What size punch or what tool would you use for this?

[jcwoman]

I'm still having zero luck with the tiny 2mm punches, so I'm going to come at it from a different direction.  Let me tell you guys what I'm working with and you can tell me what size punch or what kind of punch/pricking tool you would use if this was your project.

I make two products:  The first is a muzzle that has 1/2" wide veg-tan leather straps, in the 3/4 or 6/7 weights (lighter weight for smaller muzzles, heavier for the large ones).  Each muzzle has two straps:  one that has the buckle, and the other one has 5 or 6 holes 1/2" apart that takes the buckle prong. 

The other product is a special purpose dog collar.  Again, 1/2" wide veg-tab strips, just 6/7 weight.  Buckle on one end and the other end has 5 or 6 holes 1/2" apart.

I need to make them in batches of about 20 every month or two, so more than a one-off hobby but not quite enough for big-time manufacturing.  What size would you make the buckle holes, and/or what size punches would you use for this?

 

 

[chuck123wapati]

17 minutes ago, jcwoman said:

I'm still having zero luck with the tiny 2mm punches, so I'm going to come at it from a different direction.  Let me tell you guys what I'm working with and you can tell me what size punch or what kind of punch/pricking tool you would use if this was your project.

I make two products:  The first is a muzzle that has 1/2" wide veg-tan leather straps, in the 3/4 or 6/7 weights (lighter weight for smaller muzzles, heavier for the large ones).  Each muzzle has two straps:  one that has the buckle, and the other one has 5 or 6 holes 1/2" apart that takes the buckle prong. 

The other product is a special purpose dog collar.  Again, 1/2" wide veg-tab strips, just 6/7 weight.  Buckle on one end and the other end has 5 or 6 holes 1/2" apart.

I need to make them in batches of about 20 every month or two, so more than a one-off hobby but not quite enough for big-time manufacturing.  What size would you make the buckle holes, and/or what size punches would you use for this?

 

 

i make my buckle holes the same size as the buckle prong, the prong tip just fits in the hole in the punch.

 If i were having your trouble i would try drilling them with a small bench top drill press and i would make a jig with a prong size pin in it so i could mark and drill the first hole , move the first hole onto the pin and the drill would line up with where the next hole should be. drill and move drill and move. But i would first try it with my punch in the press instead of a drill bit. 

[jcwoman]

Okay, I think I understand.... trying to visualize that.  Do you happen to know of any videos or pictures online where someone has that setup? 

[chuck123wapati]

1 hour ago, jcwoman said:

Okay, I think I understand.... trying to visualize that.  Do you happen to know of any videos or pictures online where someone has that setup? 

i dont but i'll look around. you can also just mark them and drill them too, a jig just makes it a little faster. 

[TomE]

Like Chuck said, match the hole size to the buckle tongue. The tongue varies with buckle style even among 1/2 inch buckles. For tack, it’s recommended to keep the holes as small as possible to maintain strength of the strap. One trick is to punch the holes from the backside - the side that the tongue inserts into - because the hole will be larger on the side you’re working from. For punching holes I like the Osborne spring punch #153 because the tubes have a gradual taper in comparison to rotary punches with shorter tubes. There is a wide range of tube sizes for the spring punch. 

[jcwoman]

Hmm, okay so my issue is that I am using hole punches in the size that matches the buckle prong.  It happens to be tiny, 2mm punches.  I've complained in other threads and don't want to beat a dead horse, but I've been struggling with the punches in that diameter getting impacted after 4 or 5 punches and not clearing themselves like they should.  I've tried cheap punches, Osborne punches, a rotary punch, waxing the punches, a tiny dab of oil inside the punch... nothing is working.  If I ignore the fact that the plugs aren't coming out the clearance hole of the punch and keep going, what I see is that the punch just either makes a round compression on the strap instead of a hole, or if I hammer it hard enough it actually jams the latest plug into my board.  (I've been alternating between a nylon board and a wooden cutting board to try not to dull the punches.). It's something else to pick leather plugs out of my board with my fingernail!  It's been more work getting the punches cleared than actually making holes in my straps.

I love Chuck's idea.  Just trying to visualize it so I can assemble/make the setup for my bench. 

[jcwoman]

Oh, I just found another great video by Weaver.  I think his drill press is larger than what I need, but I love the demonstration of it! 

 

[chuck123wapati]

1 hour ago, jcwoman said:

Oh, I just found another great video by Weaver.  I think his drill press is larger than what I need, but I love the demonstration of it! 

 

yes you can get a much cheaper and smaller bench size press.  and he has a jig that is marked off at the right distances he drills then moves the leathers up to the next mark. you can also use it for other things like burnishing and sanding

[Klara]

I haven't yet used it for leather, but years ago I went into the better brand of home improvement retailer and bought the cheapest drill press they had. So far it has always done the job.

[jcwoman]

Oh, Klara I just noticed your interests include sighthounds. Me too!!

So I'm going to spend a few days researching drill presses.  I don't want cheap junk but don't need anything overkill for my purposes either.  I'm going to mount it to my bench which is in our house, so I'll never use it for woodworking or any other messy or super-loud uses.