Rotex turret punch

[isb cornbinder]

On Saturday, I measured up the floor space to see where I might have to put a new machine.
The first time I saw one of these turret punches was in first year trade school. That was in the early 1960s.
I made an offer to purchase one of these, today. The price for one of these turret punches has always been in the three to five thousands of dollars range. That kind of money was just to much to invest in a dust catcher, until today. The machine weighs 530 pounds.(240.4kg)
I am not sure where to park this punch, just yet. This will not be a deal breaker.

 

[isb cornbinder]

The deal is done. The seller had his shop foreman take the ROTEX punch off the included stand, and lag-bolt it top a new pallet. When I returned from the bank we were met at the shop big side door. My punch was on a forklift and ready to be loaded.
The 530 pounds of the punch machine plus about 100 pounds for the base made my Ram 2500 squat just a little. The ride home was much smoother than the trip out of town.
I had buyer's remorse for about 2.8 seconds, then I recovered. I have waited 55 years to have one of these turret punches. This is now off my bucket list.
I was searching for a good deal on Craigslist for a pneumatic tire forklift. This turret punch showed up. The seller had mentioned he has a forklift to assist with loading. Today, I am still looking for a forklift. My son made a bland comment, "Dad, maybe we should have bought the forklift first."
I found a rough looking and nice running propane fueled Toyota 2 ton, with pneumatic treaded tires. The price is right. I am going to make an offer, delivery included.

 

[Notgrownup]

Looks about the same as RJOccupant has that he’s refinishing...I have no clue what it does but looks cool...

 

[OccupantRJ]

Nice! I am in the middle of a refurbishment of my Rotex right now. I just shot the paint on the main casting yesterday. It got flooded in 1999 and needed a refresh. Now that I am retired I am restoring quite a few pieces of my equipment. Here is the back story on mine.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99288

 

[OccupantRJ]

Looks about the same as RJOccupant has that he’s refinishing...I have no clue what it does but looks cool...

Look at the link I just posted and you will get a concept for what a Rotex is good for.

 

[Notgrownup]

Look at the link I just posted and you will get a concept for what a Rotex is good for.

Nice, I will come and see it one day.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I read your link. You got an almost unbelievable deal. I paid $1300cdn for my ROTEX and I thought I got a really good deal. I am not surprised to find this turret punch is still in production. This is very high quality machine and the new price reflects the quality of the build.
At first glance, I think my machine is in good to better condition. The original grey/brown textured paint is in very good condition.
Because I do not have a manual, I am going to try and find one that is for sale. I should try Keith Rucker and his Vintage Machinery.org.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Here you go.

https://www.sterlingmachinery.com/media/brochures1/file/rotex-turret-punches-brochure.pdf

 

[INSP380]

We use our Rotex daily in the shop. We have a table built around the bottom turret. Really helps on larger parts and setting up fixtures. Nice buy.

Steve

 

[isb cornbinder]

I may make two fold up/down side shelves, one for each side of the punch press. The shelves would be like those available for toolbox cabinets. Rather than a tray like design, the folding sides should be flat, maybe .250".

 

[Milton Shaw]

I would think the video author could reverse the main handle and use it left handed instead of having to cross over and use it bass ackwords. That looks like a handy punch to have if you do much work with sheet metal.

 

[Falcon67]

>I had buyer's remorse for about 2.8 seconds, then I recovered.

LOL, lots of machinery purchases are like that. Same on my square column Grizzly mill and the Enco Lathe. Big $. Ouch. Unpacked and spun up - what me worry? I'll eat beans for a few months to help pay for it, no problem.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I like beans. If were not for beans, I would not have any fun.

 

[INSP380]

Rotex w/ table.


Steve

 

[isb cornbinder]

I like that design. I do not like anything about the junk stand that came with my ROTEX. The casters are substandard also. The welding has a bird **** look. There must be a ratio between height, weight and width. This is not it. I don't want this sitting on my lap.
I may wait until after the christmas rush to build something better. I have an idea to have the table sides fold down. The Metal Supermarket has weld on hinges. I have a 4X4' sheet of hot rolled on the rack. I think I can make something with this.

 

[langss]

Boy does that bring back memories. I worked Aircraft Maintenance for 40 years. About the stand. Believe it or not, the only place I ever saw an actual "Factory Stand"(Rotex)was in the Military....Every other place I ever worked had some sort of cobbled together stand. They real deal must have been really expensive(that's why the Military had them)......lol......

 

[isb cornbinder]

I was looking around the "net" and I stumbled across an old ROTEX pricelist. On this list the cabinet was $2200, that was 50 years ago.
I did a quick inventory of what I have in the shop. I may have everything I need for the base. The punch is still in the back of my truck. I will not attempt an unload on my own because of the steep lane and other factors.

 

[8mpg]

I had never seen one of these until this week I saw one on Craigslist. They want $2500... too rich for my blood but very cool machine.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I was looking around the "net" and I stumbled across an old ROTEX pricelist. On this list the cabinet was $2200, that was 50 years ago.
I did a quick inventory of what I have in the shop. I may have everything I need for the base. The punch is still in the back of my truck. I will not attempt an unload on my own because of the steep lane and other factors.

Can you post a link to the price list?

 

[isb cornbinder]

I was looking this morning and I cannot fine the price list. I clear my search history every day. I will look some more.

 

[isb cornbinder]

https://www.sterlingmachinery.com/m...-turret-punch-press-quick-change-brochure.pdf
https://www.sterlingmachinery.com/media/brochures1/file/rotex-turret-punches-brochure.pdf

NO prices, but lots of information.

