How To Easily Make Clean Holes

[tinabanana]

so im just starting out with tooling, im making up some practice peices for both tooling and lacing.

I made this random peice with tooling on each side. The first side i used my rotary punch which made nice clean holes.

Then i lined up the peice on the back and made a mark through the top holes, on the back of the other peice.

Then i tried a few things, using my rotary punch from the back side, it left an imprint on the front, so thats no good.

Then i make a small punch with an awl and punched from the front, that worked pretty good, but by that point my hands hurt too much to continue using the rotary punch.

So i tried a hammer type punch, i didnt have the right size on hand, plus removing the punch after making the hole was impossible.

Then i tried with a drill bit on my drill press, that was nice and easy, but regarless of making the hole from the front or back, it didnt make a clean hole.

So what do you guys do?

Here is a pic of my holes, first one with the cross is the rotary punch, the black peice is drilled from the back.

[TomG]

Always punch from the front. Get a beeswax block and stab your punch tip lightly into every time the punch sticks and you shouldn't get stuck - unless it's a super thick piece and/or your punch is one of the very heavy barreled ones.

[Dwight]

If you can't afford a poundo board from Tandy's or something similar, . . . go to Walmarts and buy the smallest and cheapest white polyetheline cutting board they have back in the kitchen stuff.

It is not the "very best" backup surface for punching holes, . . . but it is good.

It stops the punch from going way too far (which can easily happen if you use another piece of leather under your punched piece), . . . and does not dull the punch cutting end.

Next, . . . keep your punches sharp, . . . a dull punch is worse than dating your ugly step sister, . . . very little good ever comes of either idea.

And don't forget to use the wax. i kinda "roll" the cutting edge in the wax about every 3rd or 5th hole, . . . makes it all soooooooooooo much easier.

May God bless,

Dwight

[tinabanana]

Cool ill give that a go

[thekid77]

and to remove the punch, just give it a clockwise twist as you're pulling it out

[shtoink]

a clockwise twist

Remember, it must always be clockwise! Anti-clockwise rotations will have adverse effects on the space-time continuum. You can watch just about any science fiction for reference. Mucking about with space-time tends cause to damage to the timeline and serious plot holes. It generally best to just avoid it, altogether.

[electrathon]

Remember, it must always be clockwise! Anti-clockwise rotations will have adverse effects on the space-time continuum. You can watch just about any science fiction for reference. Mucking about with space-time tends cause to damage to the timeline and serious plot holes. It generally best to just avoid it, altogether.

South of the equator you go counterclockwise.

[tinabanana]

Wwwhewww. Good thing u said something, i would have done it counter clockwise and totally messed it up!!

[Gump]

If you polish as much as possible, the cutting surfaces inside and out to the depth of the leather you punch, your punch will cut cleaner and come out easier. Gump

[RiverCity]

If you polish as much as possible, the cutting surfaces inside and out to the depth of the leather you punch, your punch will cut cleaner and come out easier. Gump

I use 2000 grit auto paper on the outside surface of the punch tube, followed with flitz. Smooth going after that, except for the once in a blue moon touch up.

Chuck

[Tex Shooter]

Oh, So its that counter clockwise that has been screwing up my holes! -- Tex

[shtoink]

Oh, So its that counter clockwise that has been screwing up my holes! -- Tex

I wonder if holes in time have been causing uneven, ragged holes. Sorta like miniature, momentary back holes tearing at the fabric of space, time, and the edge of your leather.

It all sounds so very dangerous now...

[thekid77]

Oh, So its that counter clockwise that has been screwing up my holes! -- Tex

no, it wont screw up your holes but if you're using a threaded interchangeable punch it can tend to loosen up drive end of the punch

[tinabanana]

i polished the head of my punch with some rouge and put it in my wax chunk and WOW, what a difference!

it went from being unusable to being so easy!

thanks guys!