There was something about making one, I'm pretty sure in "Ham Radio",
sometime before 1974 (I can't figure out which article it was from
an accumulated index). I can't remember whether it was a homemade
version of the Stahler tool, or if Stahler came after to provide a
commercial version.

I can't remember the details (and I don't feel like digging through
the magazines to find the article now), but it wasn't much more than a
piece of good steel tubing.

Michael VE2BVW


This may be too late to help the original poster, but the pad-cutter is
still available from a couple of sources. The price is WAY out of line, in
my hobby-like mentality.
http://www.vectorelect.com/Catpdf/Page%2071.pdf

The above shows the sizes and styles currently produced. A Goggle
search on "pad cutter" or "Vector pad cutter" will turn up some
commercial sources (Digikey, etc.), but prices are in the $70-80
range.

A link below shows a neat, homemade version of the same idea.
www.njqrp.org/islanderpadcutter/index.html . While I haven't made
one using these instructions, it appears to be workable.

My employer may purchase one of the Vector P138 cutters, just in
case I have to fab up something in the tool and die shop where I
hang out sometimes. Of course, I could build one, but.... as long as it's
other people's money, why not buy!

Mike W5CHR
Memphis