Brass Pin Punches - Does It Matter?

[39 LaSalle]

Looking to buy a brass pin punch set that won't bend and deform after the first use. Trying to justify the Starrett set, but I'm not convinced that they're worth it vs. the $20 sets you can find. For steel punches, yeah I get it, they're worth it. But are there such differences in brass quality to make it worthwhile for the price difference on something that theoretically a consumable item?

 

[Tools4Me]

Brass pin punches in general are a love-hate relationship. The smaller ones will rarely work well on any pin that is rusted, stuck, or jammed in tight. I don't know what you want them for specifically, but I work on all kinds of things and I find that they are very rarely needed if I am careful with a nice set of regular steel punches with tips in good condition. The only people I know that use brass punches a lot are gunsmiths.

There is a difference in the softness of the brass between brands, but some of the cheap ones are still surprisingly good for the price. I would personally never buy the Starrett brand for something like this. Too much of a brand premium. I buy either Grace USA brand or Mitutoyo Japan brass punches. Both well made out of good brass, and their 8pc sets are only $20-35 instead of $60+. You would be way ahead in my opinion to buy 2-3 sets of the Mitutoyo or Grace USA for the same money.

Amazon.com

Pardon Our Interruption...

Another thing to look into is a brass starter punch set. Grace USA makes a 4pc set for $25 or so and I'm not sure if Mitutoyo makes one or not. Starter punches are used to get a pin unstuck and help it get going and that's it. Once it starts to move you switch over to a pin punch to pop it the rest of the way through. Starter punches are tapered the whole way to the tip so they allow you to avoid bending the tip so easily during the initial hits, while still having a brass tip to prevent marring.

GRACE USA Brass Starter Punch Set > Gunsmith | Grace USA

If you want everything in one along with a set of brass roll pin punches too-

GRACE USA 20Pc Brass Punch Set with Bench Block > Gunsmith | Grace USA

Amazon.com

 

[Grant Gunderson]

I have a set of Starrett long and short, plus a Mayhew brass drift set.

The Starretts are a lot softer and deform easily compared to the Mayhew brass drift set. The Mayhews on the left are 20+ years old. The Starretts are 6months.

So the Starrett ones are best saved for only the most delicate work and use the Mayhew for more general purpose.

The Starrett ones sure do feel nicer in the hands tho. The Starrett standard pin punches do seem to be better all around then the Mayhew ones. For Metric sizes I have the PBSwiss set and while those are nice they are softer and bend easier than the SAE Starretts.
Their center punches, especially the automatic one puts all others Mayhew included to shame.

 

[Dave455]

O.P. Sadly, any brass punch will deform if you use it on pins.

First off, ensure you do need a punch, not a drift! If you can get by using a drift, or even a brass hammer, do so.

Most times, folks don’t need a brass punch, but rather a non marking one. If you take a regular tool steel punch, break the corner, and polish the tip, you can use it on good quality pins without marking them.

If you have a small pin, and absolutely can’t risk any marks, then phosphor bronze is the best option, but you generally have to make these yourself.

Below are my commonly used small pin punches and drifts. I have two sets, as you want them close fitting, so generally need both imperial and metric. The chrome PB already have the corners broken and are fairly well polished, so are pretty non marking from the start.

Bent punches usually means you are using the wrong tool. Pins generally need to be started using a taper punch, then switch to a pin punch to knock the pin out. If you need a long pin punch, then you only use that after the other two.

Here are some of mine, use left to right!

If you’re thinking that you need three types of punch, then maybe imperial and metric, then specials such as brass or roll pin, and that’s a lot, you’re right! Pin punches have one thing in common with screwdrivers. You can’t have too many!

To answer the original question, I think you’re right. Starrett are among, if not the best, steel punches out there. Is it worth buying Starrett in brass, I think I’m with Grant above, and it probably isn’t.

 

[dutchgray]

Don't own any brass punches, if I needed one I would probably just make one on the lathe.

 

[39 LaSalle]

Thanks for the advice. I don't often need brass punches, but it's one of those things handy to have when you need them. I had/have a set of cheap Chinese jobs, but haven't been real impressed. Sounds like at least for brass ones, I'm not going to get that much of an improvement to justify the expense of top end brands. Those Grace ones sound interesting so I may look into getting a set of those. When it comes to steel though, I'm sure the cost is more than justified in looking at some of the better brands.

 

[Steve_P]

I love my starrett steel punches, but have Mitutoyo for brass pin punches, and Mayhew and old HF for bigger drifts. The Mitutoyo set I bought did not list COO anywhere, so then I always assume China. Which is fine, but.....