Tandy leather punch question

[Kiah]

So I need to punch some holes. Tandy's press dies are a bit ridiculous in price and pretty limited in size since they use the changeable heads from the "Mini" hand punch. Would like to have the full range, so the simple solution seems to be to pick up the "Mini" and "Maxi" sets and fit 'em to my press. Heck of a lot cheaper too. Anyone who has one or both of these items mind measuring the handle diameter for me? Just need to see if I need to order bushings. Thanks.

 

[sheathmaker]

Kiah, my personal experience with both the "Mini" and "Maxi" punch sets is that the punch tubes themselves are the very weak link. All of mine either/or (or both) rolled the cutting edge or chipped out. They are simply not of a quality that I would retro fit to a press. My further experience is that even though press dies are ridiculously priced they are at least of a quality that will last and do the job. Those Mini Maxi tubes are BAD.

Paul

 

[Kiah]

Thanks for the heads up, Paul. From what I can gather, the dies and the hand punches (the Mini one anyway) share the same replaceable tubes. If they have those issues with leather, I doubt they'll handle the webbing I need to punch. Giving it some thought, I may just stick a Jacobs chuck in my 1 ton press and use solid punches that way. Should be tall enough and it's serving no other purpose at the moment.

 

[sonil]

instead of geting the set get the individual tubes at the size you need(i buy them on ebay),the pitch thread is 5/16x24 and fit them in your arbor press here is what i did to punch holes in webbing : https://www.instagram.com/p/9KYA24p4jI/?taken-by=linossheathworks

 

[Kiah]

Thanks, bro. Unfortunately Instagram videos won't play on my computer. Will give it a watch when I'm around one that was made this century.

 

[sonil]

Thanks, bro. Unfortunately Instagram videos won't play on my computer. Will give it a watch when I'm around one that was made this century.

LOL
here you go some pics:

 

[Kiah]

Thanks, man. Very cool setup and looks like a time saver. Watched on it another PC Today, but the pics are clearer. Will have to fiddle a bit and see what I can put together. Went ahead and ordered a cheap set of hand punches Yesterday for testing purposes, so I may pick up a couple tubes and see what falls together.