Leather Experts Needed - Tool Help

[rabbit4x]

I'm looking for anyone who has worked with leather or a leather hole punch to give me their opinion on a tool kit.

I need to punch a new hole in place of a current hole to fit some police badge. Here is a picture of what I'm working with.

The middle piece of leather top hole is 2/8'' (1/4'', or 8/16'') and the bottom hole is 1.5/8''. I tried forcing the badge's two pegs in. The top went in fine, but too much force resulted in this.

The reason I'd like to widen the hole is so I can easily swap out the badges to portray a different look while keeping the leather undamaged. I plan to buy about 20-25 leather holders and the price adds up with such high a quantity.

Looking on Amazon and Google, I came across some Leather Hole Punches, some that were just bits of punches and others that were hand tools.

For the job, I was looking for something like this.
http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Duty-12-Piece-Hollow-Punch-Set/dp/B000KE17JO/ref=pd_sim_hi_6

So will this kit do the job or should I look for something better? I'd like to avoid getting the $50+ hand tools, but something within $10 - $15.

Will the punch bits be a problem for me in getting the 1.5/8'' hole to a 2/8'' hole?
Any tips in working with these punches?
Any other kits that I can get local (Walmart, Lowes, etc) so I can see one physically?

 

[Sidewalker]

The rotary hole punch is your friend.

http://www.amazon.com/eToolscity-TAIP0353-Leather-Hole-Punch/dp/B0002T87FE/ref=pd_cp_hi_3_img

 

[bagpus3]

My money's on the hand tool bit but it's horses for courses!, you can sometime's buy tools from a split pack from the bay to keep the cost's down.

Place the leather on a fairly hard rubber mat to save the life of the tool & Work the punch from the good side of the leather aiming toward the back, that will give the hole a nice clean look.

 

[madrobot]

You can use a regular drill bit. I use drill bits when I want my holes in leather to be nice and clean.

 

[lgtsbr]

if you are in a pinch and don't want to buy a tool, use a hammer and nail the size of the hole you need to make, that would do the job for you

Dave

 

[KevVader]

The rotary hole punch is your friend.

http://www.amazon.com/eToolscity-TAIP0353-Leather-Hole-Punch/dp/B0002T87FE/ref=pd_cp_hi_3_img

Yup....exactly!
These are the best tools for punching clean holes through leather. I bought one for $12 four years ago and it's still going strong.

 

[rabbit4x]

Thanks for all the tips everyone. I was looking around leather places in SD and it seems Tandyleather is about 20 minutes away, so I will give them a look see and see what I turn up.

-lgtsbr: that's a very good tip, I didn't think of that. If Tandy doesn't pan out, I'll try out Lowes.

 

[Darth Mule]

I third the rotary tool. I actually work with leather fairly often, and I do have a hammer punch kit like the one you first listed but nicer. However, if you don't do leatherwork often, the rotary punch is the best option. You'll get a cleaner hole than with a drill or nail, and it's a handy investment, especially in this hobby.

 

[exoray]

You can alternately just soak the leather in hot water for about 10 minutes and then push the badge (or equivalent diameter rod) in place and let dry, the hole will then be stretched out to the larger size... This might 'weather' the leather a bit, but not too much...