Perforating my leather jacket

[Norbert]

I have a non-perforated Joe Rocket leather jacket that I wish was perforated.
Do you think it would be ok to perforate it myself with a tool such as this?

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

I don't want to put gigantic holes in the leather, just the size of what any normal perforated jacket might have. The biggest concern would be that the new perforations compromise the leather. This might happen if the punch some how stretches the leather as it makes the hole. I know nothing about working with leather or leather punches, does anyone know if this tool would work and not cause me to ruin the safety provided by a leather jacket? I read that I should look for a punch with a hollow punches to avoid stretching the leather.

I would like to put perforations along the chest, back and armpit area (ewww). I would stay away from any seams.

Thanks!

 

[nextfriday]

For what its worth, i have a perforated leather jacket and the holes are very abundant and inconspicuous. I have no clue if that tool will work, but I respect the DIY guy.

 

[Motogiro]

I don't think there's enough room in that punch to get where you need to go.

I have a perf leather A'star and the other part of ventilation is areas of stretch material. Same with my leather bottoms. The perf leather chest areas are pre-perfed before they even cut the pieces to make the jacket.
Good luck.

 

[Norbert]

I guess I need to have a punch that's less like a wrench and more like this:



[ame=http://www.amazon.com/LEATHER-HOLE-PUNCH-SUPER-SHARP/dp/B000K40VNM/ref=pd_sbs_op_5]Amazon.com: LEATHER HOLE PUNCH SUPER SHARP: Everything Else[/ame]

I do have a Joe Rocket mesh jacket that's pretty good as far as mesh goes, but I'd rather have perforated leather.

 

[Norbert]

For what its worth, i have a perforated leather jacket and the holes are very abundant and inconspicuous. I have no clue if that tool will work, but I respect the DIY guy.

Thanks man. You'd be amazed at the DIY stuff you can come up with during the winter. It's how I keep my sanity.

 

[McLovin]

just have 2 jackets it wont hurt

 

[RJ2112]

just have 2 jackets it wont hurt

It's going to be a lot less painful to buy a perf'd jacket from NewEnough.com on their closeout section..... Mine was $124, with armor in the elbows shoulders, and spine.

 

[fazer.rider]

just take a drill to it. bigger holes mean better ventilation. :BLAA:

 

[Kazza]

No, don't do it yourself. Just buy another jacket.

 

[necrotimus]

I would be very scared of compromising the tensile strength of your leather jacket this way. They could theoretically use a lower quality leather for non-perf jackets and still get reasonable strength from the material and use a higher quality for perf leather. I honestly don't know if this is the case but I don't think you want to road test your DIY job and feel the leather disentegrate on you.

 

[Tailgate]

How about this: first put on some Kevlar underneath your leather jacket. Then, ride around some Oakland, CA streets. Before long, someone will probably help you perforate the jacket---free of charge.

 

[Norbert]

Ok. I'll buy a perforated jacket someday. Maybe a perforated track suit since I'd like to do some track time.

For the record, my Joe Rocket jacket sucks. The seams in the shoulder are coming apart, and the stitching holding the zipper to the leather came undone.
This is after one year of use. Never went down. I tried to make a warranty claim but it was too late. I will never give them any of my money again!

Thanks for the replies. :thumbup:

 

[Tailgate]

How about this one: TR51-2291:: FirstGear Hammer Leather Jacket - Blue - Closeout Price: $99.99! In stock NOW! Why pay list price of $299.99?

I bought it and haven't even tried it on the street yet. Some of the panels are perforated. The First Gear sizes sure are low-balled because I bought the 2X Large and it is a little tight on me. (but I 2010 resolved to lose 5 lbs.) Motorcycle Closeouts sure has some decent prices.

 

[Hellgate]

I've got an idea! Get a few cloths pins, hang your jacket from a fence. Get a 12 ga. shot gun with no choke, open bore. I'd suggest 9 1/2 bird shot, but I think up an 8 would work too. Stand about 40 feet back and give it about 2 or three shells worth. Any more than that and your jacket will be a mesh one and not perf.

Good luck, and let me know how it works out for you. :thumbup:

 

[Norbert]

I've got an idea! Get a few cloths pins, hang your jacket from a fence. Get a 12 ga. shot gun with no choke, open bore. I'd suggest 9 1/2 bird shot, but I think up an 8 would work too. Stand about 40 feet back and give it about 2 or three shells worth. Any more than that and your jacket will be a mesh one and not perf.

Good luck, and let me know how it works out for you. :thumbup:

Yup. Exactly what I was thinking. The only problem is that all my shotguns are sawed-off. Hence this thread.

 

[Hellgate]

Yup. Exactly what I was thinking. The only problem is that all my shotguns are sawed-off. Hence this thread.

LOL! :rof:

 

[wrightme43]

Two years Fieldsheer perf leather jacket and pants. Crash tested and still good.

 

[McLovin]

Two years Fieldsheer perf leather jacket and pants. Crash tested and still good.

That is interesting, my fieldsheer jacket literally fell apart without any crashes. I will never buy from them again.

 

[ELIZABETH]

I would be very scared of compromising the tensile strength of your leather jacket this way. They could theoretically use a lower quality leather for non-perf jackets and still get reasonable strength from the material and use a higher quality for perf leather. I honestly don't know if this is the case but I don't think you want to road test your DIY job and feel the leather disentegrate on you.

I agree with this. Perforated leather has very small holes, and very prevalent. You may end up making your jacket unsafe. Instead of spending the money on the hole punch tool (which will make MUCH larger holes than you want), you should put that money towards a second jacket.
If you are REALLY bored this winter, I have a honey-do list here that you can work one!!