Pricking Iron Review Part 11 Crimson Hides

This video will hopefully assist you in choosing the right tool to suit you and your style of stitching.
Due to the overall size and to make it easier for you to find the iron you want to see, I have broken down the review into individual videos.
In addition to this, you can download the specification sheet from my website: www.armitageleather.com/shop
Enjoy
Nige

[@MrEntouch]

I truly appreciate your videos and the fact you share your knowledge with others. It is very helpful and I just wanted to say a warm heartfelt Thank you! these reviews are great and informative!

[@tradesmenleathercompany9178]

I am super excited about these. Thanks Nige.

[@lindamellingen5977]

Love the irons, and the thread as well. Thumbs up for your presentation. You are my online professor Leather! Hope Crimsonhide get a online page soon. 😊👍

[@johndally7994]

After watching this video I ordered a pair of the 4mm as well as the 3mm, and they are the best I own. Thanks again.

[@Rsama60]

Thanks for the review. I have the irons for a year now and are very satisfied with them. July last year I was in Singapore, I ordered one more iron and met them in person. They are a nice couple, we had coffee in a mall and had good conversations about leatherwork. I am actually a knifemaker and making my own sheats is just another skill I had to learn. I learned a lot through KZbin alos through Nigels channel. I think it is time to say BIG thank you.

[@dougdavis8367]

Hello I now have the irons took ten days from first email. they have transformed my work before I was a good at stitching , now I have top looking saddle stitch. This review and buying the irons has totally changed my work for the much better. Be aware VAT and import duty adds 20%

[@walterholmes4609]

I watched this when you first posted it and have since bought all the complete sets. I still have and use my Blanchards and an old #7 Dixon (which is my all-time favorite), but it is hard to beat the Crimsons for speed and aesthetics. I would say for firmer leather these are the only way to go. We, all of us out here, really do owe you a debt for your dedication to our mutual obsession, the perfect stitch. Thank you.

[@rarknivesandleatherwork8045]

Very insightful review Nigel and I concur with your findings. I've been using my 4mm set since Christmas and noticed the back stitch looked straight. I make fairly thick leather sheaths for the knives I make and the polished teeth have made the task a lot lot easier. I have a rack of irons with broken or bent teeth from the several of the others you have reviewed. I cannot see these joining them. As you say for us at intermediate skill level these are a boon. I continue to practice with the awl but it is unlikely I will reach the level I can produce with these irons. A real game changer for me.

[@musaziz1948]

I bought the Crimson Hides 3mm (2 and 5 tooth) stitching irons based on your review....and I'm not disappointed. Best investment as a beginner. Thanks for this review Nigel.

[@caposdad]

Hi Nigel Thanks for a great review of the Crimson Hide stitching iron. Like all your videos it was well produced and easy to watch. Based upon your review I ordered a set. Some of the sizes were not available but I did manage to procure a set of 3.85mm in 9, 5, and 2 teeth irons. Unfortunately Crimson Hide are restocking their irons so availability is limited. My irons arrived today and to say I am impressed is an understatement. They are a dream to use. I have already stitched a test piece using 0.6mm Tiger thread and I am pleased with the results. These irons are so sharp i actually cut myself putting the 2 prong iron back in the box. Thanks for the good advice

[@nickhdeep6leatherworks338]

Thanks Nigel. I think I've made my choice in irons. Crimson it is.

[@MiguelAngelBriones]

just got mine today, great tool, the best. thank you for sharing.

[@carlossanches7862]

great video. lots of respect for you

[@rfleecs]

I just enjoyed your review of the Crimson Hides stitching irons (again) and after consulting with them about the possibility of changing the angle of the teeth, ordered a set of 4mm irons anyway! They indicated that they weren't going to change anything in the design, but my experience with the 3.85mm set I purchased previously was so positive I am sure that I will enjoy the new set just as well! I purchased the previous set based on the review from Justin at Makesupply, who was also impressed. Anyway, thanks for the review, and I look forward to seeing what videos that you have coming from across the pond!!! Happy New Year from Nebraska, USA!

