Newbie Question: Tools For Making Neat Rows Of Holes?

[Ramona]

Hi, newbie here, sorry if this is a dumb question. My main craft is crochet, but I'm thinking I'd like to add leather to some of my pieces, sort of along these lines.

Can someone please tell me what tool(s) I would need to make nice neat rows of holes like that?

I surfed around a bit here and on the Tandy site, and I see different kinds of punches that make one hole at a time. Is that really the only way to do it? I'm not clear on how one could make that many punches in a neat row without getting bad hand pains and/or going mad. :-/

Also, if I wanted to buy tools in person, is there a good store in the NYC area?

Thank you very much.

[ferret]

There is this tool which should make lining up the holes easier.

[Ramona]

There is this tool which should make lining up the holes easier.

Thanks, I somehow missed that one. So I guess all I'd need is that, a mallet, and a surface to work on?

So many tools on that site, and I'm starting to want all of them. :-(

[Nighthawk]

Thanks, I somehow missed that one. So I guess all I'd need is that, a mallet, and a surface to work on?

So many tools on that site, and I'm starting to want all of them. :-(

I use this:

http://www.tandyleat...w=border+cutter

I cut a border. Then I use this to set the holes in the border:

http://www.tandyleat...ure=Product_219

Then I use this to punch the holes:

http://www.tandyleat...ure=Product_202

It's a tedious process that yields rather precise results:

By the way... the fleece that this was taken on is covering my feet on this chilly Colorado night. It was on sale for $30 at Tandy! Couldn't believe it! Hell of a deal if you need one!

Edited November 13, 2010 by Nighthawk

[TwinOaks]

Depending on the size of the holes you want and the thickness of the leather you'll be using, you could also try this. The only downside to it and the rotary hole punchers is that you're limited to the edges of the piece. If you want to move into the center of the piece of leather, I suggest finding the most common sizes you'll need/use and buying the appropriate single hole punches. They produce much better results than the rotary cutters, IMO. Also, if you decide to go with a 'rotary punch', go ahead and spend more up front to get a better tool. The really cheap versions don't always line up just right, and I have bent the handles on mine from trying to get a hole when the punch didn't line up ' just so' with the anvil. The spring punch linked above should be fine for smaller holes. If you're worried about punching a lot of holes w/ a mallet and single punch, you could always just chuck it up in a drill press, add a cutting mat, and use the drill press as a hole punching press....(not running). Yes, you could even drill the holes, but most of the time, a drilled hole doesn't look very good. A punched hole will squeeze back together just a bit, tightening up to what ever is in it and looking much better.

[Ramona]

Thanks very much, Nighthawk and TwinOaks.

Nighthawk: I thought of using an awl, but I think it won't make large enough holes for my purposes (at least the crochet I'm thinking of at the moment; my goals might well change after I get started). The other tools look useful. I found this helpful thread about the overstitch wheel. I like your futhark. :-)

TwinOaks: Yeah, I was wondering about the economy tools vs. more expensive tools, so thanks for the advice. I don't have a drill press. I have leather from an old coat and suede from an old vest (from thrift stores, seem like good quality, fairly thin), and I was planning to start by trying to make some small pieces out of those.

I think at this point I should keep reading this site and Tandy, and see what leatherworking books are in my local library, and see how much of a Christmas bonus I get, and buy my tools then.