Stitching Holes... with a drill??

[MtlBiker]

YouTube is full of helpful videos and I admit that most of (the little) I've learned about leather working and sewing in general has come from those videos.  Plus of course the outstanding help and advice of members here.  But often there are completely opposite views and for a novice it's hard to figure out the best approach.

For example, one of my next projects is to make a sheath for an axe.  No big deal, right?  This was going to be mostly for practice with hand stitching which I'm just getting into.  Anyway, I'm going to have three layers of leather... front and back pieces plus a gusset, and I'll be using either 6oz veg tan or 8oz (I have pieces of both).  So it's going to be pretty darn thick!  Either 18oz total, or 24.

I just watched a video which showed a way of making the stitching holes that I hadn't seen before... they used a drill press with a 1/16" drill!  Round holes of course, but all neatly lined up.  That was of course after marking where the holes should be.

All I've done so far is to use stitching chisels to punch through all layers if I was able to, or just part way to then finish the holes with an awl.

Would any of you even consider using a drill (press) to make the stitching holes?

(The only time I ever did something this thick before, I used my Techsew 2750 and it came out very well, but I am trying to improve/learn my hand stitching.)

 

[Hardrada]

38 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

Would any of you even consider using a drill (press) to make the stitching holes?

Not in this lifetime.

I cringe when I see such things.

[Hags]

To the contrary, yes, I have. And it came out fine. I actually used a finish nail (think it was a 4 penny) that I put in the drill press and used a file to smooth out the head and put a fine point on it. That way it parts the leather more than drilling It. In hindsight, I'm not sure I needed the drill part of it as much as the press part. 3 to 4 layers of 7/8 is is doable I suppose, but not with my arthritis.  Just be sure to have something backing the piece.

Edited March 11, 2022 by Hags

[tsunkasapa]

2 hours ago, Hardrada said:

Not in this lifetime.

I cringe when I see such things.

[Danne]

6 hours ago, MtlBiker said:

(The only time I ever did something this thick before, I used my Techsew 2750 and it came out very well, but I am trying to improve/learn my hand stitching.)

 

I have no experience doing the products you do. But just a thought, can't you make your stitching holes with your sewing machine without thread so you can hand stitch it? 

[Spyros]

I'd use whatever works, a drill press, a sewing machine without thread, an oil derrick, whatever LOL

The traditional and recommended approach is to mark the holes and make them with an awl, but you might find it hard to keep the awl angle consistent the first couple of thousand times.

[Handstitched]

24 minutes ago, Spyros said:

a sewing machine without thread

While I have never used a drill,  I have used my machine without thread on occasion on the really thick stuff, like 8 -10 mm . And there are times when  my hands get quite sore especially in my knuckles ,a bit of ' Arthur Ritis' setting in  I guess,   making it difficult for me  to use an awl , the  joints in my hands  also seize up on occasion .  Very noticeable when using a rotary hole punch.  

HS

[chuck123wapati]

12 hours ago, MtlBiker said:

YouTube is full of helpful videos and I admit that most of (the little) I've learned about leather working and sewing in general has come from those videos.  Plus of course the outstanding help and advice of members here.  But often there are completely opposite views and for a novice it's hard to figure out the best approach.

For example, one of my next projects is to make a sheath for an axe.  No big deal, right?  This was going to be mostly for practice with hand stitching which I'm just getting into.  Anyway, I'm going to have three layers of leather... front and back pieces plus a gusset, and I'll be using either 6oz veg tan or 8oz (I have pieces of both).  So it's going to be pretty darn thick!  Either 18oz total, or 24.

I just watched a video which showed a way of making the stitching holes that I hadn't seen before... they used a drill press with a 1/16" drill!  Round holes of course, but all neatly lined up.  That was of course after marking where the holes should be.

All I've done so far is to use stitching chisels to punch through all layers if I was able to, or just part way to then finish the holes with an awl.

Would any of you even consider using a drill (press) to make the stitching holes?

(The only time I ever did something this thick before, I used my Techsew 2750 and it came out very well, but I am trying to improve/learn my hand stitching.)

 

you can make a hole any way you want. The question, will the hole you make fit your design, look good or be unnoticed.  Personally i think it would be to time consuming, ive made a few cribbage boards lol plus i dont like the look. I sew three layers of 10 most of the time if your awl is truly sharp it will go thru like butter if it doesn't its not sharp yet.

[kgg]

11 hours ago, MtlBiker said:

Would any of you even consider using a drill (press) to make the stitching holes?

I would definitely use my drill press not as a drill but just as a press. I would simply install a hole chisel in the head. For me it would be easier on the arms and with a simple alignment fence on the bed of the drill press the holes would always be aligned with the outside edge of the leather. Since you can set the downward travel of the head and the height of the bed you would get consistent chisel penetration. The only thing is going around corners you may have to change to a single or double tooth chisel.

You could also use a press similar to the:

i) Amazon at $169 CA which I don't think would give constant alignment of your holes as the head can swivel around the support arm and it would be only a single purpose machine.

( www.amazon.ca/dp/B07TBKGFBW/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?pd_rd_i=B07TBKGFBW&pd_rd_w=ov56M&pf_rd_p=8e308614-8b7b-45e9-9526-75d8e163854c&pd_rd_wg=vxfZ1&pf_rd_r=RZBGPHJ7K41F0NFTQT3C&pd_rd_r=a1ccbbd1-5dbd-4acb-9e8c-e50e934d47a5&s=kitchen&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExVEhZNzlUWElUMUlOJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDUyMTMzM0tKWDNVNVBOTDdXNyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzgyNDM2M05IOUlCMEtINVoxUSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1 )

ii) Tandy's Craftool pro hand press ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKWkyJg510g  )

My attitude would be use whatever works best, gives constant results with equipment that hopefully has more then just one function.

kgg

[billybopp]

Drilling holes will certainly work, but keep in mind when you do that you are actually removing leather at the holes.  They will not close up around the thread the way that they would if using an awl.  I wouldn't go that route.  However, I wouldn't hesitate to use an awl in the drill chuck with it secured so that it does not turn.  That has the advantage of being easier on hands and makes it easier to keep your awl aligned straight, and since you aren't removing material the holes will "heal" better.

- Bill