Pegging awls, pegs...

Got any great sources for leather? Tools? Machinery? Looking for sources?
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Pegging awls, pegs...

#1 Post by admin »

On 06 May 2002, 100 plus posts(everything prior to 25 February 2002) was moved to the CD archive.

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Tex Robin

Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#2 Post by Tex Robin »

All,

Does anyone know of a source of 4/8 pegs. I think blau Ring has discontinued them...TR
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jake
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#3 Post by jake »

To All,

This is what is available from George Barnsley & Sons, at the moment: 3" inseaming awl and 1" square pegging awl
2289.jpg


Let me know if there is any interest.
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#4 Post by jake »

Gang,

Had a good long talk with Greg at MacPherson's Leather in Seattle, WA this morning. I was able to order some Blau Ring pegs in sizes I like. He stated they are trying to handle most of Goetz items that Dick Arensberg kept on hand. Stated he makes an order with Goetz every two months.

So here's a good contact. Let's support them, if you can. Give Greg a call @ 800.343.9949. He seemed eager to help in any way.
shoestring

Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#5 Post by shoestring »

Jake,
two things,can you show a pic of the different size pegs and where can I purchase a good awl.The one I got seems to have been made with rubber in the steel.Beings that there is still green comming from my shoe making skills I was unaware of pegs in different lengths.Thanks

Ed
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#6 Post by jake »

Ed,

Sure thing! Here ya go:

6/11 = 6 times 1/8" and 11 gauge
7/9 = 7 times 1/8" and 9 gauge

Smaller the # in gauge, the larger the stick. Image
3223.jpg


You can get GOOD awls from Dick Anderson. Search his name and you'll get the contact info. Tell him Jake sent ya!

Take care!
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shoestring

Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#7 Post by shoestring »

Jake,
thanks for the info & pic's.

Ed
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#8 Post by dw »

Regarding pegging awls...I've been using American Straight Needle awls. I modify them of course, but they seem to work great and they're readily available.

First thing I do is square up the shank of the awl. That means I have to grind the heavier, round portion of the shank to create four flat faces that form as close to a perfect square as I can contrive. I shorten the overall length a bit and then I thin and round out the remaining, lower, portion of the blade. I want the blade to be probably half as thick as the pegs I'm going to be driving and I want the cross-section to be pretty round.

So...I'm squaring up the round section and rounding off the square section.

All this to achieve a particular configuration. I want the round section of the finished awl to be about three-quarters the length of the peg and I want the square "shoulder" to be about the same--three-quarter the length of the peg. "Doesn't add up" you say. True, I want the awl to be longer than the peg for several reasons: first, to chuck it in the haft, second because I want to put a rubber "bumper" on the awl and third, because I want to be able to drive this square shoulder about one-quarter the length of the peg into the leather--creating a square "pilot" hole. .

This allows these (supposedly) square pegs to be seated as they are being driven but more importantly, if I index the corners of the square shoulder on my awl haft, I can align each peg as I drive it and the square hole ensures that the pegs will stay aligned as you drive them home. That creates a very pretty and refined effect...and, with the lower portion of the awl blade being round and pretty thin, the peg itself is not only highly compressed, it is fundamentally a "square peg in a round hole" for most of its length.

And pegging awls made from American Straight Needle awls seem to last as long or maybe even longer than "boughten" awls.

Anyway...just in case you can't find pegging awls that suit you....


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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#9 Post by dw »

PS...they dern sure work better than the broken-off, size 30 patcher needles that some outfits are selling.

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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#10 Post by ctwshoe »

United Global Supply which is a division of United Shoe Machinery Corp. is considering going back into the hand needle and awl manufacturing business. Anyone interested should contact Charlie Williams at ctw.ugs@me.com
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#11 Post by dw »

Charles,

I'm tardy, I know and I apologize...but welcome to the Crispin Colloquy.

I am interested in what you come up with regarding sewing awls, square awls, and pegging awls. I think USM still manufactures pegging awls but few of the companies I have dealt with are a reliable source.

The critical issue for hand sewing awls will be shape. I mention that first believing that the metallurgy is going to be good and will thus take care of itself. It may be possible to stamp out awls...I assume that King was doing that...but again shape is important.

