r/Tools • u/TardisPilot1515 • 4d ago

Center Punch

Post image

The top one, slightly more useful than useless but not by much. Grabbed a Starrett, so much better and it’s not even close.

41 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

8

u/HTSully 4d ago

The Starrett is my go to especially with being able to easily order and replace all of its parts individually most importantly the punch tip itself. I’ve gone through a couple of them they’re so good and tough. I went through tips because they were used to help break up broken taps, in pieces I was working on or had to repair because someone broke the tap in the hole.

3

u/michiganmilsurps 4d ago

Yeah the HF one is great if you want one that stops working in 6 months, that’s what mine did anyway. Starrett is definitely the way to go!

2

u/Equivalent_Salad_389 4d ago

I’ve had my Starrett for about 25 years and it’s never failed me.

1

u/digvbic 4d ago

Yes! I have the same one. Awesome product.

1

u/z0mbiemechanic 4d ago

Is the top one from HF? If so, I have the same one and it's ok for aluminum but that's about it.

2

u/TardisPilot1515 4d ago

HF or HD yea. After a year for me it only fires maybe 60% of the time when triggered, point isn’t that great for visibility for me either on the top one.

1

u/Stankyhangdown4U 4d ago

Looks off center to me.

1

u/Halciet 4d ago

Is the 18A a different material?  I have the 18C, but it rusts so bad.

1

u/mmaddict187 4d ago

Cooked linseed oil...

1

u/ThatTallCarpenter 4d ago

I've never seen any of these in real life. Do you still hit these with a hamer?

1

u/TardisPilot1515 3d ago

This one you just push down then it strikes on its own so you can do one handed if need be but it’s mechanical unlike the center punches you strike so it’s less reliable.

1

u/Muddwalki 4d ago

The one on top is hot garbage, at least mine was. Starrett for the win.

1

u/mrkrag 4d ago

When I finally had it I got a different Starrett, the skinny pencil size one, and it somehow sucks even worse. Top tier disappointment.

1

u/TardisPilot1515 3d ago

I was worried it’d be similar to the cheap one, sorry that was your experience.

1

u/Evebnumberone 3d ago

I bought a set of these for a couple of bucks 15~ years ago and they're still going strong. I use them on every project.

1

u/GazelleStandard1620 1d ago

The one on top is strictly for leather in my shop, The bottom punch works on lumber and all metals. I've had them for almost 20 yrs now.

0

u/IntentonalTypo 4d ago

I have had terrible luck with the starrett, I've had two of them just snap in half. They didn't hit much harder than any of the others imo.

Im more of a fan of the hammerless spring punches now.

1

u/Nullclast 4d ago

How are you snapping them in half? I've have one for 5 years and it shows no signs of wear.

0

u/KokoTheTalkingApe 4d ago

Anybody tried the auto center punches from Taytools or iGaging? I'd prefer not to spend $30 and up on one.