Hole punch help

Dec '11 Chickynikki35

I need a mini hole punch. Any recomendations ? I am looking for the one that a brad would fit through. TIA
Dec '11 Kelseymel

RE: Chickynikki35: I need a mini hole punch. Any recomendations ? I am looking for the one that a brad would fit through. TIA

A brad? I use a paper piercer for that.

I would think a hole punch would be too big?
Dec '11 Scrap4brains

RE: Kelseymel: A brad? I use a paper piercer for that. I would think a hole punch would be too big?

I use this to make holes a lot more than to set eyelets.
Dec '11 Madmatter

RE: Scrap4brains: I use this to make holes a lot more than to set eyelets.

I also use a paper piercer for brads ... easy peasy
Dec '11 Dwelch

RE: Scrap4brains: I use this to make holes a lot more than to set eyelets.

I keep an old foam mouse pad on my desk with one of those bulletin board stick-pins in it. That's what I use most of the time for brads. I did discover something, though - when I'm using bigger brads, I grab my ACCO knife and make a puncture. That makes a "slit" rather than a hole, and the prongs of the brad slide right into it perfectly!
Dec '11 CommaHolly

RE: Dwelch: I keep an old foam mouse pad on my desk with one of those bulletin board stick-pins in it. That's what I use most of the time for brads. I did discover something, though - when I'm using bigger brads, I grab my ACCO knife and make a puncture. That makes a "slit" rather than a hole, and the prongs of the brad slide right into it perfectly!

I love my big bite, especially if you'll be punching through anything really thick, like chipboard.
Dec '11 Yelppuppy

RE: CommaHolly: I love my big bite, especially if you'll be punching through anything really thick, like chipboard.

I just use my xacto knife to pierce a little hole for brads. As long as there's any hole on the paper, you can easily fit a brad through, using the brad's legs to extend the tear. You can use any knife, even a pin will work.

Speaking of mini punches, Michaels have them on sale for $1 each, usually tucked in a corner where scrapbook supplies are. They don't have brad holes, but have all sorts of cute shapes!
Dec '11 DesignguyKORY

RE: Yelppuppy: I just use my xacto knife to pierce a little hole for brads. As long as there's any hole on the paper, you can easily fit a brad through, using the brad's legs to extend the tear. You can use any knife, even a pin will work. Speaking of mini punches, Michaels have them on sale for $1 each, usually tucked in a corner where scrapbook supplies are. They don't have brad holes, but have all sorts ...

I use my BigBite, on its smallest setting, for chipboard and heavy stuff, like Mme. Comma, and use my 'scalpel' - what is it called really? That scalpel thing- to make a little slit to push the brad thru, if I'm doing it on paper. I think that works best for me.

Xacto! That's it- (read above, lol) I always call it 'mah scalpel.' Because, for some reason, I talk all 'gangstah' and/or South Park, when I scrap.

-k
Dec '11 Kelseymel

RE: CommaHolly: I love my big bite, especially if you'll be punching through anything really thick, like chipboard.
CommaHolly Said:
I love my big bite, especially if you'll be punching through anything really thick, like chipboard.

Santa (aka my husband) is bringing me one of those.

Apparently I have been a very good girl!
Dec '11 Aquabunny

RE: Kelseymel: CommaHolly Said: I love my big bite, especially if you'll be punching through anything really thick, like chipboard. Santa (aka my husband) is bringing me one of those. Apparently I have been a very good girl!

I like my Making Memories paper piercer, but a 1/16" hole punch is also great for tiny brads (and 1/8" for larger ones) - Fiskars has a good one.
Dec '11 Bxr-Linda

RE: Aquabunny: I like my Making Memories paper piercer, but a 1/16" hole punch is also great for tiny brads (and 1/8" for larger ones) - Fiskars has a good one.

I sometimes use my X-acto knife, or MM Anywhere Hole punch.

My new favorite is my brass "automatic center punch" I got at Harbor Freight. It was about $2 and is VERY handy--quick, easy, and small.
Dec '11 Lunie

RE: DesignguyKORY: I use my BigBite, on its smallest setting, for chipboard and heavy stuff, like Mme. Comma, and use my 'scalpel' - what is it called really? That scalpel thing- to make a little slit to push the brad thru, if I'm doing it on paper. I think that works best for me. Xacto! That's it- (read above, lol) I always call it 'mah scalpel.' Because, for some reason, I talk all 'gangstah' and/or South ...
designguyKORY Said:
for some reason, I talk all 'gangstah' and/or South Park, when I scrap.

-k

That's really funny! I listen to Rob Thomas. I know, I know... my kids make fun of me all the time. But I love him. He really is a woman in a man's body, I think. He's soooo sensitive, or I listen to Train. I love Patrick too.
Dec '11 PDRNC

RE: Lunie: designguyKORY Said: for some reason, I talk all 'gangstah' and/or South Park, when I scrap. -k That's really funny! I listen to Rob Thomas. I know, I know... my kids make fun of me all the time. But I love him. He really is a woman in a man's body, I think. He's soooo sensitive, or I listen to Train. I love Patrick too.

