The punches are usually arranged around a rotatable, circular “turret”. Leather rotary punches are manually operated, hand-held metal tools with multiple hole-sized punches used to make holes in leather material. Here’s a video demonstrating how it looks/works: For example, different straps might require different oval punch sizes depending on their width. Oval punches come in a variety of sizes, offering many options to ensure the crafter has the size that is most helpful the the type of project and work that they are doing. The other end is usually made of solid steel, providing an area to be struck with a hammer, mallet, or maul. There often have an opening in the punch near the cutting end. Leather oval punches are metal tools with a cutting edge used to create oval-shaped holes in leather material. Multiple sizes are available for use based on preference and what might work best for your project. Trace punches are most popular for harness work, though can be useful for a variety of cutting/punching needs based on their unique shape.
They are generally made of steel with highly-sharpened blades for efficient cutting. If you imagine an oblong cut, with one side wider than the other, that is what a trace punch creates. Leather trace punches are metal tools with a cutting edge used to punch tapered holes into leather.
Round punches are great for making buckle holes in belts, as well as across leather projects when creating holes for grommets, eyelets, or even holes for large laces. Most leather crafters will find themselves with at least a few round drive punches in their leather working tool kit. Others are handles with interchangeable punch size tips, requiring less storage space, though some additional time to change tips between sizes. Round drive punches are available is many different hole sizes. Alternatively, after a few punches, the excess circular pieces can be pushed down and out of the punch with a small pin or other thin implement, pushed through the opening. This creates a hole in the leather and a small leather circular piece that used to fill what is now the hole.Īs more holes are punched, the circular pieces begin to push up through the cylinder and out of the opening near the cylinder end. The force generated but the hit drives the cutting end through the leather. The other end of drive punches is solid steel.Ī round drive punch is set onto the leather it will cut, then hit or “driven” with a hammer, mallet, or maul. There is usually an opening in the cylinder near the cutting end. The cutting end is made of a sharpened edge around a hollow metal tip. Round drive punches are thin, cylindrical steel tools used to cut holes in leather. Round star end punches come in a variety of sizes so the proper one can be selected based on the project’s needs. The resulting shape is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The result is cut that gradually tapers in from the edges and comes to a soft point at the end. They work by placing the punch over the end of the leather material that is to be cut, then striking the punch with a mallet, hammer, or maul. Here’s the round strap end punch in action:Įnglish point strap end punches are used for cutting the ends of straps and belts. Leather round strap end punches are used for cutting the rounded ends of straps and belts. Leather punches come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations to serve needs across many styles of leather projects. It is also important to maintain the blades well, as a sharp blade will produce superior punching results. Leather punches come in a very wide variety of shapes and sizes for many different uses. The result is a, smooth, clean hole punched into the leather. The softer nylon surface protects the punch blade from damage, and the granite absorbs much of the force. The force of the strike pushes the punch through the material. Then, a mallet, hammer, or maul is used to strike the top of the punch. The punch lined up and rested on the leather where it will make the hole. A piece of leather to be punched is placed on a nylon surface, on top of a hard, sturdy surface (such as granite). Punches need to be strong as they are used by pounding them with force.