Bell punch

[Franna]

Can anybody show me a bell punch? I need to make my own felt wads and if I dont find a bell punch I want to make my own. Is it OK to use copper?

 

[mckutzy]

as the saying goes ' if it aint broke dont fix it'
u can use what u would like to get the job done. some have use a hole saw withe teeth ground off and shrpened, others have used a round punch or half round aswell. with copper it may dull often, ie. a copper pipe maybe too soft but u could put a plug of lead or something then hammer on it. a right dia. pipe of any steel would be good and if it fits a drill press that works better.

 

[omarick1948]

Dixie Gun Works has them in many sizes.
www.dixiegun.com Keyword: wad punch

Rick

 

[44-henry]

If you know somebody with a lathe they can be made pretty easily. I would suggest making them out of steel that can be hardened, though a mild steel would work. If you were to go this route having it casehardened would make it more durable.

 

[Eric_Methven]

Wood will do, but leather will probably be better. Use the old sole of a leather shoe (good will or gariage sale). Soling leather is harder than normal leather. But most important is to have something solid beneath it so the punch cuts rather than bounces.

Eric

Edit: That's weird, my post jumped up before the one below which is what I answered.

 

[Franna]

Thanks, just another question - should I use a piece of wood or cloth to punch on when I make wads?

 

[omarick1948]

An old piece of Truck Mud Flap makes a great cutting pad between wad material and bench top!

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

Thanks, just another question - should I use a piece of wood or cloth to punch on when I make wads?

Cloth won't work and wood will turn the edge of the cutting tool. The truck mudflap is not a bad idea but the traditional and best thing to use is a block of soft lead. The harnessmaker that I learned from has used the same lead-filled 8" baking pan for about 40 years. Every few years, when its surface gets too rough or uneven, he melts it and refills the pan using the same lead over and over again. It has no effect on the tools' edges whatsoever.

 

[Franna]

Great! Thanks.