Many thanks on the reply. Once I find my camera, I will take some photos of my sig-fig and post them. I used some decals from Bricks and Customs and cut them a little small, placed them on the minifig and shelacked them. They are not coming off, nor are they wearing so far.
Not sure of the technical term but there's also a woodworker hole punch sort of thing, which is what I use. It's basically a chisel punch- small metal rod with curving towards a flat end with a sharpish rim. You put that where you want the hole (over a piece of wood) then smack it with a hammer.
I've got one that's the size of the small third hole for a cape, one that's the size of neck pegs and studs, and one that's the diameter used on flags. Works like a charm.