Leather punches

[northerner]

I'm having some grief with making pouch holes. I picked up a cheap rotary punch from Home Depot and it cut about 12 holes and then got so dull that I bent the handles while trying to cut another hole. The next smaller hole worked for a very short time and then I had the same problem. I took the punch back and bought a Tandy "mini-punch set" from Michael's with hopes of the #5 size working well. However, it won't cut through the leather. I tried plywood, spruce, and finally a teflon cutting board for a backer block but the hole still would not cut through. I guess these cheaper tools are best for bristol board and very light leather.

What type of leather punch works best for 4-5 oz pouch leather? Have you ever made one from tubing?

Many thanks,
Northerner

[pepsipopper]

I'm having some grief with making pouch holes. I picked up a cheap rotary punch from Home Depot and it cut about 12 holes and then got so dull that I bent the handles while trying to cut another hole. The next smaller hole worked for a very short time and then I had the same problem. I took the punch back and bought a Tandy "mini-punch set" from Michael's with hopes of the #5 size working well. However, it won't cut through the leather. I tried plywood, spruce, and finally a teflon cutting board for a backer block but the hole still would not cut through. I guess these cheaper tools are best for bristol board and very light leather.

What type of leather punch works best for 4-5 oz pouch leather? Have you ever made one from tubing?

Many thanks,
Northerner

Norther-try the mini-punch set-using a dead-blow or rawhide hammer,
with an oak or other hardwood backer board.Matt

[northerner]

Norther-try the mini-punch set-using a dead-blow or rawhide hammer,
with an oak or other hardwood backer board.Matt

Thanks pspsipopper,

I did try the mini-punch set using a hard urethane mallet and a hard teflon backer. I thought that would work fine but even with many firm strikes it still wouldn't cut through. The cheapo rotary cutter worked very well and cut right through for the first 10-12 holes. Maybe I'll try the mini-set one more time before looking for something else.

Many thanks,
Northerner

[Bill Herriman]

Teflon is too soft, try HDPE for a backer. Bill Herriman

[northerner]

Teflon is too soft, try HDPE for a backer. Bill Herriman

Thanks Bill,

Do you have to strike heavy on the punch to get a clean hole through the leather?

The backer I tried was a cutting board. It seems quite hard and doesn't mark easily. I'm assuming it's some sort of teflon but i'm not sure. It's much harder than the wood I tried. I guess I have to try something even harder?

Many thanks,
Northerner

[northerner]

Update --- I just tried oak for a backer and it works great! I guess the other wood was too soft.

Many thanks,
Northerner