Quick Tip on Leather Hole Punches

Leather hole punches are an absolute necessity in any leathercraft shop. No matter the size of your hobby or business, hole punches are a must have. In this video, I give you my recommendations on style of hole punches that I like as well as sizes. You don't need to go out and invest a huge amount of money buying all the available sizes of hole punches. I recommend, and use daily, three sizes and I will show you what those are and why.
The brand of tools in this video, both squeeze punches and drive punches, are all C.S. Osborne tools.
www.csosborneleathertools.com/
Our website
dgsaddlery.com/

[@tinoyb9294]

Fabulous! Your tool tip videos are always worth watching.

[@michaelguerin56]

Great video. Thank you. As a carpenter, I appreciate good clear advice.

[@groseillegrowa3659]

Thank you for your advice . It is much appreciated.

[@cavtroopermunoz]

Excellent information, thanks for thinking of us that are on a budget. Now I see why my punches are sticking, I'll have time this weekend to buff them out. My rotary punch is not the expensive type but I must have got a good one because it works like a champ. Again thank you for taking your time to make these videos.

[@bonedaddy33]

Hey Don - thanks for the great video! I just purchased the same Osborne #2 and #5 as you have. I have to say it is a joy to use them. And they are so well built. Way nicer than the multi head I owned before and quicker than my punches. Great!

[@timsanders4621]

Great piece, man. Thanks.

[@brucekmiller]

Another great tip video thanks

[@anthonyclare6750]

Thanks for your time mate, very much appreciated

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

Thank you so much!

[@blackwatercollectiv3]

Hey Don! First off, thank you for being such an awesome teacher and taking your time to explain things, you don’t know how helpful that is. Secondly, I would be super interested in seeing a video on different stitches or just options for beginners that don’t have the money to fork out on a leather sewing machine just yet. I thought the mention of the buck stitching in your wallet tutorial was super helpful! Thanks again!

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

I am thinking through a video on that soon as well... there are a few insights I can offer when it comes to hand stitching. Thank you so much!!!

[@Stoney327]

HELLO don Very informative, thank you. I've been in the leather game for about 30 years, and I've run the gamut on punches. The most creative I ever got was using spent rifle casings. If you "stone" the outside edge, it'll cut some fairly heavy leather 10/11 oz.and they will last awhile? Getting the "plug" out is a bear though.I removed the spent primer and used a short piece of coat hanger through the primer hole to get it out. Just my $.02. God bless: Stoney

[@Yellow.Dog.]

Thank you.

[@listillolordoc7604]

Harbor Freight Tool sells a set of drive punches for under $10 that are not bad. I’ve had me set since 2003 and I use them several times a week. I agree with Don on don’t buy a cheap rotary squeeze punch, but a good one is great as is the single Saddle Mans Punch like in the video.

[@curtishawkins4123]

If I find myself in a bind and need to punch a quick hole, I dig around in the ol feed truck for a spent rifle brass. A .17 or .22 cal casing works great for just a hole or two. Back it up with a wood block and hit it with whatever is handy.

[@toddgunsolley9401]

Just a thought for a quick tips kinda video - keeping edgers, oblong or strap end punches, hole punches, even straight cut off punches sharp and clean. For example, which side of a strap end punch gets the angle? How do you keep an edger sharp without messing up the profile, how do you put a fresh edge on a curved/complex shape tool you maybe drove through leather but into a pebble? Those sorts of tool maintenance things would be great to hear more about.

[@fcaustin86]

Osborne has a set of 6 drive punches for like $40. It comes with more punches than I’ve ever used but it’s always nice to have them around just in case.

[@kellyhayes]

Where did you get them?

