By now you may have come across a project where you need to make a few holes in your leather. The Rotary or leather hole punch is specifically designed for this purpose as it has a number of different sized punches attached to its rotary wheel. It’s used for making holes in belts, dog collars, watches, shoes etc. but can also be used to make holes for eyelets, rivets and lacing.
A leather hole punch is a handheld tool used for making holes in leather. It has a rotating wheel with 6 different sized punches connected to it. The wheel and punches can be rotated so different sized holes can be cut in leather. By Applying pressure on the handle holes are cut in the leather.
Leather hole punches can also be used on canvas, plastic, rubber and other materials. The beauty of this model punch is that it has 6 different sized punches on one tool, which makes it very versatile. Usually the punch sizes range is 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 3.5mm, 4mm and 4.5mm. These punches are available in most leather supply stores and online. Read below for all the facts , tips and info on the leather hole punch.
How to use a Rotary/ Leather hole punch.
Its a very simple tool to use and below are the basic steps you can follow when operating the punch.
- Mark or measure where you would like your hole to be cut on your leather. Once you have this position mark it with a pencil or pen.
- Adjust/ rotate the wheel until you position the correct size punch over the punch plate. The punch should be facing downwards towards the punch plate. Then insert the leather just below the punch so it will be sandwiched between the punch and the punch plate.
- Make sure the punch is lined up neatly with the punch plate. Once in the correct position, squeeze the handle gently together forcing the punch to push against the leather and punch plate.
- Release the handle when you feel the punch has cut completely through the leather. You should now have a perfect hole in your leather.
NOTE: A handy tip to preserve the lifespan of your punches: Place a piece of cardboard under your leather, so when you cut your hole the punch strikes the leather and the cardboard below and not the metal punch plate. This helps prevent the punch from striking the metal punch plate reducing wear and tear.
One drawback of the Rotary/ leather hole punch is that you can only make holes near the edge of your leather, usually not more than 3cm from the edge. This is due to the design and shape of the handle of the punch. As the handle is positioned just behind the rotary wheel it doesn’t allow much room to move the punch further over your leather.
Assess how often you are going to use your punch. Cheaper tools always have a way of going blunt sooner than the more expensive quality tools. What type of projects do you think you will use the punch for. The most common use for the Rotary punch is for making holes in belts etc. If you are making one belt every few weeks your punch should last a few years. If you are making lots of belts in one go then i suggest you buy a better quality tool with a
spring loaded mechanism and a double lever. This helps take the strain off your hands when making lots of holes. The spring or double lever allows less force to be applied on the handle and also helps when cutting holes in thicker leather.
What to consider when buying a Rotary Leather Hole Punch.
- budget – they are fairly inexpensive tools
- function – they are easy to use and allow you to make 6 different hole sizes
- ease of use – a beginner will easily be able to use the punch without much practice.
- lifespan – a good quality rotary punch will last a good few years
- quality – consider spending a bit extra on a quality tool
Leather hole punch design and summary of parts
The punch is made up of a handle or lever, a revolving or rotary wheel, punches which are attached to the wheel and lastly a punch plate.
I prefer a tool handle with some cushioning and hand grip instead of bare steel. The grip protects and cushions your hands if you are cutting out numerous holes. Here is a summary of the various parts that make up the rotary punch.
Spring loaded or double lever
This helps reduce the amount of pressure you have to apply on the handle in order to cut out your holes. The double lever action definitely helps lessen the amount of force/ pressure you have to apply when using the punch. If you have to cut out 20- 30 holes this can be a real hand saver.
Rotary wheel.
Needs to be quite stiff and must lock into place when turned into the correct position. There shouldn’t be any tolerance or movement once its “locked” in position. Your punch and wheel must line up with the punch plate below. Very important if you want to preserve your punches lifespan.
Punches
Best if made out of high quality steel so they are stronger and last longer. I often place a piece of cardboard between the punch plate and punch so that it doesn’t crunch into metal when the hole is cut out.
Locking mechanism
Will help you lock than handle in place and store the tool safely and save a bit of space when it’s not being used.
What thickness leather can you use the Leather hole punch on.
You can use it on a variety of leather thicknesses. Thin chrome tanned leather or thicker veg tanned leather. Buying a better quality tool with a spring loaded lever will help you when working with thicker leather.
Handy Tip: Sometimes moving the punch from left to right once the handle has been pushed down helps cut out your holes more cleanly when cutting your holes.
Pros of using Leather Hole Punch
- Easy for a beginner to learn to use.
- Versatile in that there are 6 different punches on one tool. It only takes a second to change to a different size punch.
- Good value for money as it’s fairly affordable
- Safe tool to use for a beginner.
- Lasts a long time if cared for properly.
- Can be used to make holes for rivets, eyelets, buckles etc.
Cons of using a Leather Hole Punch
- The punches will get blunt eventually.
- Poorer quality tool will not line up with your punch plate properly and won’t cut holes easily.
- Tools that are not spring loaded will put strain on your hands if you are cutting lots of holes.
- Can only cut a small distance from your leather edge due to the design of the tool.
- Can only punch 6 different sized holes. If you need to make bigger holes you will need to purchase more punches.
- Not all punch handles come with cushioning or grips, which make it harder to use.
How much does a it cost
Prices vary depending on the make and quality. They are available from Amazon and leather supply stores such as Tandy Leather or Weaver Leather Supply. Here is the link to Amazon if you would like to see the different makes and prices. Some punches come with extra tools like rulers, screw drivers and cleaning kits or even replaceable punches. These kits will be a bit more expensive. Prices range from as little as $10 to as much as $50.
Can you sharpen this punch.
Can they be sharpened? Unfortunately most of them can’t unless they come with a spare set of punches which you can change out. The old blunt punches can be removed and replaced. Some sets come with grinding rods that allow you to sharpen the edges of the blunt punches.
Different types of Punches that are available.
There are many different punches on the market which have more specific functions. If you need to make bigger holes than 5 or 6mm you will need to purchase other punches. Most rotary punches have punch sizes from 2mm up to 4.5mm diameter holes. There are various other punches which you can buy, such as a Drive punch, Oblong hole punch, Four Hole Punch, Oval or Elliptical Hole punch, Round Hole Drive punch. I will be doing a blog post on these punches fairly soon so please check my website from time to time for updates.
Conclusion
The Leather hole punch is a great tool that can be used on many different types of projects. Its fairly inexpensive, easy to use and will save you hours on your leatherwork projects. As the punches can be replaced it makes for a tool that will last a long time. If you would like to learn a bit more about many other leathercraft tools please check out the link to some of my other blog posts. eg. the strap cutter.
Hope you found the above post useful and you have managed to learn something new at Leathercrafttoolbox.