[@cjdogs69]

take my money. looks like its time for an upgrade! I've already emailed them. Great review Nigel.

[@bazlur-Vancouver]

I like your woodwork bench(cut tree trunk).I saw this pricking Iron before, but did not know that this is hybrid one. I have craftsha to all chinese made stuffs. they all work well, if you have good crafty hands and accuracy in your character.I'm fond of Japanese and German tools(for my fine woodworks and fishing related stuffs). I saw Blanchard or KS(looks good quality). Probably going to buy this one . I'm not professional, but do other hobby works. with my experiences english and Japanese instructors are great . I like how you describe in details and worthy. Check your other videos.

[@chrissg01]

I am a beginner. I purchased the 3.25 (2+5) based solely on your recommendation..helps that they are a local company...

[@jjwmacdo]

Thanks Nigel. I'd been looking at these and I can see they're great, but I really need a steeper angle on them.

[@ArmitageLeather]

Yes, although... They produce a good stitch as they are, that is evident. It would just get better I think with a tooth closer to the 45 degree mark. Now I stitch strong leather, thick and functional, fashion stitching and fine stitching can be slighter like these and is come cases needs to be otherwise the stitching is too wide. I think if you are stitching fine light goods, this irons is better. Chunky bags and cases like my work, more of an angle. It is therefore subjective. Either way, nice irons.

[@tristanrousset]

Your voice is epic dude. Also good review if I wasn't a poor student I would invest in them.

[@ArmitageLeather]

Thank you Tristan, this has made me smile.

[@Soul_Watcher]

I Just purchase the 2+9 Im 3mm. I have some really nice Japanese Vinymo MBT thread I purchased a month or so ago. And I have been looking for the right tool, with the right quantity and I believe I have found it. Especially for a beginning leathercraftsmen. Or hope to be one day. Like you said, I can see this working for me even once I get to intermediate craftsmanship. I just spent over $200. But for the 2+9 was $200. However, I didn’t like that they said they are not responsible for lost items that they ship to me. That doesn’t make me feel confident at all. Idk if I spent the $92 in extra shipping if they would then be responsive for the possible Loss of the item? Well all, wish me luck. Cheers.

[@usernamemykel]

Brilliant, thorough review! QUESTION: I've a +/- 50 year old leather briefcase to restore (was my dad's). It is dried out and hard, has dry-rotted double machine row stitching, so the seams are hardly intact, and it needs to be re-dyed. So - dye first THEN condition (Bick 4?, Neatsfoot oil?) OR condition THEN dye? Your anticipated response is very much appreciated.

[@jametheresareale2897]

They show a Japanese and a French style iron on their website. Which ones were you testing?

[@pfitz671]

thanks for sharing and keep up the great, hard works. You did a fine job on this review as these will be my next pricking irons. I'll be ungrading from the Kyoshin Elle to these. I am able to produce what looks like a quality stitch (when I compare my work to others it looks about as good, the same or in some cases, better). If I'm able to produce a great looking stitch with what I'm currently using (Kyoshin), do you think the Crimson Hide will help my stitching be even better? I am currently having to work my saddle stitch in a way that helps produce that nice slant. If I didn't use that technique the slant would not be nearly as pronounced. Since you have experience with both pricking irons, is the upgrade necessary for my advancement with stitching? I'm looking for a highly pronounced slant while at the same time, being able to punch all of the way through the leather. I'm not experienced enough with an awl to ensure that the holes on the back side are perfect like the front. I've messed up quite a few items messing around with that damn awl...lol (I'm still practicing though). Thanks

[@pfitz671]

My Kyoshin Elle are the craft sha diamond point. The black ones with the round shafts. Nothing like the look of a Crimson Hide or other quality irons. Just wanted to give you this info, I case you had the time to reply to my question. Thanks

[@surfearth1]

What kind of wood is your log bench made of? Did you coat it in bees wax?

