After bending two 3/32 craftsman pin punches today I have had it. I need some awesome pin punches. I dont want to spend snap on money, but would like somewhere middle of the road, Imports dont bother me as long as the quality is decent. So what do you all have?
I need punches that dont ****
- Thread starter Matt018
- Start date
As a machinist I have allot of respect for Starrett how are these punches?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008IHTJ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008IHTJ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
markduncan93
Well-known member
I've heard the Dasco Punch/Chisel set at Home Depot is alright. Can't say from personal experience though. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Dasco-Pro-12-Piece-Punch-and-Chisel-Kit-88/100169756#.UZV4jbUsn2E
Dasco isn't very good IMHO. Mayhew is as good as it gets.
I use starter punches whenever I need to initially get a stuck pin started, they are tapered (short) to allow less flexing during the initial movement. Once I get the pins started I use pin punches to drive the pin.. You can use pin punches on roll pins, but roll pin punches work better.. IMO.
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devoncoolman
Well-known member
for roll pins you want to use roll pin punch's. that's prob why u bent the punch anyway. Just buy a descent set of roll pin punch's I have mayhews and snappys both are great quality. buy a set of craftsman roll pin punch's. look for usa made ones I think the punch's are still us but look if there not you can take liberty and buy them and try them but don't be supprised if they ****!
devoncoolman
Well-known member
dasco is okay I have a set of them I used to use as backups. there good for the home owner that cant afford to buy snapon or mayhew.
noslocars
Well-known member
Starrett or Snap on. get the snap on roll pin punches for roll pins. It will save you a lot of grief.
lmalcomb
Well-known member
Use a craftsman hammerhead autohammer with Your roll pin punch and You will be amazed how easy it is to remove a roll pin. With the autohammer You sort of push the pin out.
I have them all. I have a soft spot for Craftsman/WF personally. When you jam a punch the hex shape is there for a socket or wrench to spin it back out. Mayhew/Snap-On on the other hand are round so you either have to use another punch to knock it out or beat it out by attaching a pair of pliers or vise grips to the shank.
Doesn't take much to bend a 3/32nd punch, regardless of brand.
Doesn't take much to bend a 3/32nd punch, regardless of brand.
devoncoolman
Well-known member
most snap-on punch's aren't round they are hex shape. snappy's roll pin punch's are round though.
RCStocker
Well-known member
Starrett punches are better than Snap-on. As an old tool and die maker I have used Starrett for over 50 years. I have Snappies but my Starrett hold a better edge. I stick them in the lathe and re- point them when they get warn. if you are good you can do them on a bench grinder.
tankdriver
Active member
woody 73
Well-known member
Woody Tip:
I could give you a ton of good names (see above) but instead of giving you names to look for, instead every time you hit a yard sale , flea type place ,moving sale,auction etc. be sure and buy any chisels/punches that you can get your hands on for around $2.00 or less. In short order you will have a boat load.
Then take a block of wood 2 x4 x 12 inches long or a 4 x 4 x 12 inches long or shorter if you prefer and make two rows of holes then mount the tools and soon you will have sets of chisels and punches enough to tackle any job.
I could give you a ton of good names (see above) but instead of giving you names to look for, instead every time you hit a yard sale , flea type place ,moving sale,auction etc. be sure and buy any chisels/punches that you can get your hands on for around $2.00 or less. In short order you will have a boat load.
Then take a block of wood 2 x4 x 12 inches long or a 4 x 4 x 12 inches long or shorter if you prefer and make two rows of holes then mount the tools and soon you will have sets of chisels and punches enough to tackle any job.
I broke the tip off of my Dasco center punch the first time it was used out of the packaging. I was just using it on mild steel.
I inspected it after the breakage and it resembled a cast iron. My guess is they used too much carbon and it became overly brittle, although I am far from an expert on the topic.
