Quick way to do shield-and-tab?

[Gabriel Rasa]

This is a page from Al Stohlman's book on leather cases; I like the shield-shaped tabs, but he doesn't talk about how to make them, and I've had some difficulty making them both (1) quick and (2) symmetrical. I was wondering if anyone knew a technique to punch these out quickly and cleanly.

[bikermutt07]

If you have a press you can have a die made for them. 

I use my English strap template for them, myself. Tandy has them for 5 or 6 bucks.

[koreric75]

42 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

If you have a press you can have a die made for them. 

I use my English strap template for them, myself. Tandy has them for 5 or 6 bucks.

2d what matt said, the belt/strap end templates would work, if you use it alot you can always have someone custom build a mallet punch die for that shape, but that can get expensive.

[bikermutt07]

Maybe I misread the first post. If you are looking to make a shield, just draw 1/2 of it on some card stock. Cut it out and fold it in half. Trace that side and cut it out. Boom, symmetrical template shield.

[fredk]

bikermutt has it; but I fold the card first, then cut the the 1/2 shield shape. When the card is flattened the two curves are the same. I just cut them out with shears as & when I need them

[Gabriel Rasa]

40 minutes ago, fredk said:

bikermutt has it; but I fold the card first, then cut the the 1/2 shield shape. When the card is flattened the two curves are the same. I just cut them out with shears as & when I need them

Well yeah, it was easy enough to make the cardstock pattern symmetrical, but the leather was never as tidy as I wanted after I cut it out, either with shears or with a knife. Possibly I'm just being too fussy about it.

[Boriqua]

I bought a set like this a few years back

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DIY-Leather-Craft-Tools-Arc-shaped-Cutter-Punch-Strap-Belt-Wallet-End10-50MM/263254344611?hash=item3d4b2e83a3:g:ktUAAOSw5VtZ20wm

Mine however were very much not shiny and looked to have a bit of rust. Few passes with a sharpening stone and .... I dont know how i lived without them!

I have a pattern on transfer acetate that I use to lightly draw the shield onto the leather just by gently pressing through the acetate with the end of a modeling spoon but then cut it out with whichever of these punches fits most closely. They almost look like they were done with a single die but for a lot less. I also get to use these for countless other operations.

They came from China so expect a bit of a wait but I am very happy I bought them. They are not pretty fancy tool but they work.

[Tugadude]

They are spendy, but you can buy an English strap end punch that has the shape you are looking for.  Can use on belts too.

 

[Gabriel Rasa]

24 minutes ago, Boriqua said:

I bought a set like this a few years back

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DIY-Leather-Craft-Tools-Arc-shaped-Cutter-Punch-Strap-Belt-Wallet-End10-50MM/263254344611?hash=item3d4b2e83a3:g:ktUAAOSw5VtZ20wm

Mine however were very much not shiny and looked to have a bit of rust. Few passes with a sharpening stone and .... I dont know how i lived without them!

I have a pattern on transfer acetate that I use to lightly draw the shield onto the leather just by gently pressing through the acetate with the end of a modeling spoon but then cut it out with whichever of these punches fits most closely. They almost look like they were done with a single die but for a lot less. I also get to use these for countless other operations.

They came from China so expect a bit of a wait but I am very happy I bought them. They are not pretty fancy tool but they work.

Yeah, I've got two sizes of English strap punch, and I think I have that exact same rounded set from China. I've used them in combination to make the shields, but it can still be finicky if you get it from the wrong angle, or can't get them to punch symmetrically -- basically I'd been wondering if there was a clever trick to it that I was just overlooking, but it seems like the clever trick is "be careful."

Anyway, thanks for weighing in on this, guys -- good to know I was on the right track, even if I'd been hoping for a shortcut.

 

[fredk]

The only short cut to cutting these out without grief is to get a clicker cutter made for cutting them out. But I reckon you'd need to be doing a lot to make it worth while.

I reckon you might be just a bit too self critical. Unless two shields are mounted directly next to each other no-one will notice any small differences, and unless they are cut really askew no one will notice any little lopsidedness.

I used to make toy shields for children. I made hundreds at a time. I stacked 10 boards together, drew the shield shape on the top one - using a template - then cut the stack on a bandsaw. I used to spend ages evening up to two curves. Then I had a eureka moment. I stopped doing that. The curves were still a bit lopsided to my eyes,  but no-one gave a damn, not the children, not the parents.