from start to finish with back and forth Messages.
He helped me tremendously with My Project.

Thanks Again
Craig

Edited July 14, 2020 by bcraig

[bcraig]

Once again I want to thank Everyone for your help in teaching me about the differences in Chisels and the links you have sent me.

[Matt S]

4 hours ago, Spyros said:

I am the last person to argue with this, people who work need to get paid a decent wage, and the whole planet needs to come down like a tonne of bricks on factories that don't take every possible measure to contain pollution.  Absolutely no argument there.

Now, about Blanchard, to me their irons look suspiciously simple to produce and their prices seem outrageous even with French wages and EU environmental regulations. But I will not argue with that either because I am not a metalworker, and someone will tell me that their grandpa inherited a Blanchard iron from his grandpa and it still works great today because it's made from special unobtainium.  Fine, I don't have the knowledge to argue.

However, I do know woodworking.  And when I see the price on this thing I know that someone is taking the piss.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/515613297/leather-stitching-clamp-verni-vergez?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=vergez+blanchard&ref=sr_gallery-1-14&frs=1    

This doesn't cost more than $30 whether you use a CNC in Vietnam or in Switzerland.

Ah but It's French. All that fois grois and vintage claret at the works canteen has to be paid for somehow... Remember this is the country that brought you such efficient and elegant tools as the SCART connector, the MAT49 SMG and the Citreon DS!  

[Spyros]

At least they're good in football hehehe

[SLP]

The Seiwa irons are made in Japan, not China.

[csosborne]

Hello,

My name is Daniel from C.S. OSBORNE & CO. I really appreciate the feed back on our photos versus the tools. Yes we are changing the game with our websites photos etc. We are working hard this year to improve our social media platform. We hope this does not have an impact on your views of C.S. OSBORNE history and tools.

Thank you

C.S. OSBORNE & CO