Leather stitching needles needed, help please!

[Trotsky]

While buying something from Tandy for the missus the other day I picked up their 7 needle set on a whim, easily my worst purchase of the year. I'm making myself a wet moulded sheath for my new Peasant Mini knife and in trying to stitch around the sheath 3 needles broke at the eye one after the other and the holes were punched at that.
Needless to say I'm going to bin the rest and buy some new but, given this experience I don't want to waste more money. So would any of you more experienced leather working folks have any recommendations? I could do with some straight and curved needles strong enough to handle thick leather without busting.

Thanks

 

[SCOMAN]

I use a speedy stitcher, works great and I've never had a needle break.

 

[KenThis]

I use a speedy stitcher, works great and I've never had a needle break.

+1 for the speedy stitcher for leather.

 

[Toddy]

It does indeed but if you want needles, on the large size needles, but strong ….
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-P...791419?hash=item1a020154fb:g:TiwAAOSw9N1VirUz

There's a whole thread running somewhere on needles that come recommended by those of us who sew stuff

M

 

[Fadcode]

Try Ebay I bought mine from this seller quite reasonable, has a good stock
http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/quality_leather_products?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2754

 

[Rflw]

I know whch needles you are talking about had 2 break on me.
I got some needles free with some ritza thread and they are great. No difference in width the whole length of the needle.

Some cause of breaks though can be through incorrect stitching technique.....again figured this out the hard way!
When the thread starts to get short it is tempting to grip the needles and pull without an extra loop of thread around your hands. This can put sideways pressure on the needle and on the eye. Not easy to explain but loads of you tube vids on the subject.

 

[birchwood]

I use 'John James ' saddlery needles. They are very good. They make needles for just about every use.
Make sure when sewing that you pull the needles through straight as any sideways leverage or wiggling will encourage things to break.

 

[big_swede]

I agree that john james needles are second to none. However, when I made a few pairs of boots a few years ago I used bristles instead of needles. After getting over that awkward step of learning how to 'thread' them I could sew using smaller holes which is to my eyes more neat. Although in making sheats and general small stuff the added benefit of better waterrepellance is probably not important.

 

[Hibrion]

John James here too. Even good needles will break if you force them too much, so make sure you are using a suitabke sized awl for the needle and thread you choose.

 

[Trotsky]

Wow, thank you for all the responses. I'll have a look into those John James needles and the other on Ebay.
I already have one of the Speedy Stitch Awls, got it for xmas a couple of years back. It's a great little think but sometimes either I want to use a normal needle or the nature of the project means I must.
I've never come across needles as rubbish as the ones I mentioned in my first post. I wasn't in the slightest way rough with them, I just tried to draw the eye through the pre-made hole and "click" it snapped leaving the back end of the eye stuck in there. Looking at where they broke they seem like monkey metal to me, the closest they've gotten to steel is if the delivery wagon drove past the British Steel plant in Scunny

 

[Pioneer72]

I just ordered some of those recommended by Toddy - I got a knife sheath waiting to be stitched

 

[Leshy]

It does indeed but if you want needles, on the large size needles, but strong ….
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-P...791419?hash=item1a020154fb:g:TiwAAOSw9N1VirUz

There's a whole thread running somewhere on needles that come recommended by those of us who sew stuff

M

Those are brilliant! Proper nice little find, I got them a few weeks back when I read that thread on it, they're such a great find I ordered some more for my mother in law...

 

[Toddy]

We've had a few threads running on the topic over the years. The consensus is that modern needles can be 'okay' but they're not the quality of the old Redditch ones. Sometimes you just have to use what you can get hold of though

If asked for quality Chinese factories can do it, but most western buyers are buying a cut rate price, and it shows.

Anyway, for those interested in a read…
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=100172

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109006

M

 

[Tengu]

I use John James too, they are good.

I have broken needles too, but not the John James