Hand Stitching Leather

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Hi all. I've made myself a stitching pony using Chuck's website advice. It's great - but stitching the pipe section of the holster is tough. There doesn't seem to be a good angle at which to clamp the holster. Maybe it'll come with experience.

Skeet, stick a piece of dowel or wood that will fit in the bucket, your pony needs something to grab hold of, this is what I do and it works fine.

                                                      Regards

                                                 tEN wOLVES   

[ChuckBurrows]

FWIW - I generally sew most of the the pipe before adding the toe  plug - the rest I just sew up without the pony after inserting the plug. In the old days that was called "lap work" because you held the piece between your knees/thighs while stitching. Since I prepunch my holes (due to arthritis in my hands I can't do the traditional hold two needles and the awl at one time method anymore) and also generally glue my pieces together (except for museum quality repros) I in fact seldom use my pony anymore, but still recommend a pony for most work when you don't have my "problems"............

[Skeeter Lewis]

Thanks 10W and Chuck. That'll solve it for me. Skeet

[RollingThunder]

I don't use a pony when I sew. I pre-punch my leather like Chuck mentioned. Works much better for me. Simple enough to set a marker hole even on both sides, and then run a wheel down and punch the holes. If I'm off at all, it's in the initial cut, and easily sanded out and buffed down.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy all

      I'd like to say one thing about the pony or mule like Ace calls it, Ace made me one a few years ago, it's of the same design of the one Chuck Burrows uses, Ace made this mule to my spec's and it is perfect for me and my height, being 6'4" has always been a problem when it came to things like this, but now I can sew using two needles and both hands, sitting in a comfortable chair and having my work right in front of me in a user friendly position and enjoy sewing, even though my left hand is messed up, it took me a little time to get used to the mule, but for me this is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time, it has cut my sewing time down at least 50%, and my back and neck aren't soar and hurting when I'm finished, like I said being tall can have its disadvantages, but thanks to this mule Ace made me, it has leveled the playing field so to speak, I also fine that prepunching my holes works best for me too, using a piece of dowel or piece of wood that fits in the bucket of the holster gives my mule something to grab on to, so that I don't have to flatten the holster out in order to do my sewing, even though there is a wide opening beneath the jaws it is some times not enough to be able to grab your work , so the dowel or wood helps greatly with this.

                                              Regards

                                      tEN wOLVES   

[Skeeter Lewis]

Marshal Will, what's the website for the Hungarian linen thread? Barbour's is expensive and (I think) the company has ceased to exist.

Maybe you've posted it somewhere and I've missed it.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Marshal Will, what's the website for the Hungarian linen thread? Barbour's is expensive and (I think) the company has ceased to exist.

Maybe you've posted it somewhere and I've missed it.

    Howdy Skeeter

        I just got some Barbour's 5 strand linen thread  from these people, Cambell Bosworth   http://www.campbell-bosworth.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/6_71_73   check out this link and I'm sure you will find something to suit you

       I also got some Pine Pitch and Bees Wax from Jas Townsend at   http://jas-townsend.com/product_info.php?products_id=373

                Chuck Burrows and Will Ghromely posted this information, Thanks Pards for keeping us informed

                                       Hope this helps Skeeter

                                           Regards

                                       tEN wOLVES 

[saddler]

Anyone use an awl manufactured by other than Osborne or Tandy?

Dixon, an English maker (same firm has been making leather tools for about 200 years or so - they also made cartridge reloading tools in the 19th century)

[Skeeter Lewis]

Thanks, 10 W. Skeet

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I see you got the information you need, Skeeter. I bought my thread from Campbell-Bosworth as TW posted in the first link. I haven't tried it yet because I need to finish my other thread, but it's sitting on the bench waiting to be used.

[Skeeter Lewis]

Thanks, guys. I hadn't realised the Hungarian thread came from Campbell Bosworth too. Skeet

[Dr. Bob]

Howdy saddler,

The same Dixon that made so many powder flasks??

[saddler]

Howdy saddler,

The same Dixon that made so many powder flasks??

Yes, the same...though I haven't approached them directly to confirm, they are in the same town as the powder flask Dixon

Most other British companies of the period have gone now - a few Sheffield knifemakers are still trading (some from the same premises as in the 1800's)

Put it in perspective - one of the tanneries I get my leather from has been in the same street since about 1850: one of their suppliers started business in 1600

I can easily check if its the same people, but the old cartridge tools I have seem to bear the same maker trademark in the same type-face, etc.

Jon

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy All

     I just recently decided to try the thread that Chuck Burrows likes to use, the Barbours Linen, 5 cord left twist in natural white and the Bees Wax & Pine Pitch rendered and blended together as a wax for my thread, I followed Little Al's instructional information on the best way to make the bees wax and pine pitch blend, and it worked out great, Thanks Little Al, I have to say this is the finest thread I've used yet, and I can see why Chuck Burrows likes it so well, I also used Marshal Will's suggestion of dragging the wax down from the both needles to the center, I gave each side about 6 strokes each, that made since to me, and the thread seemed to pass through the leather much more smoothly, this wax and pine pitch is nice to work with, and like what was said it smells good too, I like the look of this thread too, it presents its self real well after being stitched. And a special thanks to CowboyWC, for turning me on to the Stitching Chisel.

                        So thanks Chuck,Little Al, Marshal Will and CowboyWC for this good information

                         
                                           Best Regards

                                          tEN wOLVES   

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That's cool, TW. I haven't tried the blend yet. I'll have to get going with that. I guess I'll need to order some pitch to use for that.

[JD Alan]

I'm wondering with so manmy people blending wax and pitch, does someone has some they'd be willing to sell to a pard who doesn'tr sew a lot? Also, I wonder what stitching chisel 10 Wolves is talking about? I've got all the chisels Tandy sells, so is it something besides those?

Inquiring minds want to know! Thanks guys, JD

 

[Skeeter Lewis]

I've gone over to Barbour's thread - and there's no going back to the Tandy thread. It is just so much better. At the moment I'm using straight beeswax but I'd like to try Chuck's pitch pine idea. Is it half-and-half pine tar and beeswax?

I know there is advice on this subject - if someone can point me there. Skeet

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

I've gone over to Barbour's thread - and there's no going back to the Tandy thread. It is just so much better. At the moment I'm using straight beeswax but I'd like to try Chuck's pitch pine idea. Is it half-and-half pine tar and beeswax?

I know there is advice on this subject - if someone can point me there. Skeet

   Howdy Skeet

        Looks like we're both sold on the Barbours thread, for the Bees Wax and Pine pitch blend I used 2/3 bees wax and  1/3 pine pitch, just heat it up until it gets syrupy ( I used an old Crock Pot, which is safer, if you have to do this on an open flame cooker , do it outside, the pitch is very flamable, and be real careful ) then pour into and old cup cake tin, don't use your wife's good one, I bought my own just to be safe LOL, you can make as much or as little as you want, I used WC's idea of putting the cup cake tin the freezer after I poured what I wanted in it, then when frozen, just turn it over and tap it out.

                    Hope this helped, I know you will like the results

                                 Regards

                           tEN wOLVES 

[Missouri Half Breed]

i use a dremal

[JD Alan]

So MHB, are you using a Dremel with a drill bit to punch holes for stitching?