Quality center punches (not automatic) ?

[1982fxr]

Only have a couple in my box and a broken off screw in a Wilton tradesman pipe jaw cavity laughed at them when I tried to center punch it to use an easy out.

Hoping not to break the bank but I'm willing to buy one cry once if I have to.

Starrett, Mayhew, Snap-On...?

 

[tombell572]

Bought a set of Starrett punches about 20 years go and still use them. They've held up well.

Tom B.

 

[Tinner]

Proto makes excellent center punches and every other kind of punch, as well.

 

[Steve_P]

Starrett. Bulletproof. Avavlilable on Amazon

 

[RTM]

Starrett ones have been better than my garage sale pack of mutts, for when it matters.

 

[GrayEngineer]

The one I'm most impressed with is the PB Swiss with a tungsten tip. I've been using it for over a year and it still has a sharp point and the striking end has no deformation. It has blown all my other center punches away in performance.

 

[the intimidator]

The one I'm most impressed with is the PB Swiss with a tungsten tip. I've been using it for over a year and it still has a sharp point and the striking end has no deformation. It has blown all my other center punches away in performance.

looks like a well built well thought out tool but at 168$ for one i'd need to be marking alot of hardened steel to justijustify the costs

 

[flippin]

looks like a well built well thought out tool but at 168$ for one i'd need to be marking alot of hardened steel to justijustify the costs

That's just a crazy Amazon price. Toolady has them for $19

 

[bob15]

Square shank Starrett

I like the square shank because they don't roll around on me when you set them down

 

[Fluelikesymptoms]

I started a thread about this myself once, I had always used cheap big box store punches and chisels and they would always let me down immediately. Many times using "mid-tier" punches and they'd be useless before I even got done using them for the first time.

During one particularly frustrating project, I had decided I was done with home depot punches. I bought myself a nice set of mayhew punches. Huge difference, just used em yesterday. They've already payed for themselves when I think about how much money I wouldve spent at home depot if I hadn't got them.

I have heard mention of there being a basic mayhew line, and then a mayhew pro line. However when I got mine all that I was able to find available for purchase was the pro line. It seemed to me as if mayhew is only making the pro line now? It might have just been a coincidence so it's still something to consider

 

[Joebass]

Starrett

 

[Professional Tool User]

Snap off, Proto, and Mayhew are all decent in my books. I wouldn't go with Starrett unless precision is a priority in which case their automatic centre punches are excellent.

 

[Steve_P]

I have Starrett and Mayhew punches and center punches; Starrett is far superior to the standard Mayhew line. The 150 line Mayhew is excellent if they sell center punch sets; it seems the same as Starrett durability. I have 150 line chisels so it's an indirect comparison, but they are awesome and far superior to the normal Mayhew steel.

 

[matt_i]

I just buy the Starrett 117E in multiples which is the largest. The other dainty ones in the set don't do much for me, I'm going to drive to a location and spot a hole with a solid carbide drill a lot faster than I trust a center punch, for anything closer.

Also consider LH drill bits and a vibratory marking tool as better tools that can extract broken-off-but-not-frozen-by-corrosion screws. An optical center punch is pretty cool because its so exacting for actually punching a centerpoint.

 

[Legion Prime]

Starrett 117E center punch
Under $10, I haven't used it a ton but it works.

 

[1982fxr]

Yeah I saw that and then the whole 5 piece set for $37 free shipping. I'm ok with buying the whole set if I'll use them all, but will I? Just got my first lathe too though, so if I can save $27 on chisels I won't use to put it towards turning needs I'll do that.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E64RBI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Also, what does their number system mean, as far as 117, etc?

 

[Joebass]

Yeah I saw that and then the whole 5 piece set for $37 free shipping. I'm ok with buying the whole set if I'll use them all, but will I? Just got my first lathe too though, so if I can save $27 on chisels I won't use to put it towards turning needs I'll do that.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E64RBI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Also, what does their number system mean, as far as 117, etc?

You really only need the largest one. You should have some ***** punches too. Go Starrett here also

 

[Wamsutta]

Cornwell supposedly makes some real good punches and chisels; although I've never used one.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Wilde, Enderes

 

[1982fxr]

Wilde, Enderes

I bought the big Wilde set from hje a few years back. At that price I didn't expect much and they are all soft. Maybe I got a bad batch as others have had good luck.

I like Enderes but isn't their stuff a grade softer than starrett, etc? Thought someone posted hardnesses on here once...

 

[californiaHank]

I just buy the Starrett 117E in multiples which is the largest. The other dainty ones in the set don't do much for me, I'm going to drive to a location and spot a hole with a solid carbide drill a lot faster than I trust a center punch, for anything closer.

Also consider LH drill bits and a vibratory marking tool as better tools that can extract broken-off-but-not-frozen-by-corrosion screws. An optical center punch is pretty cool because its so exacting for actually punching a centerpoint.

I mainly work on small stuff & small holes, so the 'dainty ones' appeal to me. :^)

The 117E looks like a long fat cigar under the head-worn magnifier I wear doing layout. I think that pretty much all center punches have about the same (60 degree?) angled point - the smaller ones are just shorter with thinner shanks. I usually only need to tap hard enough to make a small dimple, so the smaller diameter punches often work best for me. I have a 117E, but the 117C is my most-used center punch.

 

[RTM]

Mine is the Starrett 117A, with a 5/64" point, vs the 117E with a 1/4" point.

 

[MattT]

I wouldn't go with Starrett

They're one of the few things $tarrett sell which are high quality and reasonably priced, so there's really no reason not to go with them.

Also, what does their number system mean, as far as 117, etc?

117 is the knurled round body punch style. The square bodied ones will be some other NNN.

Then A,B,C........ suffix is the point size with A being the smallest. There is some duplication of punch body size so B & C may be the same body but B will have the smaller point.