They didn't offer the tool at the same place?

Sorry Ben, didn't realize it was gonna be a problem to ask what others were using before making that decision. 

It seems to me that at least some of the hole punches are expensive for no more than they do. 

My hope was to find someone who had a much cheaper way (and maybe even a better way) of performing this necessary task in order to test my curiosity about brisket tags. 

Heck, I might not ever use them again depending on how this test goes.  The cost of the tags aren't that much different than any other type of i.d. tag, so I'm not out too much there if I never use them again, but I doubt I can get my money back out of a $50 used hole puncher if I decide brisket tags aren't the ticket for solving this particular problem.  And I don't know of any other job I could use them for.

Just trying to mind my dollars and cents, I guess.