Overstitch Wheel vs Pricking Iron (5 Newby Questions Answered)

As a beginner, it can be difficult to choose which tools you will need for your leather crafting adventure. 

I have been using pricking irons for all of my leather projects, but recently I began thinking about the benefits of using an overstitch wheel. 

As I think back, I wish someone would have answered the following 5 questions for me. 

How Much Are Overstitch Wheels Compared to Pricking Irons?  

Pricking irons are three to four times more expensive than overstitch wheels. The handcraftsmanship and sharpening of the pricking iron blades warrant a higher cost compared to overstitch wheels.  

Pricking Irons 

I have a set of 3.8mm KS Blade pricking irons. When I purchased the two-tooth and eight-tooth pricking iron together, it cost me about $170.

And yes, I do consider that to be a little on the expensive side. But after using them for a while, I noticed the following qualities

• The pricking irons were sharp right out of the box.  
• There were no blade irregularities that required additional sharpening and polishing
• Made from quality metals that kept an edge for an extended period 

Hand-crafted tools are even more expensive, but the specialty you receive is well worth the upgrade in price.   

By the way, It took me a while to decide on the size on the perfect size. I can show you how to find the best pricking iron size for your needs. I have a post the goes over the best pricking iron size. Check it out…but only after you read this awesome information. 😊

Overstitch Wheel 

I found that overstitch wheels could be purchased individually, but most came as a set. The set included one handle and at least three replaceable wheels for about $20. 

Like the overstitch, you can purchase various sizes that refer to the amount of space between each tooth.  

So when it comes to the costs, the differences are significant. Pricking irons, on average cost 3 – 4 times as much as a quality overstitch wheel.  

If you are making a decision strictly on price, then the overstitch wheel is an easy choice.   

Another good reason for choosing the overstitch wheel based on price is the experimentation factor. The overstitch wheel allows you to experiment with different hole spacing simply by changing out the wheel.  

After multiple uses, you will develop a preference for stitch spacing. At that point, it would be safe to purchase a pricking iron.  

But hey, maybe you’re interested in the pricking irons, but the price is a little too steep.

I hear ya. In your situation, a Stitching chisel may be a good option. I have a few sets of stitching chisels in the LeatherCraft Garage that I compared to these pricking irons. Check out my comparison on pricking irons and stitching chisels.

Which Tool is Better at Creating a Straight Line of Stitching Holes?

Before we get into which tools create the best markings for stitching, i

Making straight lines

The pricking iron and overstitch wheel are similar at making straight lines. The techniques are a little different, but I didn’t see a huge advantage in one over the other.  

Both tools require you to create a temporary line as a guide for creating a straight line of stitching hole markings. You can use whatever you want to make the guidelines, but most people typically use a ruler or straight edge.  

Most people assume that making straight lines is a simple task. They ignore the attention to detail required to create the perfect straight line and complain that the overstitch wheel or pricking iron is faulty.  

I know…because I was one of those people. Creating a straight line of stitching holes with either tool requires a straight guideline.  

Crooked lines are no frustrating and no fun. Leathercrafting is supposed to be fun right? Save yourself some trouble, read up on my article that addresses the best tools for making straight lines. 

Another way of making the line is to use an edge groover. Using this method, you can get even straighter lines. The edge groover creates an indented guideline that ensures that you make a perfect line. Either method works. 

Ok. Now that we have addressed the requirements for making a straight line of stitching holes, we can better decide which tool is better.  

Overstitch Wheel 

I found that when using an overstitch, it was much easier to make a line of stitching markings on a line created with the edge groover. The edge groover was indented enough to hold the overstitch wheel in place while I move in down the line.   

When I used a temporary line marked on the leather, it seemed easier for the overstitch wheel to veer off the line. I was able to get over this problem by placing my ruler on the guideline as sort of a wall to prevent the wheel straight.   

Pricking iron 

Pricking irons require a little more accuracy to follow the guidelines.  

The most crucial prick is the very first one. The number of teeth in the pricking iron determines the length of the holes. 

Once you have made the first set of holes, you will need to align the pricking iron with at least one of the holes made during the previous punch. You will have to continue doing this down the line until you have created all of your holes. 

Pricking irons require a little getting used too. But I’m here to help and share everything that I learned in this field. Get a step-by-step guide on how to use a pricking iron. You won’t be sorry.

An overstitch wheel and a pricking iron produce similar results in accuracy when creating a straight line of stitching hole markings when used with an edge groover. However, it’s much easier for inaccuracies to occur with an overstitch wheel when using a temporary guideline.  

Is an Overstitch Wheel or Pricking Iron Better for Marking Curves?  

It is much easier to create stitching hole markings around a curve with an overstitch wheel than a pricking iron. Creating a curve with a pricking iron typically requires a pricking iron with either one or two teeth to create individual markings around the curve. 

An iron with fewer teeth is not difficult to use, but you have to pay attention to the spacing and the angle to make sure you get around the curve.

It’s much easier going around curves with the overstitch wheel. All you have to do is follow the markings on the curve. 

If you’re not very comfortable making holes around the curve, then the over switch will probably be the best tool for you. 

Is the Overstitch Wheel More Versatile than a Pricking Iron?

The overstitch wheel comes with wheels of different sizes. These wheels can be interchanged to create a different spacing in between the holes. Multiple pricking irons are needed to complete variations in hole spacing.  

The overstitch wheel, as mentioned above, is useful for going around curves. With a pricking iron, you would need to have a separate iron.

Most people have one pricking iron with multiple teeth (8 – 12) to make long straight lines. They also have a 1 or 2 tooth iron for going around the curves.  

In my opinion, the overstitch wheel wins the versatility battle.

Is Using an Awl Easier With Overstitch Wheel or Pricking Iron? 

Pricking irons give you the benefit of marking the angle of the hole for you. When the angle is marked on the leather, it’s easier to consistently align the awl correctly before punching it through the leather. When using the overstitch wheel, the angle isn’t visible requiring more accuracy, and precision with an awl.

The overstitch wheel only provides the correct spacing. So will need some skills to use it with an awl.  

You would have to be very precise and hold your awl at the same angle on every hole. Without the guiding marks of the pricking iron, you would have to have steady hands and a lot more patience to get the job done. 

For the inexperienced leather crafter, using an overstitch wheel and awl drastically increases the hand stitching time.

Another issue with using an overstitch wheel and an awl is disappearing marks. Sometimes, as you handle the leather, all your marks go away. You have to really press down on the wheel to make sure that you get a stable marking on the leather.

You don’t have this issue with the pricking iron because you use more force when tapping it on the leather.  

I heard of an individual using a fine-point Sharpie to mark the spots created by the stitching wheel just in case the markings disappeared.  

That sounds like a lot of work to me. But to each his own.