[@PENFOLD1962]

I'm very new to using the Hollow Hole Punch so all your advice and tips are worth their weight in gold right now. I've found myself experimenting with different materials and learning loads along the way. Can anyone recommend a Hollow Hole punch (0.5mm+) that doesn't leave a burr on the exit side of MYLAR? Plus what base could you recommend to help stop the burring. I would be really grateful of any advice. Thanks for sharing the video ... BIG THUMB'S UP 👍😷👍

[@mattsitton6826]

I recently bought a whole set of drive punches from Wuta leather on eBay. I like his stuff, although shipping takes a minute. I think the whole set was only 60 bucks.

[@rexjerome5931]

Nice tips Sir. I use only Drive punches for the very reason that you mentioned...use them anywhere. I also do exactly what you suggested to polish them. Those smaller punches can be chucked up in a drill and then you can rotate them while you're buffing them. I also buff other cutting tools, even swivel knife blades "gently " just for a quick touch up if a get a small burr or something. Another thing I stumbled across a while back is using those Drive punches in a drill to punch holes. I had a bunch of holes to punch in some 5 to 6 oz leather. It worked surprisingly well and was really fast. Nice burnished holes and even more polish to the tip of the punch I was using. Sort of a self sharpening thing. 😂

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

Interesting, I may give that a try one day.

[@arthurdurham5112]

I had an expensive set of rotary punches that was garbage. Cheap set from Harbor Freight works great.

[@rogerd.hardin7156]

What size hole chisel punch would you use to acommadate 1.0 tiger thread for saddle stitching?

[@kennethwilson3997]

I use beeswax a lot I. Will now buff the tubes. Use a c s osborne rotary btw

[@reyboy4284]

Hobby lobby also sells a drive punch with different size tips. Ammmmaaaazing if you don’t lose the tips lol

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

I actually started out with one of those... I forgot about them. Good punches to start with.

[@markashlock8058]

Rey Boy : HL's rotary is the same one Weaver offers as their top of the line. Also, you can always get a 40% off coupon for non sale items. Ended up paying like 25 bucks for mine and it is a quality punch with replacement tools available.

[@mattsitton6826]

Sound is really good on this video. Did you get a new microphone? Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Love your videos.

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

I did earlier this year and I am also learning how to better edit the audio. Thank you for the feedback, I struggle a bit in the editing as a whole.... I try to just focus on the content and hope the editing doesn't ruin the message. Ha!

[@rumpzafamily]

Hi. You quoted the punches for CS Osborne spring punch #2 as 7/64ths and the hole punch as #2 which is 1/8 ". Which one do you use for sizing?

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

I just use the number punch that it is... majority of your hole punching needs will not need to be that precise... if its close, then its good.

[@wyattclegg6868]

Do you know where to get a whole punch for slobber straps.

[@NGinuity]

What kind of issues did you have out of the CS Osborne rotary punch? The one I have is the 155. It's forged steel and has replaceable tubes. I use it for leather and canvas work when I'm snap setting. It's been nothing but a tank. I started using it instead of the hammer punches, which I also have, when I got yelled at by my wife for waking the kiddo. Haha!

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

Ha ha! I hear that! I have never owned the rotary you have, but I have seen it in person and it seems super quality. Put the majority of folks that have a rotary have the cheaper one and those have always bent on me and the tubes didn't last. Good stuff brotha!

[@threecrosses9988]

Good video. Is there a spliter/skiver you recommend, i.e., making belts?

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

Leather Machine Co has a power splitter that I have heard is really good. I have buddies that have them and love them. That will be my next purchase I think. An older CS Osborne bench top splitter is great for small strap goods as well as belts too. Bruce Johnson sells some that he refurbishes.

[@threecrosses9988]

Thanks. Made my first belt using your video. THANKS!!!

[@HickLif3]

Hey Don, do you generally have to order your leather or is there somewhere locally you can pick some up?

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

I get some from Lewis Leather Sales here in Bryan, TX... they are also Herman Oak Reps.

[@HickLif3]

Don Gonzales I’ll have to look them up, I’m in the same area as you I think so I can go by and check out what they have. I would rather support a local business and have it immediately than buy online and wait several days