Members jmuir Posted November 12, 2015 Members Report Posted November 12, 2015 Hi:I'm having trouble punching an oblong hole with a new punch I bought. It's a heavy duty (about $50) 1.5" oblong punch. I used a 1" steel plate on my workbench with a cutting board to protect the punch. I didn't have a rawhide or poly mallet so I used a rubber mallet. I remembered to take off the plastic protector surrounding the blade. I'm trying to go thru 6/7 oz Hermann Oak leather (making a guitar strap). The oblong punch won't cut through the leather even after a dozen or so strikes. The blade on the oblong punch does not seem very sharp, but I'm not certain how sharp it should be to cut. I can run my thumb along the blade and it's quite dull. I punched two holes with a round drive punch using this setup, no problem. The company I bought the punch from suggested that I needed a more solid foundation than the 1" steel plate/cutting board combo (suggested marble or a wood slab) and that the rubber mallet is a no-no. They suggested a raw hide/poly mallet should help matters. Does this sound like a problem with the punch blades or do you think the new mallet/wood base will be the solution? Thanks, John Quote
Members TinkerTailor Posted November 12, 2015 Members Report Posted November 12, 2015 I have never received a tool sharp enough for my standards. I touch them all up. Some come much closer to perfect than others. Sometimes you get what you paid for, and sharpening, polishing and honing cost money. Quote "If nobody shares what they know, we will eventually all know nothing." "There is no adventure in letting fear and common sense be your guide"
Boriqua Posted November 12, 2015 Report Posted November 12, 2015 I bought my 1.5" punch from tandy and it was extremely dull. You could run your finger over it with impunity. Cost about the same as you paid but took me an hour or more to get it sharpened and polished. Having said that .. if your table top bounces it will be difficult to make a clean punch. Before I got my tree cookie I used to punch my holster belt slots on the cement floor out back on a piece of 2x4 with a 2lb mallet. I have a metal and mdf table inside which is pretty sturdy but not sturdy enough not to have the surface bounce some and make for a miserable time. Now that i have my tree cookie life is grand. Best tool I got and it cost me nothing! Quote
Northmount Posted November 12, 2015 Report Posted November 12, 2015 A rubber hammer is too soft. Much of the impact is absorbed by the rubber. Need a good solid mallet or maul to use larger punches. A deadblow hammer works even though most have some rubber on the face. Tom Quote
Members TomG Posted November 12, 2015 Members Report Posted November 12, 2015 There are some YouTube videos and thread here that discuss sharpening punches, knives, etc.The weird thing is that I have purchased the expensive punches from Tandy and the cheapos. The cheapos are 10 times sharper than the expensive ones. But ALL have to be sharpened or at least stropped. But you do need a piece of marble or granite, a cutting board of some sort on top, and a solid (Not Metal) hammer/mallet/maul. If you have a Harbor Freight around you, go buy their big dead blow hammer. The plastic coating really doesn't bounce enough to hurt you on punches as long as you hold firm downward pressure as you hit it. But definately sharpen the punch first. Quote Tom Gregory Legacy Leathercraft www.legacyleathercraft.com www.etsy.com/shop/legacyleathercraft
Members jmuir Posted November 12, 2015 Author Members Report Posted November 12, 2015 Thanks for the advice, all. Tom G, I'm not too far from Augusta and there's a Harbor freight there. The new punch was really dull, basically no edge. I think sharpening (along with the correct hammer/more solid base) it will solve my problem. I'm using the great guitar strap pattern posted at leatherworker.net, thanks for that! I'm helping my son with an art project. I'm cutting the guitar straps and he's doing the art. I really appreciate the site, it's a great resource and I've used quite a few of the sponsors (Tippmann, Springfield, Texas Custom Dies). I have been very happy with their service. John Quote
Members dfrensdorff Posted November 13, 2015 Members Report Posted November 13, 2015 I've bought several oblong punches......all CS Osborne........all sharp right out of the box and have never had to touch them up. Right around $50 per as well..... Quote
Members TinkerTailor Posted November 13, 2015 Members Report Posted November 13, 2015 I've bought several oblong punches......all CS Osborne........all sharp right out of the box and have never had to touch them up. Right around $50 per as well..... May not need to touch them up, However due to after purchase sharpening, i can hand push most of my punches 3/8" and under through most any leather up to 8 ounce. A push and twist and i am done. Force and finesse are generally opposite, if you have to force a tool due to dull edges, you can not finesse it. Quote "If nobody shares what they know, we will eventually all know nothing." "There is no adventure in letting fear and common sense be your guide"
Boriqua Posted November 13, 2015 Report Posted November 13, 2015 May not need to touch them up, However due to after purchase sharpening, i can hand push most of my punches 3/8" and under through most any leather up to 8 ounce. A push and twist and i am done. Force and finesse are generally opposite, if you have to force a tool due to dull edges, you can not finesse it. Man oh man .. You are pushing yours through leather .... ugh ... guess mine isnt done yet. Be sharpening some more this weekend. Quote
Members TinkerTailor Posted November 14, 2015 Members Report Posted November 14, 2015 Man oh man .. You are pushing yours through leather .... ugh ... guess mine isnt done yet. Be sharpening some more this weekend. Not slot punches, just round, Its all in the twist.Think about it, the edge of a small punch is no longer than the edge of a skiving knife. Quote "If nobody shares what they know, we will eventually all know nothing." "There is no adventure in letting fear and common sense be your guide"
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