3/4th inch hollow punch

[ducksterman]

I've been wanting to find a 3/4" and maybe even a 1" hollow punch that I can put in my drill press or hand drill to punch flip-flops.

Yes I know you can make one out of copper/brass tubing but putting in a stem so it will go into the drill is a pain...I know ...I've done it with a 5/8" brass tube.

And I know you can order them but I don't want them bad enough for the price and shipping...haven't found any in a store I can walk into...plus I'd have to ask my buddy to turn the handle down on his lathe...actually he'd be glad to do that.

Well I came up with an idea using a hole saw I had.

If anyone is really interested I'll go into more detail and do a picture.

[Leo C]

ducksterman,

What about a heavier walled pipe with the end sharpened and strike with a hammer.

Leo C

[Buddy Sanders]

Duckster...

I'm really interested...

Took me an hour to turn down my Harbor Freight 1/2 inch punch to fit my drill press...used a wood lathe and a file...worked, not ideal.

I have some hole saws so..please enlighten us (or, err, me)?

Buddy

[Gemrod]

I think I am missing something here. That is not unusual for me. It seems it would be easy to turn a piece of pipe into a hole punch with a drill. Any pipe....with a fitting length of dowel, and a cheap drill bit....or one of them extra drill bits most of us have for screwdriving etc....drill the drill bit down into the dowel....remove it....coat it with Gorrilla Glue and drop some gorilla glue into the hole. Seat the drill bit into the hole in the dowel and let it set up.

In other words glue the dowel into the pipe as deep as you want to. Have maybe 1/2" of the dowell sticking up...or none at all I think. Then glue the drill bit into the dowel with the butt end sticking out to mount it into the drill. Now you just mount it on the drill with the butt end of the drill bit. That is just plain too simple. Something must be missing in my interpretation of the problem here.

This sounds too easy and you guys would of thought of this already. So I am pretty sure I don't know what I am thinking about on this one.

Gemrod

[fishbum]

This is what you want. They are called "Arch Punch". Use them on a lead block to protect the cutting edge.

http://www.smallparts.com/s?searchNo...D=206004544521

Sorry for the long link. It is just the way I copied it from the page.

fishbum

[ducksterman]

Fishbum...price is an issue

Gemrod...did the 3/8 " pretty much as you described...and not having any centering equipment being on center became an issue...it was somewhat hard to get the 1/4" bolt shaft [that's what I happened to use] on center.

I managed to get it real close but I don't want to fuss with it if there's another way.

Buddy...working on photos.....Gem as long as I'm taking photos I'll do one of what you described...

Leo...doesn't work well on foam

[Eric-WD]

ducksterman, you may need one of these to help you find the exact center.

http://www.micromark.com/CENTER-SQUA...CITY,7953.html

I used ammo cases to make mine, the primer whole when drilled out made finding the center easy, unfortunatly that only works if you need 1/2 inch or smaller.

Eric

[ducksterman]

OK...I looked at one of the hole saw sets I have ..... purchased at Harbor Freight on coupon...practically free...it was a larger than usual set so it goes down to less than 3/4"...light bulb!

Turns out you can assemble one without the guide drill bit...so

I ground off the jagged saw teeth...grinder
Tapered the leading edge...grinder
Smoothed the inside...file
Finished the outer taper...small belt grinder...maybe not necessary

Tried on a flip-flop...success

Note the length may be limited for some applications...

Here's pictures...and one for Gemrod...and also one with examples of some types of punches...for folks that maybe are thinking about punching some foam.....one out of golf club shaft...no rifle cases but I know they work well.

All except the larger unturned one can be chucked up in a drill....some need a 1/2" chuck

[Gemrod]

Duck,
Nice

Thanks for sharing the information. After I re-read your posts I realize my post was not needed. I now see where you already tried it by making a stem.

Thanks again for the thread and the info sharing.

Gemrod

[pszy22]

SO have you had good luck punching/"sawing" out the flip flops. I've never had much luck using a punch, maybe just isn't sharp enough. I do use alot of flip flop foam, and have had the best luck using a scroll saw to cut strips, then blocks, and then rounding off the corners of the blocks.