I have so many leatherworking tools in my shop, I’m not even sure I could count them all.“which tool gets the first spot on blog”?yes, I struggled with that question too.They all have an extremely important role to play, and without most I couldn’t create what I make.
In traditional saddlery or harness work, pricking irons were used, they mark stitch holes on the leather and give a guide as to where to place the hole made by the awl. In more recent times stitch chisels have been created, these actually punch all the way through the leather, in many ways replacing the need to use an awl. Neither is better than the other, but as a beginner chisels are really handy and help to create a really clean stitch.
The Traditional is the stitch attained using a pricking iron and awl and the modern is that using the Stitching Iron and no awl.
High quality French style pricking iron for leather hand stitching.
These pricking irons are strong in design and materials. Made in a high grade cold-work die steel with great anti-rust properties. The shaping of the handle enables easy use and a comfortable hand hold. Polished, from handle to prongs enabling smooth withdrawal from the leather. A gorgeous design and handy shape.
We provide two directions for the slant of the stitch - 'Standard' and 'Reverse' direction. This allows you to punch both sides of the leather and add stitch holes to the back of your work if you require this. Please select Reverse for the back side of the work.
Sizes:Prongs are in 9.8 mm length, this sharp punch can easily go through thickness 4.5mm or 11oz leather. (5.0mm or 12.5 oz theoretically).
Model 7 (3.85mm prong-spacing), with 2 standards, one with 2 prongs, the other with 8 prongs.Prong width:2.4mm.
Model 8 (3.38mm prong-spacing),with 2 standards, one with 2 prongs, the other with 8 prongs.Prong width:2.2mm.
Model 9 (3.0mm prong-spacing),with 2 standards, one with 2 prongs, the other with 5 prongs.Prong width:1.8mm.
Model 10(2.7mm prong-spacing),with 2 standards, one with 2 prongs, the other with 5 prongs.Prong width:1.6mm.
1 prongs-S:fit for Model 9 and Model 10.bothobverse direction and reverse directionare common.
1 prongs-M: fit for Model 7 and Model 8 .bothobverse direction and reverse directionare common.
They work the same way, they are designed to fully punch through the leather making a hole without the need of an awl so you are ready to stitch straight away.
The teeth tend to be long, straight and very thick and leave a large diamond shape hole. The biggest issue with these tools is that the edges of the teeth tend to be quite sharp, so the hole you make is the hole to are left with, it will not close up well so not suited to more adept leather workers. I have found them ideal for absolute beginners as the large hole they give makes it very easy to get the needles through and therefore stitch. People often get the balance wrong when stitching and have to resort to pliers, these definitely will avoid that.
We had been working hard on building a high quality leather chisel since the first day we established WUTA. Our chisels were sent to different leather craft studios to be tested by various craft masters. Mostly we received positive feedback. After overcoming all these difficulty, our original design chisel now officially presents in the peoplersquos eyes.