Tip for Drilling Holes in Leather

To drill holes in soft materials like sheet rubber or leather, first I make a sandwich by clamping the material between two pieces of 1/4-in. plywood on the outside. Then I drill through the entire assembly. I use a brad-point bit for the smaller holes and a Forstner bit for the larger ones. If hole spacing is critical, I mark the centers of each hole on top of the board. — Matt Boley

Plus: More tips for properly drilling holes in various materials.