Belt slot punches.....

[brmax]

Many times the last minute decisions are a winner if choosing a tool tested by the masses, my opinion try a CS Osborne for this go round.

Their most times affordable readily available and they do work,

If one of the pro tool guys like B King, Beard and J Watts has a punch available well then you can bet its ready enough out the box to do work.

I know this because as an old one and yet new to this going with pro equipment when able or critical always results in many points ahead.

good day

Floyd

[malabar]

Gents,

There's just not going to be any comparison between the custom punch and the Osborne.   Don't misunderstand -- I've got at least $1,000 worth of Osborne tools, and they are professional-quality tools.  They are lightyears ahead of the crap from Tandy, and there is a noticeable difference in quality from other consumer-tool companies products -- General, Stanley, etc.  The problem is that their bag punches, like everyone else's, are just too damn narrow.   My heavy-duty belts are 3/8" thick.  I have to either punch the slots with the Osborne bag punch and then open the slot up with a Foredom and a tungsten bit, or punch half-inch round holes and connect them via chisel.

[CaptQuirk]

@malabar- I think that after punching, sanding and burnishing, the slot should open up a bit more. If not, maybe burnish and sand a little more aggressively? You can always remove more, but you can't put it back. I have a small pile of holsters to prove that last point.

[JLSleather]

On 12/17/2016 at 10:30 AM, HBAR said:

As far as curved slots, I think its more of someones gimmick. ...Im sure somebody thinks they look cool,

Yeah, you got it. 

[malabar]

On 12/21/2016 at 9:26 AM, CaptQuirk said:

@malabar- I think that after punching, sanding and burnishing, the slot should open up a bit more. If not, maybe burnish and sand a little more aggressively? You can always remove more, but you can't put it back. I have a small pile of holsters to prove that last point.

That's certainly true, but who wants to spend 30 minutes making belts slots on a $75 holster?  Punching to the final size is a world easier.

[CaptQuirk]

2 hours ago, malabar said:

That's certainly true, but who wants to spend 30 minutes making belts slots on a $75 holster?  Punching to the final size is a world easier.

I spent a lot more than 30 minutes on a pair of slots, and yeah, it would be easier to just do it with a punch the size you want. If you have the money, get it, Texas dies, will make it the size you want. I personally don't do enough holsters with them to buy the punch yet.

[malabar]

Yeah,that's the thing. We turn out 12-15 pieces a week -- but very few have slots.

 

tk

[CaptQuirk]

I have done 7-10 holsters in the last year. It is about 50/50 between belt clip and either snap down or sewn loop. 1 of those had slots, curved slots no less. And I used curved slots, not because they looked pretty, but so the guy could adjust the angle of draw on his small of back holster. I can't tell you how much time I spent on those slots, but it was too much. But, the slot punches are about $40-$130. That is my leather budget. So, for the time being, when I have a straight slot to do, I'll punch 2 holes, and use my knife and straight edge to do them. But yeah, it would be nice to just whack a punch and be done!