Roq Report post Posted June 24, 2014 After watching Chiefs video on using a Tandy press for punching holes, I thought I might be able to re-purpose a grommet press I have (fleabay $30). I unscrewed the top die and tried on a Tandy mini punch tip, it fits. Game on! I cut 2 pieces off a cutting mat to the size of a scrap piece of brass I had. Removed the spring loaded center piece from the lower die. Set one piece of mat over what was left of the lower die and pressed down on it leaving an imprint of what I needed to cut out. This becomes the holder. I super glued the 3 pieces together with the brass in the middle and set it on the lower die. Voila, an easy hole punch for when many holes are needed. TODO- drill and tap a hole in the brass for a screw & washer to keep the sandwich in place, if needed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
J Hayes Report post Posted June 25, 2014 Nice. Add a fence to keep the edge spacing consistent and you could also add a "spacing" finger for distance between holes. Well done Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted August 13, 2014 You got lucky that it fit.. now, where are those punched out pieces going to go? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted August 16, 2014 (edited) Regarding whether or not Goldstar piercing dies will punch leather. I had David send me a set. The things I do for you folks. lol I got the piercing dies and give them a good old college try... on 1/4" thick (9-12oz) saddle/tooling leather. I'm sorry to say but they did not do a good job. I can be done, BUT and it's a big but...it requires just as much effort if not more effort as using a hand punch and hammer. In fact, I put the dies in, gave it a good squish with my hands and nothing, Next one I gave it a good squish with all my weight, even jumping up and down, nothing. Next hole I got out my single jack hand sledge with a weight of about 5lbs and whacked the rivet press handle! (damaged the rubber part) that barely worked, I had to literally pull off/out the plug from hole... and it left all kinds of fuzzy fibers that the die did not cut. I was unable to get a good clean cut hole with these piercing dies on thick tooling leather. Photos attached. The last photo is of a tube punch result. Edited August 16, 2014 by Sylvia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roq Report post Posted August 17, 2014 You got lucky that it fit.. now, where are those punched out pieces going to go? There is plenty of room in the threaded portion to hold them. It doesn't take much to remove the punch to empty it. I have since removed the top rubber as it quickly wore out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
