Pricking Irons Vs Stitching Chisels

Pricking irons are used to mark the leather, and stitching chisels are used to fully penetrate the leather. Is this correct? Or is it just a misconception... Let's find out!

When I first started leather craft I was so confused with all these different punching tools like pricking irons, stitching chisels, round dents, stitching punches and many more... Let me tell you that it's not that hard to understand it and at the end of this blog it will be much easier for you to know exactly what is used for what.

First of all I want to tell you that when it comes to pricking irons and stitching chisels, there was a reason why it's called like it is, but as the time goes, these two names are used interchangeably. Some pricking irons are used like stitching chisels and some stitching chisels are used like pricking irons. 

Pricking Irons

Marks the holes for piercing with the awl. Requires you to master the awl

Pricking irons are used to mark the leather for stitching. They are used to mark equally spaced, even and symetrically slanted stitches prior to saddle stitching. Most pricking irons require the use of an awl, because they will only mark your stitches and not penetrate the leather. Each prong on the pricking iron is slanted at an angle, so you will get that classic beautiful slanted saddle-stitch.

Not every pricking iron gives you the same look. There is multiple styles when it comes to a pricking irons. You can find inverse pricking irons, flat pricking irons and much more. Everyone is different and everyone likes something different. 

Stitching Chisels

Penetrate through the leather without a need of an awl.

Unlike pricking irons, stitching chisels will penetrate the leather, and you don't need to use an awl in the saddle stitching process. Stitching chisels will make equally spaced, even and symetrically slanted stitches prior to saddle stitching.

Not every stitching chisel gives you the same look. There is multiple styles when it comes to a stitching chisels. You can find inverse stitching chisels, flat stitching chisels, diamond shaped and much more. Everyone is different and everyone likes something different. 

Diamond Stitching Chisels

Penetrate through the leather without a need of an awl.

Diamond stitching chisels penetrate the leather like a classic stitching chisels, but unlike classic stitching chisels, diamond stitching chisels will give you a diamond shaped holes and not the slanted ones. Diamond stitching chisels will make equally spaced and even diamond style stitches prior to saddle stitching.  

Round Dent Pricking Irons

Penetrate through the leather without a need of an awl.

Round dents are another very popular style of a pricking irons and they will make you a round shaped holes and will penetrate all the way through the leather. Round dents push the leather to the sides and will not cut the actual leather, so you will not lose any of the leather durability. 

Stitching Punches

Cuts the holes in the leather without a need of an awl.

Stitching punches are another popular choice in leather crafting, because they give you a very unique style of stitching. Unlike round dents, stitching punches will cut through the leather and make you a round holes.

Some more facts

Pricking irons and stitching chisels comes with various numbers of prongs and different spacings, so you can speed up your work or be more precise when working with them.

As I said before, some modern pricking irons penetrate through the leather and other will only mark your leather, so you have to use an actual awl.

It is believed that pricking irons gives you the best looking and most refined stitching that you can see on a luxury wallets, purses and handbags.

No one will tell you which stitching style is better because everything is always personal preference, so you should decide for yourself.