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Paladin
Well-known member
Starrett. Hands down. I used them for years as a gunsmith. They aren't cheap, but they are quality.
wise
Well-known member
I have Snap-On Roll Pin and Pilot punches, both are excellent. I bent a 1/8 taking out a bearing race on a hydraulic motor once (1/8 punch is the only way to replace that particular race), and it only failed after doing the same on seven or eight other motors. Every other punch I used failed really quickly because they are really stubborn. I havent used the starett, but judging by many other products I have by them, they would probably be excellent as well.
It was warrantied no problem.
I also have some Mac ones that are a bit bigger that bent extremely easily in light use.
It was warrantied no problem.
I also have some Mac ones that are a bit bigger that bent extremely easily in light use.
lwlobo
Well-known member
Good time to throw out a plug for Wilde. Can get nice Wilde pin, roll pin, and taper punch sets from Harry Epsteins, like I did back on Wilde Day... 
billymade
Well-known member
The best I have found so far; mayhew (the oem for snap on and other truck brands).
mrborohachi
Well-known member
+1 on Starret i have a 4 piece set super long punch part with a big palm length impact black finish base/handle
SMKS
Well-known member
Good time to throw out a plug for Wilde. Can get nice Wilde pin, roll pin, and taper punch sets from Harry Epsteins, like I did back on Wilde Day...
+1
I was just going to mention this. Wilde punches/chisels that I have seem pretty good, and they're pretty affordable at Harry Epstein.
ihateminimumwage
Well-known member
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- Jan 26, 2012
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That's funny, my Dasco punches and chisels have held up extremely well going on 8+ years now. My set of Mayhews I bought a month ago, not so well. Punches have had no issues, but the chisels have sadly dented into the edge with every use. Haven't held up any better than my buddy's HF set.
My 60s Proto chisels, on the other hand, have taken more abuse than I can give them, and are still sharp as all hell.
noslocars
Well-known member
The only advantage of having snap on over starrett is that the snap on ones are warrantied. If you break a starrett you have to buy a new one.
KSB
Well-known member
I also agree with Starrett, I have used them for years now.
TwoInch
Well-known member
i have a number of Enderes punches and chisels. they do the job. havent bent a punch yet. chisels seem decent too. all are hex shanked too which is a plus. i still prefer the old craftsman hex shank chrome punches and chisels.
menards used to carry Enderes singles and a small set, not sure if they still do. i think they may have switched to Dasco
helterskelter
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- Mar 26, 2010
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- 296
I really like the Starrett punches I've used. I've never used Snap-on, but from my experience with Starrett you will not be disappointed.
toolaholic
Well-known member
I have SK 6085 starter punches. Bought them at Paul b Zimmerman hardware. Looked like real old stock. Didn't use them yet. I also have mayhew punches.
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ChevyEFI
Well-known member
I haven't bent my craftsman roll-pin punches yet and I regularly use them in ways outside of which they're intended.
Bent two today? Might want to review how you're going about the job.
Bent two today? Might want to review how you're going about the job.
genevabuck
Well-known member
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- Jul 9, 2012
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- 227
MAC makes the best that I have seen.
PAPERMAKER
Well-known member
I use Proto roll pin punches, they are a must for drifting roll pins, I had been using standard drift punches for years until I got a roll pin starter punch set and roll pin punch set to assemble AR15 and AR10 rifles. After using them on several AR's and seeing how much better they work I put in for a MR for a set at work and they make life so much better, no more mushrooming a roll pin and having to drill it out.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/PROTO-Sizes-Included-116-6DJZ6?Pid=search
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/PROTO-Sizes-Included-116-6DJZ6?Pid=search
TheGrooveking
Well-known member
+1. The only roll pins that have been a problem were from before getting roll pin punches or using too small of a punch.
TheGrooveking
bassbone52
Well-known member
Proto makes good punches.
zakmartin
Well-known member
Just curious, are the new Mayhew's still made in the USA? I know that they've offshored a lot of their manufacturing recently.
EDIT:
For what it's worth, I've been using the same set of Dascos for over 15 years and they've never quit on me. Can't say if their new stuff is as good as their older stuff is.