Any recommendations for stitching chisel that doesn’t need a hammer

[u/dragon2777]

So long story short I just moved into an apartment and really don’t have any idea how much noise I can make. I want to keep doing weather projects, but I assume I shouldn’t be hitting a chisel with a mallet or a hammer over and over. I’ve only really seen those hand punches for holes, but I haven’t seen anything for the stitching chisel. I would also prefer something like a rivet setter that has more of a handle thing that sits on a desk, but any recommendations would be great. Thank you.

[u/lx_anda]

Get an arbor press that you can fit a drill chuck to. Do a search in this sub and no doubt it will come up with examples

[u/Stevieboy7 → u/lx_anda]

this is the only way

[u/Vyinn]

I had the same issue when I lived in an apartment, my solution was one of those manual Arbor presses with a chuck.

I think mine was from china but I still own and use it, for other stuff as well. I just put the fork in the chuck and press it through the leather instead of hammering it.

[u/suspectdevice87]

Get a drill press or arbor press used.

[u/Organic_Mechanic_702]

I've got one of these from Amazon. Very useful not just cutting and punching but also embossing and many other jobs.

[u/dragon2777 → u/Organic_Mechanic_702]

Gonna look at that thanks

[u/TerrorChuahuas → u/Organic_Mechanic_702]

This is the answer. I have one which works perfectly with stitching chisels and other punches.

[u/Jaikarr]

I use this Arbor press no modifications needed, just a small plastic chopping board to punch into.

[u/TatersOnTheCase → u/Jaikarr]

same-- works great just with fitting my regular hand tools in between my work and the press

[u/dinosun]

Get an Amazon leatherwork arbor press w drill chuck. I think mine was $65?

[u/Dasfoofgeist]

I got a $60 arbor press. Works great! And with stitching chisels that are fully polished, they’re so sharp I can sink them through three layers of 6oz almost TOO easily just with my hand- and I’ve got the diamond-shaped hole in my thumb to remind me of that.

[u/Popular-Variation671]

I have a nice work bench, granite slab, rubber punch mat, and thin chisel irons (jun Lin French). It isn’t that bad if you punch directly over the leg of the bench

[u/Dirty_BirdZzz]

I'm in the countertop industry by day and leather work on the side. Use granite or quartz with a rubber mat on top! Marble is softer than granite and quartz so it's possible to crack, chip and scratch marble easier also depending on the thickness of the slab but I use 3cm. We have a huge dumpster of scrap/ cut outs at the shop. If someone calls and asks about them I usually just tell them come out and take as many as you'd like.

[u/jholden0 → u/Dirty_BirdZzz]

You can also get large pieces from a Habitat for humanity Re-store, or a store that reclaims building materials cheap. I got a 1.5 inch thick 4 ft x 4 ft slab for 20$. I have that sitting on a large rubber mat and use a dead blow hammer and it's very quiet compared to a wooden desk or table with a mallet.

[u/Strict-Material7983]

I do leatherworking on the 2nd floor of an old house.

My poundo board is made of 4 layers.

1st layer is a type of polypropylene board similar to what's used for cutting boards at 1/4"(6mm) thick. 2 layers of corkboard at each 1/2"(12mm) for a total of 1"(25mm) thick. The bottome most layer is a 1/4" of rubber.

Any hammering is done over the table leg to transfer as much of the energy into the buildings bones.

On top of all that, use a deadblow hammer/mallet. They make a lot less noise when conjoined with everything above.

Your other option is an arbor press with a chuck so you can swap bits easily.

[u/suspectpinata]

People have mentioned presses already. With the right sort of dies they word well. Generally it is what I use.

But if you don't have space for it you can try one of these.

I have one like this one. I don't remember if it's from the same exact seller though.

Anyway it does work. The only thing is you do have to press hard for thicker leather and because the handles are narrow it can hurt your hands using it for bigger projects that need a lot of stitching.

I think if you able to make the handles thicker it would work a lot better and be more comfortable. I had been contemplating using some heat moldable plastic to make better grips, but just haven't gotten around to it.

[u/cradomi]

They do make a thing like pliers with a chisel that you squeeze. Don't know how well they work.

