groover vs. stitching holes

J

jkf96a

Well-Known Member
Just got a groover. I mark my holes with a stitching wheel, and drill them with a drill press. Do you run the groove, then punch the holes, or punch the holes then run the groove on top of them?
 
+1 on Mike's comment

Just wanted to add that I have attempted to groove over the holes on the back side after drilling and it never came out good for me.

-Josh
 
I groove the top side and make the holes spacing them evenly with the stitch spacer. After the holes are punched (I use a drill press with a sharp awl needle in the chuck to punch the holes) I then groove over the holes on the back side.
 
I find the push type groover works the best on the backside for me ( I use the holes for my guide on the backside if it's in outta sight)
The only groovers of this type that I know of are the old osborne's but they would be easy for a bladesmith to duplicate.

I groove before useing the awl on the front, also I groove everything for machine stitching and use that for my guide.
 
I run the groover over the front then the overstitch wheel on front to mark the holes. Punch the holes in the front side with a small special made round punch (AKA a finish nail) in my press. Now glue it together and clean the back edge up even with the front and run the groover over the back. Then using a saddlers awl poke the holes as I stitch. After sewing dampen and run overstitch wheel again on front and back to even things up and close the leather back around the stitching.

It's best not to drill holes with drill bit, you don't want to remove the material just push it back so it will close back in around the thread after stitching.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top