For more years than I care to remember, I have used just four punches, made
from jeweler's screwdrivers of the appropriate width. I carefully grind the
profile desired, never allowing the screwdriver to become hot enough to
discolor. I then grind the tip flat and sharp using a Dremel, again, very
carefully. I clip off the handle, and I am set to go.

So, what do I use for a die? A sheet of MDF, fine grain with a good coat of
shellac and wax. I do the punching freehand. The point here is to not
attempt to use the same exact location on the MDF more than once. The MDF
does an admirable job of preventing blowout on the front of the tongue - I
punch from the back of the tongue. And yes, I carefully estimate the angle
that I hold the punch as I hit it with the hammer. Consistency arrived
quickly.

I should say that I arrived at this process after using a drill press and a
die for many years with pretty good success, except the die had the problem
of wearing out and dulling the punch which caused messy tongues.
-d

On Wed, May 3, 2017 at 3:56 PM, Stephen Bacon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I see no reason a drill bit or that grade of carbon tool steel should not
> work, unless it is just a low grade drill bit. Did you temper it?
> If not,  and it possibly lost its temper in shaping it, the old rule of
> thumb would be to heat it till it is no longer magnetic and quench it.
> Polish it up to silver. Then re heat it to very light straw color and
> quench fast.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On May 3, 2017, at 9:24 AM, Paul Pavel <000000acc096b1ec-dmarc-
> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > Question for the makers: what do you use for the plectra mortise punch?
> It should probably be as stiff material as possible to avoid bending, I
> made some punches from drill bits but not satisfied with that.
> > Pavel
> >
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Note:  opinions  expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the  individual con-
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versity of Iowa.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
[log in to unmask]  saying  HELP .
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