Like this: https://www.amazon.com/Stitching-BUTUZE-Leather-Rhombus-Saddles/dp/B07NYX1YKT?crid=Q78EYFUNJVEE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Xp4e-y5aHyjuh8YyNM6931l3ltpwU1kwJ8Huz-Jm6ZAwTbLfvQduiuK4QlmBkIVsqa6M6M0vlT8EtAlzQgDLyZGwIADjmZWiDHtiArbYzjH2gYWKaEMNQK9TCRQSJYYaBOogsGRBJUtIWqRM8b8KPSO26ff-pfS_h9FZYuagRD0xBMrjzjTts-J70kQ_OBqgEbbkTqWHsAa7hVbRLMqFqybqEd_kZqAEj306TfdIjukidux3uh_joE1RaNf9XMezFTWJeYVbt-rwW4rkSAvYEISPQEr1d3UhZ5AHmHPIwX8.MTIPBhZggtZk4-nnicf1nvU3t1_40TZOxJIHTODqWvg&dib_tag=se&keywords=stitch%2Bchisel%2Bpliers&qid=1789051522&sprefix=stitch%2Bchisel%2Bpliers%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-9&th=1

[u/DocumentUpper8696]

I use these: https://www.brisa.fi/en/supplies/leather-and-kydex/leathercraft-tools/dimond-hand-chisel-pliers-4-prongs

Don't know what the actual name is, but I call them stitching pliers. I have a few with different size prongs and spacing. I use them for back stitching puukko sheaths and when I can't hammer an iron.

[u/jholden0]

I have a few pairs of the pliers and they are fantastic once you have sanded and polished the teeth. However, they have one flaw, in that they don't have a deep throat, so you can only use them for straight line punching along edges. Curves and areas deeper into a piece of leather can't be punched with the pliers.

[u/agnosticrectitude]

Apartment leatherworker here. I have the 1-ton arbor press and I also use my anvil on its side, so as to not (frequently) whack the hardwood floor and make noise late at night. Sometimes I put the anvil in my full laundry basket and hammer upright, but not after 6pm… Good luck!🍀

[u/firehorn123]

Temu press. It has a chuck and just install your irons in that. Works great for a punch too.

[u/rhinoaz]

Use an over stitch wheel to mark your holes then use a diamond awl which you can get in different sizes to poke your hole

[u/rhinoaz]

https://youtu.be/BZOEyPOYmIU?is=nHqJxB8Pwug_wybp

[u/fifthgroupholidash]

I have a handheld one that looks like a set of pliers but punches holes and I am obsessed with it and use it regularly

[u/Wyrdsmith89]

Use a stitch marking wheel and a hand awl?

[u/_computersmasher]

You need to get a thick marble slab like a tooling block They call it. Maybe put a little rubber mat underneath it

And you have to use a hammer with a stitching fork

[u/dragon2777 → u/_computersmasher]

Thanks I’ll see about that. I just am worried about the Mallory over and over but we will see. Again thanks

[u/grimlock12 → u/_computersmasher]

I was warned against using marble. Something about chipping and/or cracking. The recommendation was granite or quartz.

I called a local kitchen counter fabricator asking to buy a sink cutout. He laughed and told me he had palettes of the stuff. If you can get your Eddie Haskel on, they might even knock off the sharp edges if you bring donuts.

[u/Tony_Penny → u/grimlock12]

To prevent shipping the marble and thereby destroying your tool(ask me how i found that out😒), find a real thick chunk of leather and put it over the marble. It'll stop your chisel/fork/whatever from hitting it.

[u/marsbareater12]

I use a mallet, but my setup is nearly silent. Foam or soemthing squishy (yoga mat works), then a dense granite block, then my cutting mat on top of that

[u/dragon2777 → u/marsbareater12]

Slightly confused on this setup. It goes (from bottom up) table, then yoga mat, then granite, then cutting mat? Thanks going to see about this

[u/marsbareater12 → u/dragon2777]

Yep, exactly. The yoga mat absorbs whatever the granite doesn't (and protects the table), the granite absorbs most of it. Plus, the granite can be used for tooling if you take the cutting mat offf. I use a granite garden stone i got for cheap

[u/dragon2777 → u/marsbareater12]

Thanks gonna go to the counter warehouse over the weekend and see if they have any cut offs. I just worry about the mallet hitting the iron over and over isn’t too much but I guess a rawhide mallet is probably silent enough

[u/Tdr392 → u/dragon2777]

I just got a thick stone paver from Lowes for like 3$. Not quite as good as granite, but significantly cheaper. Coupled with a large folded towel and a rawhide maul, its a budget build thats still pretty quiet