Members DONAG Posted November 6, 2018 Members Report Posted November 6, 2018 I place my English tip punch at the end of my strap. Check both side to see the amount of overhang and rarely get a good cut I have the center marked, so I know the tip is in the middle Angle is 50% of the time off which means I have to re-cut the tip. Little heavier to the left or right I'm using a 1" punch for 22, 24 and 26 mm. I have a 3/4" for 18 and 20 mm A section that was supposed to be 125 mm is now 120 as I had to cut it 3 times to get it close to even Thanks DON Quote
alpha2 Posted November 6, 2018 Report Posted November 6, 2018 I do what you are describing, and don't have the issue. I'd suggest putting lines on your table, outlining the strap, and the ends of the punch, to align it. And yes, the big thing is the center has to be in the right place. Other than that, I'd suggest cutting a long piece of strap and practicing for a bit. Jeff Quote So much leather...so little time.
Members DONAG Posted November 6, 2018 Author Members Report Posted November 6, 2018 Funny thing is. When I do tests cuts. Works fine. When I do the actual strap. 50/50. Like it has a mind of it's own and knows I have Rhino board on my downstairs desk, but will check a cheap cutting board to see if it has lines on it. Rhino board doesn't have them Thanks DON Quote
Members Squilchuck Posted November 6, 2018 Members Report Posted November 6, 2018 I put the two lower points of the punch on the cutting board, then pivot forward to place the tip in the center. That helps but is not perfect all the time. Might do a couple times to make sure of even distance between strap and bottom end of punch before hitting the punch. Or might reverse order - point first then bottom. --John Quote
Members Dwight Posted November 6, 2018 Members Report Posted November 6, 2018 I have a similar problem with oval punching the holes for some of my belts. How I've "cured it" is to first hit a very light stroke, . . . allowing me to see if it is where it should be, . . . adjusting if necessary, . . . then punching. My belt holes have become significantly better since I started that practice. Try it, . . . just might work for you as well. May God bless, Dwight Quote If you can breathe, . . . thank God. If you can read, . . . thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a veteran. www.dwightsgunleather.com
Members klstclair Posted November 6, 2018 Members Report Posted November 6, 2018 I have found my subscription to Nigel Armitage's (Dangerous Beans) Vimeo series of 57 videos valuable for things like this. Episode 20 covers Strap end punch centering and Episode 21 covers Using a crew bag oblong punch. Information is available at: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/armitageleather. Well worth the small monthly fee of less than US$4.00 Enjoy, Kevin Quote
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted November 6, 2018 Contributing Member Report Posted November 6, 2018 SOunds like you might benefit from a template and a knife. My preference, template and a sharp knife trumps a punch. Or if you're doing 10+ per week consistently, certainly would warrant purchasing a die, which would incorporate "wings" to line up the piece to the strap. Quote "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Members DONAG Posted November 6, 2018 Author Members Report Posted November 6, 2018 Thanks guys. Will try different things. Die doesn't help as I'm working with different widths and tapers Can't do a light stroke tap. If not right. it's on the face of the strap and customer will see it Will do tests tomorrow and see what works best DON Quote
Members Squilchuck Posted November 6, 2018 Members Report Posted November 6, 2018 Tandy sells nice templates with a half dozen strap sizes in one - round and tapered. I use them too with a knife. --John Quote
Members DONAG Posted November 6, 2018 Author Members Report Posted November 6, 2018 (edited) 41 minutes ago, Squilchuck said: Tandy sells nice templates with a half dozen strap sizes in one - round and tapered. I use them too with a knife. --John Saw that, but in Canada it's $36.00 with a jacked up exchange rate, tax and s/h I'm stuck between stores which are at opposite ends of two district city limits, so getting out there is a chore Will just keep practising, but will check Ebay on the template DON Bought a template off Amazon just to have and included free s/h. Same price as Canadian store price with exchange rate. Just don't have to drive out to get it or pay for s/h Edited November 6, 2018 by DONAG Quote
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