Punches

I use this Harbor Freight Punch & Die set quite often.  Sizes range from 1/8 to 3/4 inch.  I cut wheel masks for A/C.  I've used the larger sizes to mask the deck inside of 350 scale gun tubs

Micro Mark also sells a small sized one in sizes up to 1/8   

I didn't realize HF had them.  That looks like a very nice set- how much?

EdGrune

I use this Harbor Freight Punch & Die set quite often.  Sizes range from 1/8 to 3/4 inch.  I cut wheel masks for A/C.  I've used the larger sizes to mask the deck inside of 350 scale gun tubs

Hey Ed-- that does look like a nice set and these would punch through metal even. I might conider it for other things too. For my purposes, I needed them for softer material but the bigger issue for me is that I need them smaller.  This HB set starts at 1/8" and this is too big for my needs.

Don-- the link is below. $34.99ea

https://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-punch-and-die-set-95547.html

EdGrune

Micro Mark also sells a small sized one in sizes up to 1/8   

I looked at them prior to buying what I did. The punches I wanted before shipping is pushing near $60. Too expensive for my purposes. Link below.

https://www.micromark.com/Micro-Punch-Set

Link to all their punches/dies

https://www.micromark.com/search?keywords=punch%20set

Speaking of Harbor Freight: I considered purchasing this set if I could have found them locally. The closest store that has them in stock was about 40 miles, one way. The time to travel and fuel distance was not worth it to me. But their price was right at $9.99ea.

https://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-hollow-punch-set-3838.html

In the end-- the set I purchased suits me better because of the small size range and their small incremental range between each other. 

Yes, at 35 bucks it is a bit expensive as a one-off outlay, but it has lasted for a long time with little wear. It has paid for itself.  HF doesn't have the sale coupons as often as they used to, but check their site often for a discount.

The 1/4 inch punch has worked admirably well punching masks for 1:72 scale Mustang wheels. You could also punch decal faces, but I don't work in 48 or larger.   I have also made base mask for a star & bar decal with the appropriate sized disk and a strip of kabuki tape. 

I put a strip of blue tape on a scrap piece of 20 thou styrene and punch that, then peel the tape off the disc.   Could also slice the tape at this point to get halves or quarters as needed.  With some artistic ability I would imagine you could cut a star.

I've tried the hollow leather punches.   They may be acceptable when new, but wear soon resulting in a ragged punch

EdGrune

Yes, at 35 bucks it is a bit expensive as a one-off outlay, but it has lasted for a long time with little wear. It has paid for itself.  HF doesn't have the sale coupons as often as they used to, but check their site often for a discount.

The 1/4 inch punch has worked admirably well punching masks for 1:72 scale Mustang wheels. You could also punch decal faces, but I don't work in 48 or larger.   I have also made base mask for a star & bar decal with the appropriate sized disk and a strip of kabuki tape. 

I put a strip of blue tape on a scrap piece of 20 thou styrene and punch that, then peel the tape off the disc.   Could also slice the tape at this point to get halves or quarters as needed.  With some artistic ability I would imagine you could cut a star.

I've tried the hollow leather punches.   They may be acceptable when new, but wear soon resulting in a ragged punch

 

EdGrune

I've tried the hollow leather punches.   They may be acceptable when new, but wear soon resulting in a ragged punch

Agreed. From what I read leather punches don't last too long, though this set had decent reviews. I suppose it depends on what a person punches through. I am hoping they will last me Ok by my cutting through tape only. I guess some people sharpen them. Though, I would not know how. At $13 and change, it is worth the try.

Thanks for the info on your HF set!

EdGrune

Could also slice the tape at this point to get halves or quarters as needed.  With some artistic ability I would imagine you could cut a star.

I forgot that I wanted to comment on this. What you wrote is precisely right! You can hodgepodge stuff together to make a nice clean custom mask. That is exactly what I intend to do with this. In fact-- I have already done so. It will push my masking to a much cleaner level. 

I've got MicroMark's Micro-Punch set:

https://www.micromark.com/Micro-Punch-Set

It's useful, though mine isn't marked with the punch diameters.  I had to get from the online catalog that they run from 1.00mm to 5.00mm in .5mm increments.  Not a big deal, though.

I see that MicroMark offers a "Precision Disk Punch Set", now, too:

https://www.micromark.com/Precision-Disk-Punch-Set

That looks like an interesting design. But the Micro-Punch set has served me well, so far.

I also have RPToolz' hex-punch set.  That one is use for making bolt heads and similar objects.  But the design is less-than-optimal.  The punches consist of a piece of hex stock, embedded in a larger cylindrical piece, as the head you tap.  The punches have a tendency to pull out of the tapping head.  Again, useful, but for the price, you'd wouldn't expect that to happen.