Anyone use 'chisels' for stitch holes?

[DT Guy]

Hi,

Just found this place, and very glad I did!

I'm going to try my hand at a few leather holster and mag pouches (years since I have done any leather, but I do lots of Kydex), and noticed a variety of chisels offered for punching stitch holes.

I've always done them by drill in the past, and though the chisels looked like they may make a neater and quicker job of getting the stitch holes done; is anyone using them?

If not, I'd love to hear suggestions for speeding up hand-stitching (well, I like the stitching, but don't really like the drilling... )


Thanks,

Larry

[alfsauve]

I am with leather tools, like Michael Bane is with a Dremel Tool.  Very crude to say the least.

I use a hand punch for making holes in belts.  Not quite the same as a chisel, though you can think of it as a single hole chisel.   It makes for very neat holes with very clean edges.    I always put either a piece of soft pine 2x4 or another piece of leather underneath my work.

Other than some kits, my best work was an original carry case/holster for my PPK.  Used it for almost 20 years.  Sadly it's gone now and I don't have any pictures.

[Dalton Masterson]

Myself, I use a diamond awl when I hand stitch. Its blade is very short though, at probably only 1" long. Easy to control when its that short.
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DM