Belt slot punches.....

[carguy4471]

So I'm about ready to punch some belt slots on my first holster.  Grabbed a set of hollow punches from harbor freight to use the 3/8 and a chisel.  What a travesty this set is:

http://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-hollow-punch-set-3838.html

So could I just grab this set from tandy and use the 5/16??

https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/maxi-leather-punch-set

I'd love to avoid the agony of having to sharpen those harbor freight punches.   

 

Thanks all!!

[Red Bear Haraldsson]

Every punch will need sharpening at sooner or later.

I do not know about the HF punches but I do have the maxi punch set and I have sharpened every tube that came with it at some point.

I am prone to cheating and chucking them in a drill press and stoning them while it spins. Slow speed, goodly amount of oil, and I run my finger on the other side of the tube so I can stop when it starts to warm up. No idea if it is still bad to do, but it appears to work quite well.

[carguy4471]

That HF set would need to have an edge set, they don't even have a good edge.  They are nearly blunt.  I don't mind a little tune up but they wont go through one piece of 8/9 oz leather with a 3lb dead blow let alone two pieces, lol.   

[JLSleather]

Just FYI.. you can get a slot punch made for about the same money as the punch set and chisel.  And it punches slots cleaner and faster...

 

[wayner]

where can you get a good sharp punch made 

 

[carguy4471]

I'm in for $50 or so on a punch if one can be had at that price.

[JLSleather]

I got some at http://www.usacuttingdie.com/

Think they were a tad over $50, but you'd need to tell them what you want - they'll make it the size you ask for.

BYTHEWAY

For general holster work, I like a slot punch 1 1/2" - 1 9/16" long by 1/4" wide.  Some of my punches I had made 7/32" wide, so it ends up being 1/4" AFTER burnishing the slot...

Edited December 5, 2016 by JLSleather
multiple inquiries

[dikman]

I bought a set of punches similar to those. I took one look at the extreme bevel on the cutting edges and spent some time on a belt grinder putting a much longer taper on them. They work much better but it does make the cutting edge pretty thin.

[rickybobby]

Like JLSleather said, http://www.usacuttingdie.com Texas Custom Dies  

Quality Product and quick turn around. 

The Belt Slot Punch I had made for my holsters works with my 1 1/2" double thick gun belts. I had it done 1 3/4" X 5/16".  I use a "dummy belt" when I press and wet mold my holsters so the belt slot molds right to the correct shape & size of the belt.

I had it done as a Maul Punch. I think the next one will be a clicker punch... I use a 5 lb. Rawhide maul on a Farrier Anvil. To keep the punch from dinging the anvil I glued a piece of vinyl flooring to the flat surface then a 3/8" piece of hard rubber (like cutting mat) on top of that. It helps save you the time of resharpening your punches when your friends come over and "just need to punch one hole" in something and are not use to the 5 lb maul!

[CaptQuirk]

@rickybobby- How much was that belt slot punch, and was it straight or curved?