I think that any system that works for you is ok as making special tools/punches for low volume amounts is just not worth it but wonder why you use brown paper instead of gasket paper as it is a completely different beast performance wise.

Liquid gasket works for me.

Yes proper motor factor and ball bearings good for bolt holes. the bay is flooded with genuine flexoid paper

This sort of thing works well

I don’t play with steam, but for other gaskets, I often glue the paper to one side with a very thin film of Wellseal, and run round with a fine point scalpel.

Bill

<p style=”text-align: left;”>To make the small bolt hole in gaskets I use a punch and die in the drilling machine. Make the gasket to fit the flange, then use the flange as a jig. There is no need to harden the die, and the punch is the wrong end of a drill. Hold the die in a drill vice, and relieve the hole from the underside so the chads fall out. Those with long memories will recall the problems caused by hanging chads.</p>

What do you class as a soft hammer? I can bruse GM with a nylon one when hitting a corner to cut the paper. Also difficult to get it to cut on internal corners