Gasket punch rack

OccupantRJ · Jan 1, 2011

This is a gasket punch rack I made up to keep my punches nearby, and to protect the cutting edges. They are used to cut holes in gaskets by placing the gasket on a piece of oak wood, then striking the end of the punch to create holes in the gasket material. The rack is steel sheet metal with machined brass locaters on the bottom support to keep the punches upright, and the brass won't nick the cutting edge. There is a strip of silicon rubber glued on the bottom support to further protect the edges of the punches.

srmofo · Jan 1, 2011

Please dont take this the wrong way, but is there any reason you just dont store them with the cutting edge up?

Love all the racks btw, A small shop brake is on the list once I get settled all the way in.

OccupantRJ · Jan 2, 2011

srmofo said:
Please dont take this the wrong way, but is there any reason you just dont store them with the cutting edge up?

Love all the racks btw, A small shop brake is on the list once I get settled all the way in.

Simple. Tools stored with the cutting edge up are more likely to cut your finger when you reach for them.

srmofo · Jan 2, 2011

Those sobs must be sharp, Ive always just used a socket. Then again, I dont gasket material very often, so Ive never really seen the need to buy the cutters

OccupantRJ · Jan 2, 2011

The cutters also work well when making chipboard (thin cardboard) patterns during fabrication of sheet materials where holes are involved. They cut a hole clean as a whistle.

sberry · Jan 2, 2011

It was a long time before I invested in a set of the punches, one of my men called me from the store one day and said, what size set you want? Was a big hint, made a lot of them over the years as well as used sockets but the China set from the cheap tool store has earned its keep on more than one occasion.

sberry · Jan 2, 2011

Tool sets like those and others are great hung up on the wall, so easy to make sure they are complete and handy especially if a guy uses them regular.
Sockets are my biggest time consuming tool dilemma. American and metric both adds a bundle to the confusion. I need to custom design some racks but in theory I keep 85% of them in tool boxes and strip out the common used ones and put on carts. The used ones, sae impacts and about 6 metric impacts and a handful of chrome in 3/8 drive metric as well as a half a dozen wrenches. I try to have enough stuff that each work area has sufficient common sizes for tasks at hand, I use a lot of common combination American end wrenches, they go on hangers. I could use a new box in one spot, nice roller job, this is worn, overloaded, used quite a bit in a couple of drawers but could be retired to specialty tools if the right deal came along on a good one. Paid 75$ for it near 20 yrs ago.

sberry · Jan 2, 2011

Stuff in hoist area, constantly modified though.

e-tek · Jan 2, 2011

Know what works just as well as those punches? Shells! You American boys should have a bunch of different sizes laying around!! I can't recall the exact sizes off-hand, but I have a bunch in my tool box my Dad used. I bought a set of "real" hole punches as above, but keep using the bullet casings! I thing the .22 shell is a 3/8, etc.

OccupantRJ · Jan 2, 2011

e-tek said:
Know what works just as well as those punches? Shells! You American boys should have a bunch of different sizes laying around!! I can't recall the exact sizes off-hand, but I have a bunch in my tool box my Dad used. I bought a set of "real" hole punches as above, but keep using the bullet casings! I thing the .22 shell is a 3/8, etc.

The .22 would be around a 1/4" (.250) :bounce:

usdemt · Jan 3, 2011

OccupantRJ said:
The .22 would be around a 1/4" (.250)

Just under actually :bounce:

Haha I was thinking that too, a .38 would be more suited for a 3/8

Packard V8 · Jan 3, 2011

Know what works just as well as those punches? Shells!

As they say, "your results may vary". For occasional use on thin paper gaskets, a brass cartridge case may work. For thicker composition, copper, brass, fiber, or leather, all you get is bent.

jack vines

Gasket punch rack

OccupantRJ

Well-known member

Attachments

srmofo

Well-known member

OccupantRJ

Well-known member

srmofo

Well-known member

OccupantRJ

Well-known member

sberry

Banned

sberry

Banned

Attachments

sberry

Banned

Attachments

e-tek

Well-known member

OccupantRJ

Well-known member

usdemt

Well-known member

Packard V8

Well-known member