New Tool! – Japanese Hole Punch
Friday, August 14th, 2009
I have had my eye on one of these for quite some time now. A Japanese hole punch is different from a standard hole punch in a few ways. When you push down on the handle, the metal bit twists, drilling down through your paper and leaving a nice clean hole. I am very happy with my purchase, although I did get along fine without it until now. Even so, I have already used it many times in just the last week. It punches so smoothly that it is fun to use.
Pros:
- Allows you to punch a hole anywhere in a page and is not restricted to the edges like a standard hand held punch.
- Leaves your other hand free to hold your paper in place
- Easily punches through five or more sheets of standard copy paper. Also punches through chip board and leather.
- Quiet (compared to a hammer and punch!)
- A variety of bit sizes to choose from
- Easy to change bits
Cons:
- Expensive (upwards of $30, plus the bits)
- Cannot punch through book board and thick stacks of paper
If you are interested in buying a Japanese hole punch, look for one made in Japan and also look for one that comes with a selection of bit sizes. I bought mine locally at Hiromi Paper International. There are a variety of other places online to purchase one as well. Just do a search for Japanese paper drill, or Japanese hole punch.