Educate me on punches.

R

R.H.Clark

Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
771
I'm trying to acquire a few tools on a limited budget.I need to get a set of punches.I'll be mostly punching security strap holes in 6 oz leather but may also need to punch a 3/8" hole in up to 12-14 oz leather.Does one style punch perform better than any other at different hole size or leather thickness?

I don't need to spend a bundle but don't want unusable junk or something that will stop cutting after a week.If I need to get the more expensive tools I will buy a couple at a time.

I'm looking at Osborne.I could get the Osborne mini set with screw in tips and the self centering set with screw in tips and have a full range set but am not sure if they will handle the heavier leather.

The Osborne arch punches look to be high quality but at a higher price.

The Osborne belt punches are reasonably priced.

The Osborne Drive punches also look like high quality but at a high price.

Thanks for reading all my rambling I just need to know how to best spend my money.
 
RH, quality is the way to go. A good set of high quality punches will be with you and working well for the next 10, 20, 30 years. Osborne is certainly acceptable quality. The plier type punches, even the rotary are fast and handy, but a good set of drive punches can go places where the plier types cannot reach. In other words drive punches can do it all so that would be where would lay my first dollars. The arch type punches are a necessary item on your bench as well. Here again the Osborne, while not the very best available are wholly acceptable and will serve you well for a very long time.

As time goes by you will accumulate quite a variety of all these, but buy the very best you can possibly afford up front. I have the full set of Osborne single plier type from 00 through 9 and drive punches from 000 through 14 or 15. Bag punches, English tip punches, Round belt end punches, all in every size they come in, but I sure didn't get them all on the same day!. Incidentally, the Osborne plier punches are about as good as is availalbe today.

Edited to add: the replacement tubes for the plier types are hit and miss even from the same (imported) source. They are not the same quality they used to be. You'll get two good ones and three that suck in the same order. Crap shoot comes to mind.

Paul
 
Is there any situation in which the arch punches are better than a drive punch or vice versa?

Thanks for the reply.
Randy
 
Arch punches are specialty punches. Bag (oblong slot) English point (belt and strap tip), Belt end (Half round). Some, in fact many, large diameter round punches (3/4" and up) are arch type punches as well. Drive punches are the round hole type from 000 up through 15 or 16 and also come in inches or fractions such as 1/8", 1/4" etc. So to answer your question they are all important at some time or another.

Paul
 
I use my Father's rotary (plier) punch that he used when he was doing belts and bridals back in the 60's.. its an osbourne!

a real testament to the quality you get with the name brands!
 
I have mostly Osborne now and can say the quality seems pretty good! I do have the set with the changable tips and its a pretty cheap set. It works, but i prefer the single pieces from osborne. Much heavier duty and no need to mess around changing the tips. Just grab-n-go!
 
Whiskey River said:
I have mostly Osborne now and can say the quality seems pretty good! I do have the set with the changable tips and its a pretty cheap set. It works, but i prefer the single pieces from osborne. Much heavier duty and no need to mess around changing the tips. Just grab-n-go!
Click to expand...

True story, there. The screw in tip stuff is not very good quality and could and should be considered throw away.

Paul
 
Thanks guys,I bought 12 Osborne drive punches.Maby that will be enough for some time.So many supplies to buy,so little money.
 
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