Cutting & Punching
Hole Punch Set
Hollow steel tubes that cut clean round holes for rivets, snaps and buckles.
Hole Punch Set · schematic
| Hole diameter | 2 to 6 mm |
|---|---|
| Piece count | 6 |
| Overall length | 90 mm |
| Shank | Hollow tube |
| Handle | Knurled steel |
| Case | Roll-up pouch |
| Material | Hardened tool steel |
|---|---|
| Diameter range | 2 to 6 mm |
| Suitable leather | Up to 5 mm |
| Cutting action | Mallet strike |
| Sharpening | Internal bevel |
| Compatible processes | Hardware setting |
Overview
A hole punch set is a collection of hollow steel tubes, each cutting one fixed diameter. You place the tube where the hole belongs, strike it with a mallet, and it removes a neat disc of leather. Unlike an awl, it removes material rather than pushing it aside, which leaves a clean round hole that hardware can pass through.
You reach for these whenever a rivet, snap, buckle or screw post needs to pass through the leather. Hole size must match the hardware shank closely: too small and the post will not seat, too large and the fastener pulls through under load.
Sets usually run from 2 mm to 6 mm in half-millimetre steps. Choose hardened tool steel with an internal bevel, keep the cutting edge sharp, and punch onto a soft board so the tube is not dulled by the bench.
Safety
Hazard. The hollow tube leaves a sharp slug that can fly loose; wear eye protection and sweep the bench after punching.
How to use it well
- Match the punch diameter to the hardware shank before you cut anything.
- Punch onto a soft board so the cutting edge is not dulled by the bench.
- Mark the centre with an awl first so the tube does not skate across the surface.
- Clear the slug from the tube after every few holes so it keeps cutting cleanly.
Compatible leathers and materials
Hole Punch Set is suited to the following leather types. Anything outside this list is worth testing on an offcut first.
At a glance
| Category | Cutting & Punching |
|---|---|
| Stage | Punch |
| Suitable leather | Veg-Tan, Chrome-Tan, Oil-Tan |
| Beginner priority | Rank 7 of 28 |
Educational use only. Hide & Stitch is an independent, non-commercial reference. Nothing here is for sale and nothing here is a substitute for competent in-person instruction. Edged tools, dyes, solvents and adhesives can cause serious injury — read and follow the manufacturer instructions and safety data sheets, and work with ventilation and appropriate protection. Specifications are typical values for this class of tool and vary between makers.
Related
Works well with
Rivets
Two-part metal fasteners that join leather layers permanently without stitching.
Diamond Chisel
Punches evenly spaced slanted holes so hand stitches sit at a consistent angle.
Snap Fasteners
Press-stud closures that let a flap open and close again and again.