Oblong Punch That Won't, Grrrrrr

[Jax]

Hi, I don't know if this suggestion will be of any use to you but here goes, instead of the oblong punch (we call them crew punches in the U.K.) can't you use a large round hole or small wad punch twice, 1 either end of the slot and then carefully cut between them top and bottom? This could be an alternative to get your guitar starp done until you get your other punch sorted, regarding that it looks like a badly made punch to me, because of the angle of the handle in your picture I would think you will always get an uneven cut i.e the force of the strike from your mallet will be more 1 end than the other, meaning you may have to turn the punch around to get it to go through the leather at both ends. TwinOaks suggestion of a dead blow mallet is excellent I have used 1 of those for years with my punches (never for tooloing) and it really does make punching mush easier, also make sure you are punching on a good solid surface this will prevent your punch from bouncing, I put my marble over the leg of my workbench and put my cutting board on top of that, it does make a difference. I hope some af this at least has made sense and good luck getting this problem sorted. You are very right this can be a very expensive passtime, its worth it though!!!

Edited May 18, 2012 by Jax

[DoubleC]

Thank you Jax. It all made sense and I'm whining but the thing is I have enough of everything to make four straps not just one so I'll get at least my investment of these tools back. You first suggestion isn't really an option for as far as 'carefully cutting' anything. My hands just work when they want to and they never want to do any careful cutting. Over run by 2" yes, or undercut, or zig instead of zag, but never a nice neat cut. I have no idea what a dead blow mallet is but I can try one. I saw that mentioned a couple places and it even SOUNDS cheaper than a 2# maul :-) And I will move my marble next time too and see if that helps. I'll try anything at this point so I can start on the strap; I've been planning it out for about 3 weeks and I'm chomping at the bit to get started. I watched the youtube tutorial twice already PLUS took notes. Thanks so much for your help, Cheryl

[Art]

Cheryl,

Take that darned thing back to TLF and get your money back. Tell them it is just unusable. Then call Bruce on the phone or Vandy at Sheridan and talk to them. Tell them you are a novice and get the tool you need, ready to go. CSO is a toolmaker for professionals. They seldom provide anything sharpened, even knives; they may be kind of sharp, but barely that. They expect any pro can sharpen anything he uses daily. You have to learn to sharpen, even something you get bleeding sharp will eventually get dull.

Good places to buy:

Bruce Johnson (vintage)

Bob Douglas thru Vandy at Sheridan Outfitters (vintage)

Brettuns Village Barton Churchill (in Lewiston, Maine, 557 Lincoln Street)

Weaver Leather Master Series Tools

These are the folks I use, so I can recommend them. There are other toolmakers in the US who also produce excellent quality stuff.

While a 1 1/2 by 3/16 bag punch of good quality will run you about $95, the amount of frustration you will have to endure with the $40 POS you purchased will more than exceed the overall cost of the good tool.

Art

[DoubleC]

OMG I wish I had said all that. I DIDN'T buy it from Tandy, I bought it on eBay and it was a Tandy when it came. But I can return it. POS, POS, I wanted to say that so bad. Thanks Art, will contact seller right now. (Seriously $40.00 for one tool I thought meant it WAS good :-(

[DoubleC]

Done, and he accepts returns so I just have to pay to ship it back. Less than the tool and a lot less than dealing with it. Thanks again Art. Cheryl

[mlapaglia]

You can get a whetstone or oil stone at a hardware store. Home depot etc. If you can t afford a maul at the moment try a section of wood. I have used a 4x4 at times. Just cut the end down a little do you can hold it. There are many leathercrafters in other countries that only use a hunk of wood as a Maul. I have a length or an oak branch that works real well. If you have fire place wood you can probably pick a piece from the wood pile that will work.

I understand waiting for the first of the month

Michael

[Anacott Steel]

Hey I recognize that punch. It's the same one I bought..."it's like half the price of the osborne one and almost as good...". Pigs behind it is ! Art nailed it. Send it back to whatever hell it came from and get a decent one.

Edited May 18, 2012 by Anacott Steel

[Art]

CSO used to make trade punches marked ADCO, they were pretty good also. If you see one with a good price on it, buy it.

Art

P.S. You, of course, will have to sharpen it.

Hey I recognize that punch. It's the same one I bought..."it's like half the price of the osborne one and almost as good...". Pigs behind it is ! Art nailed it. Send it back to whatever hell it came from and get a decent one.

[DoubleC]

Thanks guys, I am sending the punch back, have been in touch with seller who asked if I took the plastic off the outside of the head OK I'm an idiot, but I didn't even have to, it was INSIDE the punch itself instead of protecting the head as it should. So I'm taking everyone's advice....Send it back, get a good punch and make myself a wooden maul for now. I have plenty of wood available from my favorite store, my landlord's things in the basement. He always has tons of things he has left over from doing repairs here. And I have a saw and sander and I'll make a wooden deadblow type of thing for now. As it is now I have to sell the guitar strap for a bazillion dollars just to recoup and still don't have any good tools.

Art I'm sorry, I am an idiot about somethings, who is CSO or is that their actual name? I don't mind sharpening it if it's going to do the job afterward. Sylvia even download a video on here from youtube that shows how to use the whetstone right. Thanks all of you, Cheryl

[Art]

C.S.Osborne

Art

Thanks guys, I am sending the punch back, have been in touch with seller who asked if I took the plastic off the outside of the head OK I'm an idiot, but I didn't even have to, it was INSIDE the punch itself instead of protecting the head as it should. So I'm taking everyone's advice....Send it back, get a good punch and make myself a wooden maul for now. I have plenty of wood available from my favorite store, my landlord's things in the basement. He always has tons of things he has left over from doing repairs here. And I have a saw and sander and I'll make a wooden deadblow type of thing for now. As it is now I have to sell the guitar strap for a bazillion dollars just to recoup and still don't have any good tools.

Art I'm sorry, I am an idiot about somethings, who is CSO or is that their actual name? I don't mind sharpening it if it's going to do the job afterward. Sylvia even download a video on here from youtube that shows how to use the whetstone right. Thanks all of you, Cheryl