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

[Doc Reaper]

6 minutes ago, jcwoman said:

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.

Overkill it just a tad

[Klara]

11 hours ago, jcwoman said:

I don't want cheap junk

That's why I went to the "better" store and not the one that is famous for selling cheap stuff. My research consisted in asking a friend who makes knives and uses one what I should get to drill straight holes in my spindle whorls and his answer was: Anything. 

Btw, I have a feeling that the drill bits are just as important as the motor, if not more so... And another feeling that there is a huge amount of crappy bits on the market...

(OT: Do you have a sighthound? Which breed and what do you do with him or her?)

Edited August 8, 2022 by Klara

[fredk]

For a real basic stand you can get a stand to take a standard hand-held electric drill. Then you get a faulty / non-working drill at a car boot sale and fit it into the stand. A drill stand costs about £10 to £20 and about £3 to £5 for the non-working drill. You have the advantage of the drill chuck etc. You can change the drill to a working one at any time. It can all be packed away easier too

eg, one of these;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134182405632?hash=item1f3de50600:g:vNIAAOSwZlVi39Az

Edited August 8, 2022 by fredk

[Klara]

I startet out with a drill stand (had a drill). It was not much cheaper than a cheap drill press, I had a hard time fitting the drill, then the drill broke, then the stand... With the drill press I haven't had any problems. Btw, it's so heavy I've never seen any need to mount it on the bench. In your place I'd keep it mobile if you do any woodworking  - once you have it, you'll find uses for it.

[JHLeatherwood]

If you're making 20 of these every  other month (120 a year?) and selling them, I'd suggest investing in a cutting die and arbor press from the cheap tools store.

I'll also recommend Sinabroks punches. They make various sizes up to 2.0mm. https://sinabroks.com/products/sinabroks-single-hole-stitching-punch-for-leathercraft-leather-stitching-stitching-chisel-leatherwork-strap-punch-holes-punch?variant=40151345496261 

I'm a hobbyist that makes from patterns (like Tony See/Dieselpunkro) that I print on my laser, tape to the leather, and punch out. Every hole has tape, paper, and leather, and some of the patterns have more than 1,000 holes. Sinabroks are the first punches I've found that never, ever jam. And they stay sharp (it's some kind of magic, I'm sure).

I'd bet Policy Customs or Texas Dies could make you a steel rule die that would cut the end and punch all the holes at once for about $100.

 

 

[chuck123wapati]

6 hours ago, Klara said:

That's why I went to the "better" store and not the one that is famous for selling cheap stuff. My research consisted in asking a friend who makes knives and uses one what I should get to drill straight holes in my spindle whorls and his answer was: Anything. 

Btw, I have a feeling that the drill bits are just as important as the motor, if not more so... And another feeling that there is a huge amount of crappy bits on the market...

(OT: Do you have a sighthound? Which breed and what do you do with him or her?)

yes put money on good drill bits. they keep your drill from dying an early death, and make cleaner holes.

[Doc Reaper]

I like using oval punches, the buckle tounge lays down better, and I have found that round holes (if just big enough for tounge to fit) allow tounge to stand straight, on a dog collar that could be a problem 

[Tequila]

If you’re going to go the drill route here are a couple things to think about.  

Drill Press:  as you know leather will burn so if you use a high speed drill expect the hole to have burn marks.  That’s not always a bad thing the hole is burn (ished), if you don’t want that then drill the hole smaller than your finished hole size then finish off with a punch of the correct size. 

Drill bits:  get quality bits.  The bit is doing all the work, if your bit gets dull it will pull, grab, and make a terrible hole.  When using tiny bits make sure that they are chucked perpendicular to the table, it’s easy for a small bit to chucked at an angle.

Backing:  place your leather on top of a piece of wood.  Since leather is flexible you want to keep the leather flat while you’re drilling so you get a nice round hole. 

[jcwoman]

So many good bits of info and advice!  Thanks all, let me digest this and check out your recommendations for a bit, then come back with more questions maybe. 

[jcwoman]

On 8/8/2022 at 2:50 AM, Klara said:

(OT: Do you have a sighthound? Which breed and what do you do with him or her?)

  I have a couple of retired racing greyhounds.  My second pair, actually.  The darned things are addictive as heck.  I don't really do anything with them other than keep them as beloved pets, but I adore them to the end of the earth.

What do you have?  Galgos?    I used to volunteer for galgo rescue for a couple years.  (I see that you're in France, so that's a possibility, although these days there are a lot of galgos in the USA also.)

I know this, is off topic.... is there a DM function here that things like this should go to?

Edited August 10, 2022 by jcwoman
fixed broken emoji