HC009 Report post Posted July 8, 2014 Hi, I have a hole punch tool and have hardly used it at all and already, it is loosing it's sharpness. Has anybody found a way of keeping it sharp - could I strop it or should I use something else for making holes? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake42 Report post Posted July 8, 2014 Hello, I have found you can sharpen it similarly to a swivel knife with some jeweler's rouge and cardboard. Just need to make sure you keep turning it between strokes and not change your angle so you don't roll tip. Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HC009 Report post Posted July 8, 2014 Ok, just found some jeweller's rouge on ebay which is cheap so I will give it a shot. Thank you for your help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake42 Report post Posted July 8, 2014 Any time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sona Report post Posted July 9, 2014 (edited) It just depends on its condition. If you just need to strop it, some rouge/polishing paste or sth different would do it. But it is dull, you might take it to a water-/oilstone and sharpen it, before sitting a few hours stropping it to death.And just a tip: polish the shaft of the tool. It really makes a difference! It will slide better into and out of the leather, because there is much less friction! Well with the shaft I actually don´t mean the handle, more the cone-shaped end of it ;)Just to be sure! Edited July 9, 2014 by Sona Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nuttish Report post Posted August 4, 2014 Ditto waterstone and extending the bevel above the thickness of your leather. Tools never come from the factory very sharp. I treat mine like woodworking chisels and eyeball scary sharp edges on a combination 800/6000 Japanese waterstone. You don't have to go that fine — it's just what I have that's not an orange/grey Norton stone. I guess you could make a jig, but this isn't fine woodworking. Eyeballing works just fine. You will not enjoy removing a much material as you need to using a strop and rouge. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mlapaglia Report post Posted August 4, 2014 This might help. Its from Leathercraft-Tools-by-Al-Stohlman. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HC009 Report post Posted August 4, 2014 The diagram is brilliant! Thank you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mlapaglia Report post Posted August 4, 2014 The entire book is about how to use and sharpen most leather tools. A must have. Tandy has it as a digital download for about 10 bucks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carver Report post Posted August 14, 2014 I put mine in a cordless drill or my drill press turn at low speeds or you will burn the metal . it its not real dull I hold wood mounted leather strop to the ege if its pretty dull I will use a diamond stone or even a fine file . the trick is to adjust your sharpening media to the correct angle. I find this process allows me use both hands and I can control the angle better than I could trying to use a strop or sharpening stone by hand . Caution against too much pressure and dont go to to fine of a angle or the edge collapses and you have to start over. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gump Report post Posted August 14, 2014 To keep your hole punch from going dull, use a piece of scrap leather between your work and the anvil, so that the cutting edge never touches metal. I haven't had to sharpen my hole punch in a lot of years by using this method. Gump Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites