I need something better than a hand rotary punch

[PeterPM]

I make keychains, there are 38 total holes, I'm using Osborne hand rotary punch 155. My hands are starting to feel the effect. Is there a machine pneumatic or electrical, I will even take some thing manual. The holes are a #2 from Osborne. Any advice would be highly appreciated. 

 

 

Edited November 17, 2022 by PeterPM

[Ed in Tx]

A clicker die would be the most efficient way of doing it. Having one made might be expensive with all of the holes. I guess it all depends on the volume of production to offset the cost.

[Hags]

Yep, have a die made. Or, have the fobs made.

[Dwight]

If you have a small drill press . . . you can chuck up your punch in it . . . and there should easily be enough force generated by the downward push of the chuck . . .  to easily punch your holes.

I would try it first without the machine running . . . then for kicks n giggles . . . with it running on the slowest speed it has.

An alternative would be an arbor press . . . drill out the ram . . . the diameter of a hand punch you buy at Tandy's or wherever . . . set also a allen head screw in the side to keep it from falling out . . . and you can punch all day and the worst to happen is your arm get tired . . . 

This press is less than 70 bucks on Amazon

May God bless,

Dwight

[PeterPM]

I would love to have a clicker die for sure, but the force needed to punch all those little holes would be astronomical. I can punch about 7 or 8 by hand, then have I to rest my hands for a couple of days. It's tough getting old!

 

Pete

[doubleh]

Dwight beat me to it. I have a large drill press and it does not need to run.