Any Interest In Custom Belt Slot Cutters?

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Just to clarify - the original post said he stated the price to be between $40 and $60, depending on if it had a handle. And you later mentioned he's been doing this for quite a while and has made lots of punches. Is he saying he can't do it if it's heat treated with S7 steel? Or he just can't do it at all? I can't buy one either way at this time, but it seems there was a lot of people interested and I just wanted to clarify what your friend is saying he can't do - stainless steel or heat treated S7.

[renegadelizard]

Just to clarify - the original post said he stated the price to be between $40 and $60, depending on if it had a handle. And you later mentioned he's been doing this for quite a while and has made lots of punches. Is he saying he can't do it if it's heat treated with S7 steel? Or he just can't do it at all? I can't buy one either way at this time, but it seems there was a lot of people interested and I just wanted to clarify what your friend is saying he can't do - stainless steel or heat treated S7.

He told me that if he were to do it, he would want to do it right, and to do it right, he would need to use s7 steel and have it heat treated, and that with the precision involved he would have to rent time at a machine shop due to his mill at home being inadequate (he made mine on his lunch break at work, and has since been told to cease millwork not related to his job)..all of this changed his price from around 60 to 140 per piece. I am his friend, and i know the kind of work he does..he is a perfectionist..but that said, 140 was even too steep for me...I have no doubts at all that i would never have to buy another punch as long as me or kids are alive, but there are just too many alternative ways to do the job of a punch to justify the cost..for me anyways...I apologize to everyone for getting their hopes up, i'm feeling sort of bummed out as well...

[dickf]

TCD will build you a slot punch to your dimensions for $60. Mine came sharp as hell and is what I use to cut slots through 2 layers of 8/9 oz for pancakes. The dimensions are perfect and have since ordered a few more dies from them for a couple things. Just tell Heather what you're using it for and what you expect it to do.

[camano ridge]

Ok, for the uninformed who is TCD? When I googled it I came up with Tennis Competetors Of Dallas.

[Northmount]

See reply #4, Texas Custom Dies.

Tom

[camano ridge]

Thanks Tom, the 4th reply was a long way back I did not connect the two.

[SooperJake]

I just paid for my Weaver custom made 3/8" x 1.6" with a handle ( in shipping transit as we speak). With shipping it was a smidge over $108. The guy in the shop at Weaver's said he's already suggested to management that they make a larger belt slot punch, especially for holster makers. I gathered he was going to suggest it again.

That said, I think there is definately a market for sizes other than standard. I'd poll some holster makers before settling on a specific size. What about making a series of over-sized, or a set?

Jake

Don't get one from Weavers. Mine just came back from "sharpening" ( another $14 for shipping and a week's wait) and it is nearly as crappy as when it left. I did manage to pierce a piece of 8-9 oz leather after 10 blows with the maul. And, I'm really pissed off , so I was hitting it pretty @#$% hard.

[mmirob]

Can you post his contact info? Website? Email? I'd be interesting in a die that punched a buckle slot and two holes for chicago screws. Send him my way!

[Shooter McGavin]

Don't get one from Weavers. Mine just came back from "sharpening" ( another $14 for shipping and a week's wait) and it is nearly as crappy as when it left. I did manage to pierce a piece of 8-9 oz leather after 10 blows with the maul. And, I'm really pissed off , so I was hitting it pretty @#$% hard.

Jake, Iuse what I assume is the same punch. I hit it with a 3 pound deadblow hammer 3 or 4 times to get through a standard pancake holster. I use a scrap of left over belt strip as a backer and make sure I am hammering directly over the leg of the work bench. I've tried hitting it with a regular rubber mallet and it just bounces it off and laughs at me.

[SooperJake]

Jake, Iuse what I assume is the same punch. I hit it with a 3 pound dead blow hammer 3 or 4 times to get through a standard pancake holster. I use a scrap of left over belt strip as a backer and make sure I am hammering directly over the leg of the work bench. I've tried hitting it with a regular rubber mallet and it just bounces it off and laughs at me.

Dan, I bought it from Weaver since you seemed so please with the one they made you. Mine is useless. The slot is off center, the metal is soft , and since the slot is off center too far, I cannot stop the metal at the edge from collapsing under maul force once a proper edge is sharpened on the punch. My maul weighs nearly 5 pounds and my bench is stout enough to hold a V8 engine . In contrast, my Osborne punch with a factory edge takes two hits to cut clean on 8-9 oz. I also strike over a leg.

Keep in mind I'm not even trying to cut 2 layers of leather and the Weaver just bounced off. That's why I sent it back in the first place. It wouldn't cut at all. No apology from Weaver, no offer to pay freight when I sent it back, and when I called them prior to getting it back the second time, I got a wishy washy " It should be sharp enough now" lame answer from Jackie of their tool room. I'd wager they never even tested it. Enough said, it's a dead issue now for me.

I sent it out to have it welded with a layer of hard face and I will reshape it myself.

$143 bucks in total dollars wasted. One cheap lesson on who gets my money from now on.