Adjustable Right Handed Sailmaker's Sewing Palm

I used this sailor’s palm to hand-sew the leather helm wheel cover on our Leopard 40, and it made all the difference. Before getting it, I tried sewing wax thread by hand and my fingers were aching - I couldn’t work more than an hour without stopping. Once I started using the palm, I was able to sew for three hours straight without hand pain. The quality is excellent and it feels very durable, built to last through many projects. My hands are medium sized and while the palm felt a little big at first, it still worked perfectly and didn’t need to be tight to get the job done. Highly recommend this for anyone doing canvas or leather work on a boat!

This is a high-quality heavy-duty product at a reasonable price. I am able to push a sail needle through 3/16" leather with minimal effort. A lot of the reviews complain about it not being comfortable. Since it is made of heavy-duty leather, it is stiff initially. I heated a couple of coats of mink oil into the leather to start breaking it in. My only issue with comfort was the thumb hoop which felt too tight and had too rigid of a profile. To fix this, I spent a few minutes with a sharp knife modifying the thumb hoop. I gradually shaved down the palm-side inner surface of the hoop to enlarge it slightly, and I rounded off (profiled) the hard square edges of the hoop leather where it contacts the inner surface of my thumb. This made a HUGE difference in comfort. After a few minutes of careful work, I had the sewing palm feeling like it was custom made for me.

As is from the manufacturer it is brand spanking new leather so it is very stiff and does not conform to the hand very well. I soaked mine in some neatsfoot oil overnight, wiped it down, and then hung it up in front of a fan for a couple weeks to dry back out. Wipe it down again with a clean cloth every couple days. It should be very nice and supple after that. Careful not to get it so deep you start getting the oil all over the rubbery/plastic bits, but it won't hurt the metal buckle. After that it worked just as intended for driving needles. Unfortunately, overall, it is still a little clunky so I find it easier to just hold it on my hand to drive the needles but then take it back off because I lose too much dexterity otherwise.

Wm. Smith & Son Adjustable Right Handed Sailmaker's Sewing Palm is proof that there are still solid, quality workmanship goods available in this world. I bought this sewing palm for my wife who is reupholstering our massage chair. We purchased the chair from Costco a few years back and unfortunately the chair began peeling like a leper on steroids after a few years. This chair was VERY expensive and we could not find an upholstering company to repair it so, my wife decided to take it apart piece by piece and reupholster it. The sail maker's palm is the only thing we could find to keep her hand from getting poked by the needle. This, ... is an EXCELLENT product.

Saved my hands

I have had a similar sailing palm for about 15 years, but needed one dedicated to the boat. The first time that i used it the needle did not hit squarely in the metal center and easily punctured the soft plastic. My 15 year old one has lots of dents from needles around the bullseye but never a penetration. The leather is quality and it is functional, but the plastic could be tougher.

Wm Smith & Son have a line of superior products for the sailor and budding bosun. My only critique not as favorable is the buckle which does allow one to adjust size, but is scratchy and over time I think will just come apart. The stitching is awesome and mine has gotten a workout as I crew on a tall ship. She is 45 this year, and her sails are original evidenced by the patchwork done in recent years. I will also be making a whole set of new sail ties with whipping cordage on the ends. I prefer the smooth leather to the suede. The difference is night and day to me for good protection. Looks sporty and neat and handsome.

A sailor's palm is a must when sewing canvas or think material. I have to very old palms that belong to my dad who was born in 1922. Old timers on the fishing boats taught him to sew rips, grommets & bolt rope on sails. Both palms have been retired because of age & wear. This palm is very well made to last several lifetimes.