Can anybody recommend an auto centre punch that can cope with a lot of
usage?

Mrs E uses hers a *lot*. She has a couple of the kind that cost about a
fiver from Toolstation or Screwfix, but they have a tendency to lose
their 'punch' quite quickly.

Would the ones that cost nearer £30 from Machine Mart be a significant
improvement? Or is there something else we should look for?

--
Eddie eddie@deguello.org

On Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at 4:20:05 PM UTC+1, Eddie wrote:
> Can anybody recommend an auto centre punch that can cope with a lot of
> usage?
>
> Mrs E uses hers a *lot*. She has a couple of the kind that cost about a
> fiver from Toolstation or Screwfix, but they have a tendency to lose
> their 'punch' quite quickly.
>
> Would the ones that cost nearer £30 from Machine Mart be a significant
> improvement? Or is there something else we should look for?

Last one I bought was Facom one from RS, has lasted really well so far.

I am a bit of a facom fanboi though.

In article <irjeh2FpgcfU1@mid.individual.net>, Eddie
says...
>
> Can anybody recommend an auto centre punch that can cope with a lot of
> usage?
>
> Mrs E uses hers a *lot*. She has a couple of the kind that cost about a
> fiver from Toolstation or Screwfix, but they have a tendency to lose
> their 'punch' quite quickly.
>
> Would the ones that cost nearer £30 from Machine Mart be a significant
> improvement? Or is there something else we should look for?

Draper Expert stuff is pretty good
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0001K9PB4

Sealey is on a par with Draper
https://www.sealey.co.uk/product/5637181865/heavy-duty-
automatic-centre-punch

Teng tend to make good stuff too
https://www.teng.co.uk/teng-tools-scp01-automatic-centre-
punch.html

Snap On if money is no object (and a lifetime warranty)
https://shop.snapon.com/categories/Automatic-Centering-
Punches/675267

On 29/09/2021 16:38, Dave Brown wrote:
> On Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at 4:20:05 PM UTC+1, Eddie wrote:
>>
>> Would the ones that cost nearer £30 from Machine Mart be a significant
>> improvement? Or is there something else we should look for?
>
> Last one I bought was Facom one from RS, has lasted really well so far.

The more expensive ones from Machine Mart are Facom, so that's a useful
recommendation.

> I am a bit of a facom fanboi though.

I haven't got much experience with it. I've tended to buy Teng when I've
needed something decent, but I can't remember why I started doing that.

--
Eddie eddie@deguello.org

On 29/09/2021 16:46, petrolcan wrote:
>
> Draper Expert stuff is pretty good
> https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0001K9PB4
>
> Sealey is on a par with Draper
> https://www.sealey.co.uk/product/5637181865/heavy-duty-
> automatic-centre-punch
>
> Teng tend to make good stuff too
> https://www.teng.co.uk/teng-tools-scp01-automatic-centre-
> punch.html
>
> Snap On if money is no object (and a lifetime warranty)
> https://shop.snapon.com/categories/Automatic-Centering-
> Punches/675267

Excellent, thanks very much. I shall pass these on and let her choose.

Given how much she uses it, it's probably worth paying for Snap On.

--
Eddie eddie@deguello.org

Eddie <eddie@deguello.org> wrote:
> Can anybody recommend an auto centre punch that can cope with a lot of
> usage?
>
> Mrs E uses hers a *lot*. She has a couple of the kind that cost about a
> fiver from Toolstation or Screwfix, but they have a tendency to lose
> their 'punch' quite quickly.
>
> Would the ones that cost nearer £30 from Machine Mart be a significant
> improvement? Or is there something else we should look for?

I have a spring loaded center punch that I've had for many years and
it has a replaceable (hardened) tip. Mind you, I've never replaced
it, but it's got one.

If I were you (or your missus) I might look to a machinist's supply
house for one like it- I think mine belonged to my grandfather who
was a gunsmith.

https://www.chronos.ltd.uk/product/new-soba-automatic-centrepunch-and-carbide-magnetic-scriber/

Mine's a bit different, having a screw-in tip, but the idea's the same.

--
FJR1300A, GL1000, KLR650A6F, EX250J9A, DR200SE, Vespa Ciao

Eddie <eddie@deguello.org> wrote:

> Given how much she uses it, it's probably worth paying for Snap On.

Ooer missus.

--
FJR1300A, GL1000, KLR650A6F, EX250J9A, DR200SE, Vespa Ciao

Eddie wrote:

> > > Would the ones that cost nearer £30 from Machine Mart be a
> > > significant improvement? Or is there something else we should
> > > look for?
> >
> > Last one I bought was Facom one from RS, has lasted really well so
> > far.
>
> The more expensive ones from Machine Mart are Facom, so that's a
> useful recommendation.

I'm a Facom fanboi too. Really nice tools - better than Teng imo.

--
Simon

On 29/09/2021 17:38, Mark Olson wrote:
>
> I have a spring loaded center punch that I've had for many years and
> it has a replaceable (hardened) tip. Mind you, I've never replaced
> it, but it's got one.

The tip's fine, it's the action inside that goes awry. Instead of a
solid 'thunk' when you press down, you just get a soft 'click' and no
resulting indentation.

> If I were you (or your missus) I might look to a machinist's supply
> house for one like it- I think mine belonged to my grandfather who
> was a gunsmith.
>
> https://www.chronos.ltd.uk/product/new-soba-automatic-centrepunch-and-carbide-magnetic-scriber/

That's nice.

I like the punch with attached magnifier, too
https://www.chronos.ltd.uk/product/centrepunch-with-magnifier/

> Mine's a bit different, having a screw-in tip, but the idea's the same.