[@SammyBattle]

Apologies Nigel you've probably been asked this before, but could you tell me what cloth you use to rub along the stitch and also what you hit it down with - it sounds like metal on metal? Cheers

[@kujikiri87]

I've been looking at other stitching irons, Crimson Hide among them (the other one being KS Blade Punch), and while they look absolutely fantastic, until I get more advanced in my work I'll have to be satisfied with the Seiwas that I currently use. The price point is a factor that's hard to ignore.

[@ArmitageLeather]

You can't go wrong with the Seiwa, they are good solid tools that if used well will produce a good stitch and last a long time. I have them here in the workshop and teach with them, they get abused, dropped and hit at all angles, there is no damage to them yet. I have not come across the KS Blade Punches yet,

[@kujikiri87]

They're quite unusual in their physical shape from other irons, though I have heard good things about them. My local Tandy owner was a little disparaging towards my Seiwas when he saw them, but then again, I think he may have a slight bias :)

[@ArmitageLeather]

Usual, unusual, like, dislike... do they do the job? Can you achieve with them what you need to to a standard you are happy with? If you can, then they are good enough. What people think of irons depends of what they can do with them, or what they want to do with them. I make heavy strong items, I want a certain angle, small hole and consistency. But I use an awl, so ?i use pricking irons. Some people don't want to use an awl, they want a larger hole... and so on. If it works for you, it's good enough, don't get too lost in other peoples opinions, especially mine, how i stitch may not be how you want to stitch or indeed suit what you are making.

[@Soul_Watcher]

Hello. Are these the Japanese Crimson irons or their French irons?

[@timothyharmonjr8413]

Hi, Nigel, excellent video! I was wondering if this was a good place to ask but do you have any advice for turned stitching/ piping? I was hoping to make myself a bag with some piping, however, I don't really know how to go about it. Should I add a rope core to the piping? Do I trim the excess before turning the bag right side out? Any advice or literature suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

[@ArmitageLeather]

Timothy, too much information for the space here, drop me an email.

[@ateliernussbaum]

Rudolf from Switzerland like this video, but, I like the Awle too

[@ArmitageLeather]

There are other irons for the awl Rudolf, these are for those not yet confident in the awl or indeed for those that do not want to use one. They very much have their place in leatherwork, as do the pricking irons and awls.

[@ateliernussbaum]

I do practice with all other stitching irons like seiwa, tandy, craft and did my stitching sample like you did on the video to see the difference, with different thread 0,8, 0,6, and others 1mm. Doing this I realise, that pricing Iron is not nothing, and practise with the awl and with the irons. You have your own words in the better english, we are on the top of stitching. with the awl I do see backwards, where the awle does come out, but will learn to stitch blind. leftside and rightside both a nice stitch, this is training. Whoud only mark, the awle is first for me, the stiching irons second in training. All this learnd by nigel armitage, the good adress for leather workers. give me five nigel, rudolf

[@cueromg2024]

Greetings from Peru. a question. which pricking iron diamond is better in your opinion? crimson or ksblade

[@atelierravich]

For small bags and small leather goods which is better for beginners? Amy Roke or Crimson Hides?

[@alanaroxin3974]

What do you tap it with? I am new to leather and I am looking for the best quality and I think I have found the iron I am going for! I love the review and I am convinced. THANK YOU!

[@ArmitageLeather]

Hi Alana, a Barry King maul for pretty much most jobs in the workshop, I have different sizes and weights, but the one I go to the most is the 32oz round.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Sold

[@Aiphrodisiakum]

I have a question please, you say the pricking iron are good for beginners. What exactly do Craftsmen use which are more advanced?

[@ArmitageLeather]

Die, this is one of a number of videos about the irons available, pricking irons are the more advanced option and they are included in this list. I have reviewed the Dixon, Blanchard and Osbourne irons which you can find in the other videos.