Another vote for paper piercer. (I do have the big bite but never take it out) I'm really annoyed that I bought an exacto knife when I could have taken a scalpel from work. Stealing a scalpel from a hospital...I'm so gangsta.
Dec '11 DesignguyKORY

RE: PDRNC: Another vote for paper piercer. (I do have the big bite but never take it out) I'm really annoyed that I bought an exacto knife when I could have taken a scalpel from work. Stealing a scalpel from a hospital...I'm so gangsta.

LOL, yes! THAT would be gansta!
Dec '11 Prittb

RE: DesignguyKORY: LOL, yes! THAT would be gansta!

I have a 1/16 inch hole punch but just grab the paper piercer.
Dec '11 Pinkpaperairedale

RE: Prittb: I have a 1/16 inch hole punch but just grab the paper piercer.

I have used a screwdriver.. the pointy kind ( they do have a name but it has escaped me at the moment). Not the flat kind. Also, I have a teeny screw driver that came with an eyeglass repair kit from the dollar store. Heck, I have even used the point on my ultra fine Fiskars scissors. I am guessing there is something in your kitchen, bathroom or garage that could easily live a double secret agent life.
Dec '11 Bxr-Linda

RE: Pinkpaperairedale: I have used a screwdriver.. the pointy kind ( they do have a name but it has escaped me at the moment). Not the flat kind. Also, I have a teeny screw driver that came with an eyeglass repair kit from the dollar store. Heck, I have even used the point on my ultra fine Fiskars scissors. I am guessing there is something in your kitchen, bathroom or garage that could easily live a double secret a...

Phillips screwdriver?

One thing to remember.... if you get a hand-held hole punch, you are limited as to where on the page you can put a hole, so something that pokes a hole is more versatile.
Dec '11 Chickynikki35

RE: Pinkpaperairedale: I have used a screwdriver.. the pointy kind ( they do have a name but it has escaped me at the moment). Not the flat kind. Also, I have a teeny screw driver that came with an eyeglass repair kit from the dollar store. Heck, I have even used the point on my ultra fine Fiskars scissors. I am guessing there is something in your kitchen, bathroom or garage that could easily live a double secret a...

Thank you all for the ideas !! I will try a couple of your great ideas before i go buy something I might not need.
Dec '11 Aquabunny

RE: Chickynikki35: Thank you all for the ideas !! I will try a couple of your great ideas before i go buy something I might not need.

A paper piercer is absolutely more versatile for positioning, but if I need to get through ribbon or something like that, a punch gives a little more definition to the hole.

Is the pointy screwdriver an awl? We have a tool that matches our screwdrivers, and is so pointy it came with a sturdy plastic sleeve to go over the tip to keep people from stabbing themselves. It's like a little screwdriver condom.
Dec '11 Henri Jean (Ocala, Florida)

RE: Aquabunny: A paper piercer is absolutely more versatile for positioning, but if I need to get through ribbon or something like that, a punch gives a little more definition to the hole. Is the pointy screwdriver an awl? We have a tool that matches our screwdrivers, and is so pointy it came with a sturdy plastic sleeve to go over the tip to keep people from stabbing themselves. It's like a little screwdrive...

I always use my big bite - it goes anywhere on the page - even in the cetner of a 12 x 12. Love it.
Dec '11 Solitaire

RE: Henri Jean (Ocala, Florida): I always use my big bite - it goes anywhere on the page - even in the cetner of a 12 x 12. Love it.

I use a Martha Stewart drill, which comes with different size bits. The smallest one is good for brads. It can go through several layers of paper.
Dec '11 Scraprabbit

RE: Solitaire: I use a Martha Stewart drill, which comes with different size bits. The smallest one is good for brads. It can go through several layers of paper.
pinkpaperairedale Said:
I am guessing there is something in your kitchen, bathroom or garage that could easily live a double secret agent life.

aquabunny Said:
We have a tool that matches our screwdrivers, and is so pointy it came with a sturdy plastic sleeve to go over the tip to keep people from stabbing themselves. It's like a little screwdriver condom.

Seriously, you guys are cracking me up.
Dec '11 Lenethren

RE: Solitaire: I use a Martha Stewart drill, which comes with different size bits. The smallest one is good for brads. It can go through several layers of paper.

I have a leather punch that has 6 different sizes from tiny to large. Although for brads I just use a very large sewing needle to make a hole.
Dec '11 RedSquirrel UK

RE: Lenethren: I have a leather punch that has 6 different sizes from tiny to large. Although for brads I just use a very large sewing needle to make a hole.

Call me primitive, but I just use my scissors blade to poke a slit through the layers into an old mouse mat.
Dec '11 Aschlegel06

RE: RedSquirrel UK: Call me primitive, but I just use my scissors blade to poke a slit through the layers into an old mouse mat.

This is what I use and I love it!
Dec '11 Anda11

RE: Aschlegel06: This is what I use and I love it!

I have a couple hand paper punches that are smaller than a reg. size paper punch. They are McGill & i bought them years ago. I do also use a paper piercer too sometimes