 

[isb cornbinder]

My son volunteered to help with the unloading. Our shop crane made easy work of moving the punch into the shop. This was, very much, a two person job.
I did not want to leave the machine in the truck for another night. Rain is in the forecast for tonight and for the next week. Rust may have become a situation.
Yes, we punched a bunch of holes is some aluminium. The kid pointed to the floor and the punch-outs, then said, "Look Dad, you have a mess to pick up" and then he left.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Looks like that is the 18” throat model, which should be an 18-A. The 24” throat is an 18-B.

 

[isb cornbinder]

The distance from the center of the punch to the back of the throat is 24 inches. (61cm),I think.
I will start to build the base/stand tomorrow.
I dropped the ugly yellow base at the city recycling/transfer station this PM.
There are two 1/4X20 threaded broken studs to be removed. These studs are OEM for two missing knobs for moving the punch turret.
I would like to put the parts into my ultrasonic parts cleaner. There is decades of built up oily dust. Every part moves as it should.
I would like to know the build date for this punch. I suspect this may be from the 1940s or earlier. My reason for this is, the style of the 1/2" bolts that held the punch to the ugly base look like the old fasteners on my old Camelback drill presses. The 3/4" bolt heads are taller and the thicker nuts require a 7/8" wrench.

 

[OccupantRJ]

What I was going by is that in the pictures your frame seems shorter than the 24 I have. Look back at post #4 for a visual. Maybe they used various designs on the castings,

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have a few cheap aluminium rulers on the back of my Pexto brake. I will punch a .0625" hole in the ruler with one end as far into the throat as I can press it. Picture to follow, later.
Sometime in the night the monsoon came. It is still raining heavily. I am pleased to have moved the Rotex into the shop before the rain started. The rain water is running down the street like an angry creek.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Are you related to my wife? She is always right.
You are correct.
I punched a hole in an aluminum ruler this afternoon. The punch hole is as you see it, 18.5 inches.
I suppose I am not disappointed. This is not a situation where I need this machine or the larger model.
I think my error came from 41 years of lying to my wife about length. I got busted when we went to SUBWAY for lunch and she ordered a six inch sandwich. She gave me one of those looks that guarantee permanent wrinkles.

 

[OccupantRJ]

You can still punch to the middle of a 36” sheet. Plenty good for the average back yard project. it is the bomb for making tool hangers and such. If you look back through my threads you can see some I have made.

What is 6”” long and all women love it?






$100 bill.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I drew up a plan for a cabinet similar to the one in the picture. After taking inventory, I think I have just about all I need. I want to repurpose a double set of shop built drawers for the cabinet. The lower drawer will have a few tools for making adjustments. The upper drawer will be a side opening punch-out catcher.

 

[OccupantRJ]

That should make a good bench for it. I like the slug catcher idea.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Would you be so kind and post a link to your tool hangers?

 

[OccupantRJ]

Would you be so kind and post a link to your tool hangers?

Ask, and he shall receive!

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54643

 

[isb cornbinder]

Wow. You are a person of many skills. But, Can you make cinnamon buns?
My wife made the pie.

 

[Bottlecapdigger]

They are a great machine, I got one a few years ago that came from the maintenance department in an auto plant. Sounds kinda silly but I find I've used mine mostly for making special washers. Shorty after I got it I wrote to company and asked them if I could get some new decals for it. They came in the Mail. I don't think there in business any more. There is a pic of mine here somewhere. Found it. BCD.

 

[OccupantRJ]

They are a great machine, I got one a few years ago that came from the maintenance department in an auto plant. Sounds kinda silly but I find I've used mine mostly for making special washers. Shorty after I got it I wrote to company and asked them if I could get some new decals for it. They came in the Mail. I don't think there in business any more. There is a pic of mine here somewhere. Found it. BCD.

Nice! We may have to start a Rotex owner’s club!

 

[OccupantRJ]

Wow. You are a person of many skills. But, Can you make cinnamon buns?
My wife made the pie.

Damn! They look good! I can fabricate, restore, and machine better than I can cook, the only grill I now have is the Jenaire downdraft in the kitchen. Thank you for the compliment.

 

[Bottlecapdigger]

If you ever need to replace a punch or die there's a place out on the west coast that makes replacement parts. Oregon I think. BCD

 

[isb cornbinder]

I made a few "fender washers" this morning. So, you see, it was worth spending $1300cdn for the machine so I did not have to drive across town to Pacific Fasteners for $3 worth of washers. The left rear mud flap on my Ram2500 should be secure, now.
I was given two of those generic screwdriver racks. I put one on my milling machine and I do not like it. This rack does everything it was loosely designed for, poorly.

 

[OccupantRJ]

If you ever need to replace a punch or die there's a place out on the west coast that makes replacement parts. Oregon I think. BCD

Thanks. Luckily, mine came with about a half gallon plastic container of extra punches and die buttons, some slotted ones. If all else fails, I did tool and die work before retirement, and have a mill and lathe. Maybe I have not lost the touch.

 

[jack stand]

Funny to come across this thread, I was just checking out a Rotex 18-C 2-25 punch at a Govt auction that was this past weekend.
https://www.govplanet.com/jsp/s/item/1842501?h=6-22
Sold for $1780, I bid it up to $500 just for giggles. I have other machines on my wish list that I would use more and need to come first.
Glad you finally got one!

I did get a Hannay O/A retractable hose reel for $80 at that auction.