Handcutting vs Press Cutting

[KittenThrasher]

In the UK they are called 'click knives' and 'click presses' and there are several companies that make the blades at reasonable cost, I guess the same is true of the US? Another thought is getting the components Laser cut, for thin light stuff like watch straps this should be a really good solution, also for the same few hundred dollars that you might spend on a click press (you could also make one if you get some steel offcuts from a fabricator) you could buy a cheap chinese laser cutter that would cut all your watch straps and any thing else you fancy. Laser cutting is a very interesting way to go in leatherwork.

good luck.

[treyman]

Have both laser and clicker. Use the clicker for everything. Don’t care for the laser burn marks but it is great when prototyping and for monograms. The question is not hand cut or dies, it really is how much is your time worth. That is if you have enough business. 

[JerseyFirefighter]

Texas Dies are a great company. I have a clicker and laser as well. I laser cut my gift cards, but the clicker is one of the workhorses of the shop. If you dont want to invest in a clicker or do not have the space, the idea of having them make it a mallet struck die is where I started. It shouldnt be hard to get through the leather with it considering the thickness of a watch strap. I was banging strap ends through 13-15oz bridle and it took a few hard shots. Clicker took those few hard shots and turned it into the pull of a handle.