several slender punches

[esantoro]

A while back, I bought several slender punches on sale at Tandy. Just the other day I realized why that was such a good investment. I stumbled upon the idea that I could put them into a drill and make much cleaner punches much easier.

At first I wondered why they were so slim. Were they designed this way for the purpose of being used with a drill as well as a mallet?

Now I'm trying to find out where I misplaced my #3.

Ed

[bruce johnson]

Ed,

I got this tip off another group I am on a couple years ago. I bought a few sets of the mini and maxi punches, and keep the handles set up with the common sizes I use. I just chuck them into drill press, turn it on, and punch away. I use a small piece of cutting board to back up the punch on the work table. The rotation of the punch makes it go through easier, they also don't stick or deforrm the holes in wet leather. I hit very very few punches now.

Bruce Johnson

[esantoro]

  bruce johnson said:

Ed,

I got this tip off another group I am on a couple years ago. I bought a few sets of the mini and maxi punches, and keep the handles set up with the common sizes I use. I just chuck them into drill press, turn it on, and punch away. I use a small piece of cutting board to back up the punch on the work table. The rotation of the punch makes it go through easier, they also don't stick or deforrm the holes in wet leather. I hit very very few punches now.

Bruce Johnson

I'm gonna go run to my mini punch right now to see if it fits my drill.

Ed

[Art]

You will also find that the drill press or lathe is great for sharpening those punches. Usually a small arkansas or ruby rod will do the inside edge (which shouldn't require much) and a flat benchstone does the outside easily and maintains a consistant angle. Move the stone in a straight line against the rotation of the punch to keep from wearing potholes in your stone. Bag punches and oval punches are also possible in the lathe, but the lathe is mainly a holding device and is turned by hand as you sharpen the edges of the tool.

Art

  esantoro said:

I'm gonna go run to my mini punch right now to see if it fits my drill.

Ed

[bruce johnson]

Standard warning for any power tools also. Once the punch tube begins to fill with punchings, it will eject them with some force in random directions as the punch spins.

1.Wear eye protection and keep bystanders away.

2.Watch loose clothing.

Let's be safe out there. Injuries should be reserved for something cool like being bit by a shark while scuba diving, slipping on a wet rock while flyfishing, or getting bucked off after a great ride. The story just doesn't have the same ring when you have to explain you got hurt punching a hole in some leather or you tripped on a sidewalk.

Bruce Johnson