The Maxita is totally worth it. If you find yourself going back and looking at it, just pull the trigger and buy it. I was a little disappointed to see that UT was made in China, but honestly this clamp is very well built. I was super impressed.

The name "stitching pony" comes from back in the day where it looked like horse/pony (stool) because it had 4 legs and your clamp sticking up like the head of a pony and let not forget the rains aka stitching twine one in each hand 😁

@NorfolkHandmade

9 ай бұрын

Oh that’s right! I forgot about those things. Thanks!!

I guess the Maxita will be my third stitching pony. That is just such an elegant and well thought out design.

@NorfolkHandmade

11 ай бұрын

It’s a wonderful tool to have in the shop. I actually look forward to using it, that’s the sign of a well crafted tool (despite some of its shortcomings).

I also have the Maxita and love it. I was using one a Made and the Maxita gives a much better experience. It is versatile. I have the one in Cherry wood. I find the the knob and the latch hole very aggravating as well. I keep a Allen key wrench close by and slip it under the latch to open it. You can’t see them but there is a magnet on each side of the clamp. Enjoy all your videos 👍

@NorfolkHandmade

11 ай бұрын

I forgot to mention the magnets, your right. I never use them and they are so well hidden I forget they are there. 👍🏻

I started out with making my own, very similar to the first option. Got tired of my thread snagging. Bought one similar to the second one. Worked ok for a while. Then, Corter Leather showed me the 'Leap Frog' stitich. No stitching pony. Now I am faster and my stitches are more consistent and look better. Still a saddle stitch, but in mid air. I do not have to fiddle with a pony. I do small to medium sized leather projects. My pony is living in a corral somewhere.

@NorfolkHandmade

5 ай бұрын

For sure! A pony or clamp certainly isn’t necessary. Personally I don’t like stitching without a pony, I find there’s a lot of extra movement trying hold the piece and dropping the thread…picking it up, etc. Regardless of the method stitching with one for a while is always best. A lot of people flip flop between methods and don’t give your body the time to develop the muscle memory.

In this video I review three different stitching clamp options, from the cheapest to the most expensive. If you are on the fence about which one to purchase, this video will help answer that question. Cheers Justin

Well, I pulled the trigger on getting one. The shop owes you a commission. The one really lame thing is the two grub screws they have. I understand that by tightening them--thus lowering--it allows for the breakdown and storage of the pony. As you mentioned, I replaced them with two 8mm coarse thread bolts. I seemed to have resolved the issue of the clamping lever being difficult to grasp. I adjusted the center turnbuckle to where I am able to close the lever so that the bottom is flush with the mortise. Because it's not locked and it's convex in the middle, I'm able to easily open it with my thumb and forefinger. I don't have an issue tightening the large knobs, that some have. The jaw width is advertised at 70mm from Maxita and at 2 3/4" from the shop. The actual measurement is 2 3/8". So that is just plain wrong. I looked at a few other brands including the Billim, but I'm happy I chose this one. It ain't cheap but I only cried once. Thanks for your work making the video.

@NorfolkHandmade

11 ай бұрын

Great to hear. Good call on the two screw. The grub screws are a strange choice for that situation. I’ll have to try that lever setup you mentioned. 👍🏻

@adamheward9274

3 ай бұрын

Maybe they changed their design but the two grub screws I got with mine (ordered in Jan '24) were pointed on the end and are made to be completely bottomed out in the bore so that the points drive into the inner tube wall of the outer tube. I tightened them all the way down and the thing is solid as a rock.

Excellent post and demonstration. I appreciate all your hard work and video making skills. Edit, I watched it twice and I'm sold on it. I make wallets and purses. Often times I need to use my homemade stitching pony on it's side when sewing gussets. I get tired of weighing it down with a 10# dumbell. Thanks again.

@NorfolkHandmade

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for asking the question! I hope this helps.

@michaelsmith-ep7jq

11 ай бұрын

@@NorfolkHandmade You sold me on it. 360º Stitching Clamp - Aluminum Alloy Walnut 1 $250.00Scroll for more items Cost summary Description Price Subtotal $250.00 Shipping Free Total USD $250.00

@NorfolkHandmade

11 ай бұрын

You won’t be disappointed. Where did you purchase it from?

@michaelsmith-ep7jq

11 ай бұрын

Artisan Leather Supply, USA

@NorfolkHandmade

11 ай бұрын

That’s great!

Great demo... I would love to see a shop tour video. Tanks

@NorfolkHandmade

11 ай бұрын

It’s on the list!

Informative. Just getting interested in this, not even gone to the stores yet to browse due to the time of the year. It would seem someone with basic wood working knowledge could build one to match the expensive model, and aside from the wood used, it would come out way cheaper.

@NorfolkHandmade

6 ай бұрын

The woodworking part would be fairly straight forward. The tough part is finding the hardware. Obviously if you use cheap wood and similar hardware it would be significantly cheaper but it wouldn’t look as nice. Also consider the time investment to design it and make it. I considered making one and quickly realized it would end up costing significantly more.

Excellent review

@NorfolkHandmade

11 ай бұрын

Thank you 🙏🏻

Hi,thank you for this great video, very informative, interesting and really well explained and presented, food for thought, I love the design of the Verter clamp, I work with leather only as a hobby, the stitching pony I use at the moment is handmade by myself, a bit crude in the looks department 🤣but works well, but after watching your video I think it is time to upgrade. Thank you again, I have been watching your videos and have been subscribed for a quite a while now and you have helped a lot in the following techniques, preparation, stitching and the finishing of the job. Cheers and take care Sam Ps in reference to getting the toggle out of the recess, have you tried a strong magnet, epoxied onto a piece of dowel ( stained and polished the same as the main piece) this then can be stored out of the way on the clamp, when not in use

@NorfolkHandmade

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! I’m glad the videos have helped. That’s a good idea about a magnet, I’ll have to give it a shot.

Great video, funnily enough my next purchase is the maxita, just gotta wait for payday 😅

@NorfolkHandmade

11 ай бұрын

Nice! You won’t be disappointed.

That little triangle always digs into my leg, can’t stand it.

@NorfolkHandmade

11 ай бұрын

I suppose that’s another con…lol, thanks for watching.