Oval punches

[fredk]

55 minutes ago, Hardrada said:

I failed miserably with that approach, though. I made a template from 3 oz English bridle and still got the holes crooked. These punches have no indexes, and at such diameters are very difficult to align properly. Suggetions are appreciated.

A thought. Punch one oval hole in thick leather. Glue two narrow strips onto that piece, one either side of that one hole and carefully aligned with it and the width apart of the belt strap. Place this 'template' over the belt strap and punch through the hole in it, move it along for each hole, or just press the punch into the belt strap to mark it, and then punch all the holes after the template is removed

[Frodo]

Because of  the offset holes you see in the image above

I am making a Plexiglass  template that has center marks,  and  you punch through the template holes

[mike02130]

I put three creases in my belts.  One a 1/4 - 3/8" on either side and one down the middle the length of the belt.  I line up the sides of the punch with the crease and use a little hand pressure to make a mark.  I then adjust as necessary.  It's not perfect but I get good results.  The creased lines look nice all connecting at the end of the English point.

[Spyros]

I think Ι'll pop out in the shed this weekend and make one of those quickly

.....but then the problem is, on that metal piece in the middle, how do I drill those holes straight 

It's the age old catch 22 of toolmaking:  

"to make the tool that you want, you need the tool that you're making"

 

Edited August 13, 2020 by Spyros

[billybopp]

11 minutes ago, Spyros said:

I think Ι'll pop out in the shed this weekend and make one of those quickly

.....but then the problem is, on that metal piece in the middle, how do I drill those holes straight 

It's the age old catch 22 of toolmaking:  

"to make the tool that you want, you need the tool that you're making"

 

The difference is that if you make a tool like that, or a jig - you only have to take the time to get it just right once.  If it's something that you do often the time and money spent will pay you back in time and money!   I need to make something similar to that for my hole punching - I already made one to help me align letter stamps on straps out of thick plastic (I just don't have the tools to do metal).

- Bill

[Spyros]

10 minutes ago, billybopp said:

The difference is that if you make a tool like that, or a jig - you only have to take the time to get it just right once.  If it's something that you do often the time and money spent will pay you back in time and money!   I need to make something similar to that for my hole punching - I already made one to help me align letter stamps on straps out of thick plastic (I just don't have the tools to do metal).

- Bill

I mean you don't need much in terms of tools, just a drill for the holes.  Buy the metal bars in the width and thickness you need and cut it to size a hacksaw, sand the edges round (if you can be bothered), pop some rivets in and that's it.  The ruler bit is just for show.    I'm actually thinking of using aluminium because I'm too lazy to drill through mild steel.

 

Oh I just remembered I made one too for letter stamps

 

 

It works, kinda.  but those stamps are not made to be used like that, they're too spaced out.

 

Edited August 13, 2020 by Spyros

[chuck123wapati]

10 hours ago, Spyros said:

I think Ι'll pop out in the shed this weekend and make one of those quickly

.....but then the problem is, on that metal piece in the middle, how do I drill those holes straight 

It's the age old catch 22 of toolmaking:  

"to make the tool that you want, you need the tool that you're making"

 

Scribe a line down the middle of you piece from one end to the other, Then drill small pilot holes on both ends of each oval, then drill out the pilot holes with the right size bit  and finish with needle files.

[chuck123wapati]

i was just wondering if anyone skived each end of the round holes, one side on the front and one side on the back of the belt so the prong wont deform the hole as much instead of making an oval Like we do with belt loops on pancake holsters.

[RockyAussie]

11 hours ago, Spyros said:

I think Ι'll pop out in the shed this weekend and make one of those quickly

.....but then the problem is, on that metal piece in the middle, how do I drill those holes straight 

It's the age old catch 22 of toolmaking:  

"to make the tool that you want, you need the tool that you're making"

 

Very easy to make up with a 3D printer and some Chicago screws. No problem at all with doing whatever shape slots and hole shapes you want then. Only tricky bit is working out how to set it up for spring closing as well.

[Spyros]

 

1 hour ago, chuck123wapati said:

Scribe a line down the middle of you piece from one end to the other, Then drill small pilot holes on both ends of each oval, then drill out the pilot holes with the right size bit  and finish with needle files.

I was half joking, I just suck at drilling holes for some reason.  Even with my drill press.   Even when I use a center punch and pilot holes and clamps and everything else, about 1/3 of the time the drill bit finds a way to go in sideways and get out the other side at an angle, or just generally travel outside the pilot hole.   That's for wood and especially metal.   For holes in leather I have all sorts of other problems: pilot holes are irrelevant, sometimes the material shifts and stretches and slides under me, the punch covers my mark so I can't see what I'm doing etc.  

At the end of the day maybe it's just my attention to detail, when I get to the hole punching stage it's usually towards the end of the project and I'm getting impatient.  Just need to slow down and take my time, and also rethink my method.