Punch-and-die sets are moderately expensive tools (more than a hobby knife, less than a lathe), but they are so useful that one ought to be on everyone’s wish-list. Here are four punch-related tips:

1: A punch base brought to you by the number 8: I use a 1⁄4″-thick house-number 8 as a base for my various punch-and-die sets. The open areas of the 8 are catchments for the discs as I create them, and the thickness of the number provides a reasonable stand-off between tool and the work surface.

2: As Scotty says, “The right tool for the right job.” There are very few times when a modeler needs a hammer, but it’s worth it to invest in a brass craft hammer for your punch-and-die set. Brass won’t damage the steel punch.

3: Don’t throw it out, punch it out. Whenever I have some thin scrap (plastic or metal) too small and irregular to keep — anything from bag ties to expired credit cards — I reach for my punch and die. I start with the largest I’m likely to need and work down form there. You can always punch smaller discs out of larger ones later, should the need arise. When I’m done, I have a nice selection of smooth, round discs (and some heavily perforated stuff that was already on its way to the recycling bin).

4: Empty pill bottles make good disc storage. Once you’ve produced a pile of future spacers, hatches, rivets, and whatnot, store them in a clear pill bottle.  A little Goo-Gone or other citrus-based solvent will get rid of the old label. (These are also good places to stash small parts once they’ve been separated from their sprues.)

Tip submitted by:
Tom ZmudzinskiFort Washington, Maryland