[@steveogden9637]

Great review as always Nigel. Did you realise you had your apron on inside out 😅 just saying

[@lyubaev]

What do you think about Wuta's leather pricking irons compare to these?

[@ArmitageLeather]

I haven't tried the Wuta irons yet Maxim so it would be wrong for me to comment. If Wuta send me some I will certainly review them and add them to the list.

[@schiehallion13]

Hi Nigel, Where do you buy your aprons? They look really good quality.

[@ArmitageLeather]

Online... that is about as specific as I can be. Had them a long lime and could not tell you where from.

[@schiehallion13]

Thanks, I will have a look around. Not impressed by what I have found locally.

[@fellfromspace]

Thank you for posting these thorough reviews. I am relatively new to the craft, and I find them extraordinarily helpful. I was hoping you might answer a question for me. At around the 22:40 mark of the video, you say that as long as you are making items that don't take stress or strain, you could get by your entire career using these irons. While I knew that different types of irons would produce different looks and that some are more suitable for beginners than others, I was not aware that some were more suitable for stitching items that would come under strain. Presumably, you mean that they produce a stronger or more durable result. Could you clarify this for me and say a few words about why that is the case? That would be very helpful. Again, thank you.

[@Bodom1after1midnight]

Having watched some of his other reviews he talks about stitching for saddles etc where someone's life effectively depends on the stitching being 100% solid, i'd imagine that's what he is referring to with regards to your question. So unless you're doing saddlery leatherwork or maybe some sort of climbing harnesses (don't know if people actually get these done in leather), where you want the absolutely perfect stitching holes to have the perfect grip on the thread, i wouldn't worry about having the absolute perfect stitching iron for the job, just get whatever fits your budget, feels good to use, and produces your favourite looking stitch.

[@fellfromspace]

@@Bodom1after1midnight It would be helpful were he to specify what the difference is, why it matters, and how it affects the end result. Just saying one is pro-level and one is not without supporting it with an explanation of why that is is not terribly helpful. Rather than relying on someone else telling me one thing is "pro," and another is not, I would rather understand the reasoning behind it so I could make that determination myself. I own a set of KS Blade diamond irons, a set of Sinabroks irons and a set of Crimson diamond irons, and when matched with the proper gauge thread, all three produce a very tight nice stitch line. I prefer the Crimsons to the other two aesthetically but that comes down to taste mostly. The hole is more delicate than the one produced by the KS Blade, and the resulting stitch line is not as fru-fru as it is with the Sinabroks. For me, it's not enough to say, "take my word for it, the Sinabroks produce a stronger stitch. If that's the case, I would have liked Mr. Armitage to explain WHY. He has TONS more knowledge and experience than I do, but it seemed like that was an obvious missing piece in his review which I was hoping he'd explain.

[@Bodom1after1midnight]

@@fellfromspace If you want a technical answer, then send him an email and ask the question, i recall someone else asking a similar question and he said its too in-depth for a KZbin comment, so email.

[@nickhdeep6leatherworks338]

What ounce/mil would be the most for these irons?

[@ArmitageLeather]

Thats going to be the length of the tooth which is 7mm (Millimetres) a Mil is 0.0254 millimetres. That equates to about 17oz. This would of course be made up of several layers of leather. The specification sheet will give you all of this Nick.

[@TheNickHorton]

Great video. By the way...omega seamaster?

[@ArmitageLeather]

Please. :-)

[@schiehallion13]

Armitage Leather Where do you buy your aprons?

[@bbrachman]

None of the most popular widths and stitch count irons are available as of Aug. 2019.

