Don't know why others had problems. I've been using this type of punch for 30 years and it works really well. I like to press until the stamp pops out of the skin, then rotate the piece around the stamp while the die is still closed to make a full cut. This instrument is of higher quality than many others of its kind. Very strong grip when turning the punch. Buy with confidence. If you've never used this type of tool before, it will take a little time to learn, but after a few tries, it's very easy.