[Leather Working] Saddle stitching awl (diamond shape blade)

[Christophe Mineau]

Here are a couple of stitching awls I have made, build from scratch, blade and handle.

The two awls I have made are the two at the front, the one at the back is a vintage commercial one, for heavy duty leather work.
One of the handles is made of ash, and the other from ebony.



Here is how the blades are made, starting from a hardened concrete nail :
First, roughing out with a high speed grinder (I frequently dip the blade in a jar of water before it looses its temper).
I grind four faces, in a kind of sword shape.


I made a small batch blades of different width


Then I switch to the wet slow speed grinder, and I refine the edges. The tip is quite flat and cutting, and the body has a diamond shape, more intended to expand the hole than to cut it.





And here is the mounted awl, in the ebony handle. The blade is carefully honed on a strop, it must cut leather like butter.



And here is how it is used, with the stitching clamp I will show next time.

[Drew1966]

Is that a stitching horse or pony?

[Stevohdee]

Hey. Christophe, nice, neat job. Did you use 2 part epoxy to attach handles to blades? & how did you finish handles? Resin, wax, buffing compound?

[Christophe Mineau]

Is that a stitching horse or pony?

Hi, not a pony, it's a French style clamp, will show it next

[Christophe Mineau]

Hey. Christophe, nice, neat job. Did you use 2 part epoxy to attach handles to blades? & how did you finish handles? Resin, wax, buffing compound?

Hi Steve, no epoxy in this case, just a press fit, I wanted to be able to change the blade without too much difficulty, in case of breakage.
The ash one is finished with Danih oil, and the ebony one just polished. A very quick pass to the buffing wheel with Carnauba wax for both.
Note that the brass ferule has it's edge smoothed, in order to avoid hurting the leather.

[rossbotics]

Nice work Chris

Doug

[DIYer]

Thanks Christophe Mineau! We've added your Stitching Awls to our Leathercraft category,
as well as to your builder page: Christophe Mineau's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Stitching Awls by Christophe Mineau

tags: awl, leather

[old_toolmaker]

Christophe Mineau,

Very, Very nice work on those beautiful hand tools.

[PJs]

Beautiful made Stitching Awls, great pics and write up, Christophe! Thank you. Look forward to your "French Style Clamp" post.

PJ

[old_toolmaker]

Christophe Mineau,

What is that beautiful wood that was used in the dark handle? That is really set off nice with the brass ferrule!