Do I really need a bunch of half-round cutters?

[AEBL]

I gather that half-round cutters are used to round off the ends of straps. I don't make a bunch of straps (yet?), but I'm pretty handy with a knife and can make something pretty round given a scratch awl line to cut to.

I suppose the same goes for slot punches, I could round punch the ends and cut the flat parts out ...

What sorts of drive punches do you guys consider to be most useful?

[DieselTech]

35 minutes ago, AEBL said:

I gather that half-round cutters are used to round off the ends of straps. I don't make a bunch of straps (yet?), but I'm pretty handy with a knife and can make something pretty round given a scratch awl line to cut to.

I suppose the same goes for slot punches, I could round punch the ends and cut the flat parts out ...

What sorts of drive punches do you guys consider to be most useful?

I bought a few round end punches & a few oblong punches. & a 1¾ English point punch. 

Yes I could do the same as you mentioned, but the punches really helped with speeding up my productivity. I also think they help with a better looking project in the end. 

[Beehive]

I have a set of half round punches. I also have half round dies you use by hand. 

How should I put this?....They suck. They're difficult to use and it's hard to leave a clean corner. I've looked at half round wood gouges. Almost the same thing as the Japanese purpose built corner cutter but cheaper and thicker.

The only punch I really use is an English point. Vintage Tandy. 

For cutting corners. I use a rotary cutter. I have a 60mm and a 28mm. On chrome tan, they cut like butter. On Veg, it's not bad but not as easy as with soft chrome. Those or a scalpel. 

What punch is currently in my shopping cart? A C.S. Osborne Rosette Punch. I'm still debating what size I want. I'm leaning 1.5inch to fit behind the various conchos I make. But if I get such a punch, I'm going to need a brass hammer to drive it. Which is completely out of preference. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 06:57 PM by Beehive

[fredk]

I no longer make belts. I make other things and a half-round punch or die suits my needs. I have many but the items I'm making right now needs a size that I don't have. So I might buy another . . . .

[Beehive]

I've made 4 belts in my entire life. All of them are ranger belts. All of them are lined. 

The current belt project has over 11 hours labor in just the stitching. 

And for the English point punch. I've used it 4 times. It's nice when you need it. That's if you ever need it. 

[TonyV]

I don't usually use half round cutters for strap ends, but they come in handy for cutting inside and outside corners, such as you might find on holsters and other items with lots of curves. They can be a PITA to keep sharp and honed, but when they are sharp, they are easy to use and make clean cuts.  They've earned a spot in my toolbox.  Hole punches can't cut outside corners, but they can do inside corners and the round ends of oblong cuts.  I use well-honed wood chisels to finish the oblong cuts.

I think quarter round punches would work best on strap ends.

 

[AEBL]

I picked up some of this in an estate sale. From the eclectic collection, he also picked his stuff up from an estate sale.
I'm trying to decide which things to keep and which things to find a new home for.
Thanks for the feedback folks.

[PeterinID]

It kind of depends on what you make and how much you make. I make purse straps usually 1" or 3/4" and I got tired of tracing templates and hand cutting. I now use good quality half round and English points (mine are Horse Shoe Brand) for all 1" & 3/4" straps. I have a clicker press and use dies to cut belt ends but I occasionally use hand punches for that.

The more things that you create the more you will want ways to save time performing simple repetitive tasks.

 

5 hours ago, AEBL said:

I gather that half-round cutters are used to round off the ends of straps. I don't make a bunch of straps (yet?), but I'm pretty handy with a knife and can make something pretty round given a scratch awl line to cut to.

I suppose the same goes for slot punches, I could round punch the ends and cut the flat parts out ...

What sorts of drive punches do you guys consider to be most useful?