She's only ever punching silver, copper or brass, so the tip isn't every
likely to wear out.

--
Eddie eddie@deguello.org

On 29/09/2021 18:00, sweller wrote:
> Eddie wrote:
>
>>>> Would the ones that cost nearer £30 from Machine Mart be a
>>>> significant improvement? Or is there something else we should
>>>> look for?
>>>
>>> Last one I bought was Facom one from RS, has lasted really well so
>>> far.
>>
>> The more expensive ones from Machine Mart are Facom, so that's a
>> useful recommendation.
>
> I'm a Facom fanboi too. Really nice tools - better than Teng imo.
>

I really like my little mini socket set that a few of us picked up cheap
on tinternet.

In France they seem to refer to sockets as Facoms, just like we would
use hoover for a hoover. At least my neighbour did.

The last two auto centre punches I had both failed pretty quickly.

--
/Simon

On 29/09/2021 18:49, Eddie wrote:
>
> She's only ever punching silver, copper or brass, so the tip isn't every
> likely to wear out.

I had been wondering.
Glad to know it wasn't just for quick & quiet access through toughened
glass - like car windows :-)

C

--
The Deuchars BBB#40 COFF#14
Yamaha XV750SE & Suzuki GS550t
http://www.Deuchars.org.uk

On Wed, 29 Sep 2021 19:38:08 +0100, siwilson
<siwilson@nodamnspam.hotmail.com> wrote:

>In France they seem to refer to sockets as Facoms, just like we would
>use hoover for a hoover. At least my neighbour did.

Never heard it, so I think maybe it was just your neighbour.

--
Ace
http://www.chaletbeauroc.com/

On Wed, 29 Sep 2021 18:49:58 +0100, Eddie <eddie@deguello.org> wrote:

On Wed, 29 Sep 2021 16:20:02 +0100, Eddie <eddie@deguello.org> wrote:

>Mrs E uses hers a *lot*. She has a couple of the kind that cost about a
>fiver from Toolstation or Screwfix, but they have a tendency to lose
>their 'punch' quite quickly.

>She's only ever punching silver, copper or brass, so the tip isn't every
>likely to wear out.

Forgive my ignorance, but if it's not the tips wearing out then
exactly how are they "losing their punch"?

(Don't think I've used a centre-punch since I gave up metalwork in the
3rd year of Grammar school).

--
Ace
http://www.chaletbeauroc.com/

On 30/09/2021 10:50, Ace wrote:
> On Wed, 29 Sep 2021 18:49:58 +0100, Eddie <eddie@deguello.org> wrote:
>
> On Wed, 29 Sep 2021 16:20:02 +0100, Eddie <eddie@deguello.org> wrote:
>
>> Mrs E uses hers a *lot*. She has a couple of the kind that cost about a
>> fiver from Toolstation or Screwfix, but they have a tendency to lose
>> their 'punch' quite quickly.
>
>> She's only ever punching silver, copper or brass, so the tip isn't every
>> likely to wear out.
>
> Forgive my ignorance, but if it's not the tips wearing out then
> exactly how are they "losing their punch"?

They operate too easily when pressed, giving a soft click (and no
noticeable indentation) rather than a hefty thunk and a decent mark.

Usual solution is to take them apart, clean, tweak the spring,
reassemble, but that takes time and disrupts production.

--
Eddie eddie@deguello.org

Eddie wrote:

> She's only ever punching silver, copper or brass, so the tip isn't every likely
> to wear out.

In which case a hammerless punch might work well for her

<https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spring-Tools-Snapper-Center-32R00-1/dp/B000PSFUO8>

various sizes/sets so search around for "Spring Tools" if it's of interest

On 30/09/2021 12:20, Andy Burns wrote:
> Eddie wrote:
>
>> She's only ever punching silver, copper or brass, so the tip isn't
>> every likely to wear out.
>
> In which case a hammerless punch might work well for her
>
> <https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spring-Tools-Snapper-Center-32R00-1/dp/B000PSFUO8>
>
> various sizes/sets so search around for "Spring Tools" if it's of interest

Interesting. Pull the end back and let it go?

So, that's one hand to hold the tip, one hand to hold the end, and one
hand to hold the small piece of metal she's working on ... I spot a problem.

But if she can hold the tip and the workpiece with the same hand, that
could be just the thing.

--
Eddie eddie@deguello.org

Eddie wrote:

> Andy Burns wrote:
>
>> <https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spring-Tools-Snapper-Center-32R00-1/dp/B000PSFUO8>
>> various sizes/sets so search around for "Spring Tools" if it's of interest
>
> Interesting. Pull the end back and let it go?

yes,

> So, that's one hand to hold the tip, one hand to hold the end, and one hand to
> hold the small piece of metal she's working on ... I spot a problem.
>
> But if she can hold the tip and the workpiece with the same hand, that could be
> just the thing.

Yes, if she can press the work down with the tip, by holding the body then pull
and let go with the other hand, or the workpiece could be in a clamp/vice ...

On 30/09/2021 17:11, Andy Burns wrote:
> Eddie wrote:
>
>> So, that's one hand to hold the tip, one hand to hold the end, and one
>> hand to hold the small piece of metal she's working on ... I spot a
>> problem.
>>
>> But if she can hold the tip and the workpiece with the same hand, that
>> could be just the thing.
>
> Yes, if she can press the work down with the tip, by holding the body
> then pull and let go with the other hand, or the workpiece could be in a
> clamp/vice ...

Too small and delicate to be put in a clamp, and probably too
time-consuming. For the price, it's worth getting one to try anyway.
Much less to go wrong than a normal auto punch.

--
Eddie eddie@deguello.org