Tae Report post Posted January 8, 2008 Hello, I'm thinking of making a Scrabble board with a leather surface. I was thinking of making it with leather glued on a wooden board. Since I'd like the letters to sit-in, it might be nice to make it with two pieces, one with the square holes cut out (with cardboard glued below for structural integrity), and the other leather glued below that so the tiles can sit on it. I can even embellish the special squares with patterns and color on the bottom surface. This all begs the question of where I get myself a square punch. Scrabble tiles are about 7/8" x 7/8", but 1" x 1" will probably do. I can't seem to find square punches in the normal catalogues or websites. Does any one know where I might get myself one for a reasonable price? Since the board is 15 by 15, I need to punch-out 225 squares. The best idea I had was to get a square aluminum tube at OSH and file it down. Dunno if this will work, but I'd be willing to buy a nice punch if they are available. Thanks a bunch! cheers, Tae Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beaverslayer Report post Posted January 8, 2008 Tae, I have'nt seen a square punch either. The aluminium square tube would probably be a bit to soft for smashing through enough leather to make a Scrabble board. I think you would want to go with square structural tubing that has an ID of 1" x 1" or there abouts. This way when you sharpen the edges to make a punch, it will keep and edge to some degree, and when you smash it with a mallet, it wont colapse on you. Ken PS: Can't wait to see the Scrabble Board. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Randy Cornelius Report post Posted January 8, 2008 call one of the company's that make clicker dies. I bet they could make you one you could use your maul with. If not try a piece of square steel tubing. Should be able to get a small lenght at a welding shop. Grind it down and sharpen it. I may last for several before you have to sharpen it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jordan Report post Posted January 8, 2008 Find one of those big ol paper cutters like they had in grade school and sharpen the snot outta the blade, just a thought, don't know if it would work but they do work on those self stick floor tiles. I have seen um at second hand stores and swap meets Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Timbo Report post Posted January 11, 2008 I'd just buy some 1" belt blanks and find a cheapo tee square with a 1" wide ruler and go to town with a box knife. tim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luke Hatley Report post Posted January 11, 2008 (edited) I'M WITH TIMBO...... IT WILL SAVE YOU A LOT OF FRUSTATION TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT AND IT IS NOT THERE. Edited January 11, 2008 by Luke Hatley Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rdb Report post Posted January 11, 2008 Jordan, sometimes you make me laugh right out loud..."sharpen the snot outta the blade". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolvenstien Report post Posted January 11, 2008 Well, you dont want to sharpen the piss out of it do you? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drac Report post Posted January 12, 2008 try sharpening the hell out of it instead. that way it'll be nice to use. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geoffc Report post Posted February 21, 2008 Another thought is to get a mortising chisel for wood and remove the drill bit..makes nice square holes..I got a cheap set from Harbor Freight to try and work quite well..a friend of mine was using a corner chisel, but you have to hit it twice and if you're not perfectly square it's a little tough to repair.. Geoff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigprairie Report post Posted February 21, 2008 Hello,I'm thinking of making a Scrabble board with a leather surface. I was thinking of making it with leather glued on a wooden board. Since I'd like the letters to sit-in, it might be nice to make it with two pieces, one with the square holes cut out (with cardboard glued below for structural integrity), and the other leather glued below that so the tiles can sit on it. I can even embellish the special squares with patterns and color on the bottom surface. This all begs the question of where I get myself a square punch. Scrabble tiles are about 7/8" x 7/8", but 1" x 1" will probably do. I can't seem to find square punches in the normal catalogues or websites. Does any one know where I might get myself one for a reasonable price? Since the board is 15 by 15, I need to punch-out 225 squares. The best idea I had was to get a square aluminum tube at OSH and file it down. Dunno if this will work, but I'd be willing to buy a nice punch if they are available. Thanks a bunch! cheers, Tae Tae - It might be worthwhile to check some of the Scrapbooking shops, perhaps Michael's - they have lots of different shaped paper punches with decent steel cutters in them. My wife has several different ones, snowflakes, geometric shapes, etc. They come with the steel cutter inside a hard plastic body - the paper slides in the bottom and the cutter is depressed with a short plunger from the top. You could try a small, inexpensive on and butcher it apart to get at the cutter to try on leather. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spider Report post Posted February 23, 2008 Tae, did you ever solve this problem? Maybe I could help. PM me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tae Report post Posted July 1, 2008 Okay, after 6 months, here is the final product. I ended up hand carving everything. But I did buy a 1" aluminum square pipe and am sharpening it on a grinder for the "next" one. Scrabble board Thanks for your advice about the punch. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
