What do you use: waxed thread or artificial sinew and where do you get it?

Hi Dave,
I have used both and find I use the fake sinew more for everything. It's very strong, can be seperated(unwound), easy to thread and is waxed also. I find it cheaper as well. I got my supply from Tandy Leather. Hope that helps!!!

Dave,
Artificial sinew in nylon. I prefer and have a hundred yards (a guess) of stitching over the years with linen thread. I also get that at Tandy/Leathercrafters. Although other leather outlets via the internet may be cheaper.

That said, I like to braid the artificial sinew to use for holding important things like vent picks to trigger guards.

Sparks

You haven't hand sewn until you've done it with Barbour's (brand name) right twist linen twine as issued by Her Majesty's Royal Navy. Actually the remnant of the 2 lb ball I have was issued by His Majesty's Royal Navy. I acquired it in 1972 while working on the HBCo Tricentennial ship replica "Nonsuch", The ship's carpenter, an HBCo employee, called the HBCo factor in Victoria, BC to get a tin of Stockholm tar and some decent sailmaker's twine. About a week later we recieved, via private courier, two 2 Imp. gallon tins of Stockholm Tar and two 2 lb "balls" of Barbour's Best Right Twist linen twine, both dated in the 1930's and carrying the Imperial English Broad Arrow stamp. Hand sewing canvas with that stuff is a delight.

Three Hawks

Sounds like good stuff. It would be nice to get some stuff like that sometime.

Actually, the stuff I mostly use these days I got on Ebay. Two large spools of linen thread that have three separate strands. I understand they are designed for some sort of professional sewing machine (cobbler?). I didn't pay much for them, but I have AT LEAST a lifetime supply. I used "five cord linen" before that, which I got from Tandy's. I still use that some as well.

The old spools of shoemaker thread have yellowed, but remain quite strong.

Sparks

I only use waxed linen thread I get at either Hobby Lobby or JoAnns...usually in the bead/jewelry section...same thing as what Tandy sells, but MUCH cheaper and usually in larger spools!

You can get Barbour's Linen thread here -
Campbell- Bosworth: http://campbell-bosworth.com/c...t.php?keywords=linen
for handsewing left or right twist is meaningless - not cheap but a pound lasts a loooong time - I'm a pro leather crafter and a pound of 5 cord or 3 cord will last me several years and I sew A LOT......

It comes unwaxed but that's OK - get some beeswax or even better melt a mix of beeswax and pitch/rosin together - for pitch James Townsend and Sons has clean ready to use Brewer's pitch whihc works great - I use a mix of 40% pitch to 60% beeswax.

Noting wrong with articifial sinew but if you're wanting to be as PC as possible, linen, hemp, or silk are the way to go - the latter two are available from several sources.

Grey Wolf,
I've been seeing 3-cord linen advertised for hand sewers. Are the cords about the same size as those in 5-cord? Wondering if 3-cord is roughly 3/5ths the size of 5-cord.

Also, I see thread sized as such "linen 25/3"
I suspect that means 25 weight 3-cord linen, but don't know how it compares with 50/3 or 15/3.

Sparks

I like to use real sinew or thin strips of rawhide for lacing/thread on small things like knife sheaths, small pouches and ball bags.I also like linenthread for some items, I don't do much anymore but when I used to toss a knife and sheath on the blanket prize table with BT/real sinew and beaded patterns sewn with sinew on BT there was a fair amount of drooling and some sharp competition.