[@HLBAshmoor]

Hi, do you have any videos or information about clam or stitching horse? my clam is rubbish and i would like some more info on them how to tighten correctly and maybe what type to get.... I need a new one and im not sure what to get. Many thanks H

[@georgegoertzen4723]

Hayley L Bishop don't know which horse you have but you can drill through the uprights with a 1/4" or 5/8" dia. bit, making sure your holes line up and put a hexagonal headed carriage bolt that is an inch longer than you need to go through these holes with a wing nut or a tool knob (? I'm not sure that's what they are called but they are a black plastic handle, like and outdoor water spigot handle which make it much easier to tighten than a wing nut) threaded on the end to tighten them together. Lining the gripping area with suede helps to grip it tighter ...

[@CurrentElectrical]

Nige, your apron is on backwards. :D

[@ArmitageLeather]

Yes, I have resolved this... if you turn your monitor round, it looks much better.

[@CurrentElectrical]

Lol Good to see you on youtube again. Hello from Canada. :D

[@AlexanderMason1]

Of course it is heat treated. You can’t make a tool like that with mild steel. It would bend and deform. Wheat hardness it is heat treated to as well as the type of steel they use is what is important. Heat treatment is a given.

[@rinkrat1999]

A prong on my crimson hide punch broke within 6 weeks of use. Rubbish. A replacement punch has a similar problem and eventually they gave me my money back. Not good quality steel - in my opinion.

[@ArmitageLeather]

That is a surprise to hear, I am aware that Crimson Hides have sold many irons and yours is the first horror story. Drop me an email and we can go through how you are using the irons and how the tooth broke. I have students bang mine into a Cherry Log with not detriment to date. Drop me a line, lets have a loot at the process. Nige

[@dougdavis8367]

Crimson do not seem the easiest to buy from.

[@ArmitageLeather]

Very easy now Doug, they have a very smart website now with easy to use ecommerce.

[@brianmickelson4642]

Your apron being on backwards makes me think I am watching a pirated video.

[@ArmitageLeather]

Of all the pretty things to watch in the video, you see that... what a spanner. Me, not you.

[@brianmickelson4642]

Arguably, you hadn't started on all the pretty things at that point. That said, you are absolutely right. Those are some exceptional stitches.

[@kianucollis3929]

The quest for the Holy Grail continues.....! Did you ever get around to buying the set of Blanchard irons you craved Nige....? Amy Roke is another highly regarded new brand that I know you are aware of but don't think you reviewed....? What did you eventually choose, or are you still pondering....!?

[@ArmitageLeather]

As it happens Kianu I did, I currently have six sets, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. I still need more but there is time for that.

[@kianucollis3929]

Thanks Nige, how did you find the quality of the VB's full set....? Same as your review...?

[@georgegoertzen4723]

Armitage Leather yes, but which brand did you get? Crimson Hides?

[@AlexanderMason1]

Sorry bud. DC53 is actually an AWFUL steel for pricking irons or anything tool that needs to have high toughness and high impact resistance.(toughness when it comes to steel is its ability to withstand chipping or cracking. The less toughness a steel has, more brittle it is.) DC53 is really good for knives or edge bevelers, or really almost anything that has an edge, because it is quite edge retentive due to its high hardness. however, it has very low toughness, very low impact resistance and is quite brittle. It is not unheard of to hear of people breaking their pricking iron teeth. They have recently reduced the hardness at which they heat treat the steel which make the steel a bit tougher but it is still not the toughest and st that point, it is a wast to use DC53. They could literally use a tool steel that is much cheaper in price that would be far better for the job. That is the issu with certain Chinese manufacturers. They make really good products as one would expect from EDM machining, (these higher end pricking irons are made via EDM machines) but they don’t know much about the actual metallurgy and materials they are using. A steel that is excellent for one tool might be awful for another tool. This here is an example of that. Wuta makes their pricking irons out of DC53 also. (Wuta doesn’t actually make the pricking irons they sell. Most of these Chinese companies get their pricking irons from the same couple of manufacturers that make several different models at different and then, they have them laser engrave/etch their own company’s logo on it. They can also work with those manufacturers to have a specific product made specifically for them. Anyhow, nice video.