Since Barnsley went under, there has been no reliable source of good hand sewing awls, nor good square awls in the industry. We have all been relying on old stocks of Kings or even older hand forged awls. The downside to that situation seems to go hand-in-hand with the upside--they are usually hand forged and of great quality and ideally shaped, but they are hard to find.

I hope you will keep us updated on your progress in this regard and perhaps we can help you if samples or specs are needed.

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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#12 Post by johnl »

In case you are needing some cobbler tools, a knife, or old shoe, Try this on Ebay.
The guy is only asking $600,000 for them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cobbler-tools-shoe-and-knife-1852-Belongs-Museum-/2304976556 91?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Antiques_Decorative_Arts&hash=item35aabb1b8b
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#13 Post by hallotp »

I offered him $4.95.. He's still holding out for the $600k though.
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#14 Post by artvanhecke »

Well, it is 2011 and I need some pegs, 6/11 and 7/9 or anything around that. Any source, anywhere, any volume.

Thanks,
Art
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#15 Post by goatman »

Try Panhandle Leather, they sell pegs, they just don't list them in the catalog on line. http://www.panhandleleather.com/
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#16 Post by kemosabi »

I've bought many things from Panhandle, including 6/11 pegs. Seem like reasonable prices and fast shipping too.
Jim K is right, there's much more than what they have on the website, so just call and tell them what you're looking for.

Nice guys to work with... Ask for Jim or Nate.

Regards,
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#17 Post by dw »

The best pegs available currently (not vintage, IOW) are made in Germany. They are lemonwood and are sold under the Blau Ring brand-name.

O. Baltor is perhaps one of the only companies left in the US that still carries a good range of imported shoemaking tools and materials--the only one I know of, at any rate.

I was told by a reliable source (one of the few...very few (2?...makers of pegs still operating in the US) that domestically manufactured pegs are being made on the same machines that they were made on during the American Civil War...not the same model--the self-same machines. They are worn and out of adjustment and any random handful of domestic pegs will have more "mutants" than sound pegs.

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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#18 Post by peggy »

Kearsarge Peg Company of Bartlett New Hampshire also makes pegs, click the Media tab on their website, then click on Wood.
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#19 Post by dw »

^Precisely the source that I mentioned above.

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(Message edited by dw on April 22, 2011)
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#20 Post by sorrell »

I spoke with this morning with Paul Soares, owner of the Kearsarge Peg Mill. He's sending me some pegs and I'll let everyone know when I get them. Here's a link to a video about the Kearsarge Peg Mill. I want to visit!!!
Kearsarge Peg Mill

Lisa
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#21 Post by dw »

Lisa,

What an interesting video!

I talked to the guy who owned it before 2001. I think they were using alder at that time. And the new owner must have upgraded the operation some because I was told that many of the machines used to cut the pegs were quite literally Civil War era machines.

Of course, the best pegs are made of hard rock maple...or, more contemporaneously, lemonwood. But what's good for shoemaking is not necessarily good for polishing plastics or glass.

One of the things that bothered me about the samples I got from them was that they were only beveled (pointed) on two sides...much as was demonstrated in the video. Again, perhaps good for polishing but kind of hard to use for shoe or bootmaking. I used to take my shoemakers knife and put the other two bevels on by hand when I got desperate enough for pegs.

It will be interesting to see what you think of the samples you are sent. I hope you have some Blau Rings around to make a comparison.

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tomo

Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#22 Post by tomo »

Hey Lisa,
that was interesting alright. 21 different types of peg!
That Lester is a busy boy.Image
Is it still in full time operation or is it a working museum? It was interesting to see the log yard virtually empty and weeds every where.
In it's day the place would have been quite a big employer especially if every thing was done by hand.
Thanks for that.
T.
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#23 Post by romango »

Yes, I'd like to order 1 bag of pegs, please. Image
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Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#24 Post by sorrell »

Tom,
It's still in operation. Since it used to take dozens of Lesters to make pegs, maybe the yard was full of buggies and/or horses to keep the weeds down.

Lisa
tomo

Re: Pegging awls, pegs...

#25 Post by tomo »

Your probably right Lisa,
they'd get a seriously large nimber of pegs from one log I would imagine, more than enough for Rick's order! Image
T.
Ps
Actually to answer DW's concern, why don't they turn the discs around 90o and pass them through the pointing machine again. That would give them 22 types of peg Image
Excuse the flippancy, I've just been for a walk along the beach with my little JR and I'm amped!
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