What Is Best Surface Material For Hole Punching On Bench.

[TwinOaks]

Another vote here for end grain wood. You can probably check at Home Depot, or Lowes , and ask for the scrap pieces from their lumber section. Just cut them uniformly glue well and clamp together. Or if that isn't available, a single pine stud is typically less than $5. The end grain of wood will spread around the punch instead of coming out in plugs, so you'll have good longevity, and once you have the 'board' glued up, you can mount it to another surface for more mass. While it may not be as protective for the punch as lead, I'd rather sharpen punches a little more often than deal with the lead exposure. Or need to go through the "This product contains lead...." hassle with paperwork, regulations, etc.

[Fowlingpiece]

I have always used lead. Will continue.

[thekid77]

Hi,

as the title says What is best surface material for hole punching on the bench.I have used plastic/nylon kitchen chopping boards which are ruining the sharp edges on my punches,

I have used the green self heal cutting boards too but they do not heal from punch holes and that ruins the boards and both things can work out quite expensive.

Would appreciate all and any advice from those who know,

many thanks

JJ.

I just use a piece of 10-12 oz leather...don't have to worry about dulling anything

[paprhangr]

anyone use brass for punching surface?

wood end grain? any wood works?

[shadowryder]

THANKS ALL,

Some really great advice and solutions there,

will try and get hold some of the clicker press back board,the lead sounds a good idea but I would have to buy from a scrap dealer or similar so I wont use that one,

I will keep all the suggestions in mind and work thru them till I find what suits me best.

MANY THANKS FOLKS

JJ.

[VanDutch]

I use a very thick piece of hard veg tanned leather as a backing piece for punches etc on top of my bench.. works a treat and will not damage your tool edges.

[Geneva]

I use a piece of HDPP, 1" thick high density polypropalene, in red. I have had it for about 5 or 6 years works great.

[Nuttish]

I'm sorry but using a toxic substance like lead for such a simple task is just silly

Sort of. There are ways to work with it safely. 1. Spray it with urethane so it doesn't oxidize to white dust, which is dangerous. Respray when you've whacked holes in it. 2. Wear nitrile gloves or wash your hands immediately. 3. Wash and dry your irons and punches often. They can take it. You're sharpening them frequently anyway. 4. Keep it in a shallow tupperware and handle that, not the lead itself.

[howie696]

Sort of. There are ways to work with it safely. 1. Spray it with urethane so it doesn't oxidize to white dust, which is dangerous. Respray when you've whacked holes in it. 2. Wear nitrile gloves or wash your hands immediately. 3. Wash and dry your irons and punches often. They can take it. You're sharpening them frequently anyway. 4. Keep it in a shallow tupperware and handle that, not the lead itself.

You can't be serious :-)

Use modern techniques, a bit of thick leather, a chopping board, an lump of end grain instead of all that mucking about

[Evocati]

On 5/2/2015 at 9:41 PM, Fowlingpiece said:

I have always used lead. Will continue.

It's hard to argue with this logic.  No wait, it isn't:

 

Quote

Lead Poisoning By Organ System:

Lead affects every one of the body's organ systems, especially the nervous system, but also the bones and teeth, the kidneys, and the cardiovascular, immune, and reproductive systems.^[42] Hearing loss and tooth decay have been linked to lead exposure,^[43] as have cataracts.^[44] Intrauterine and neonatal lead exposure promote tooth decay.

 

Wonder how things have gone for the last couple years....