"The Punch"

[A_Pmech]

Hi guys,

About a week ago I asked for ideas on pin punches in The Hammer thread. Here's the resulting prototype incorporating some of your suggestions and a few ideas of my own! Let me know what you think.

Rather than try to explain them in a post, I made a video which I think does a better job:

Also, are a few photos:

 

[tonydanzah]

looks very good so far, do you have a pic of it next to a dollar bill?

 

[A_Pmech]

looks very good so far, do you have a pic of it next to a dollar bill?

Stand by for incoming...

 

[M900]

Very nice...price?
Or not so much?

 

[A_Pmech]

Here you go, Tonydanzah:

 

[Merkava_4]

Bad-***!! Love it!!

 

[scooby074]

very nice. Like the colour coding. Nice detail.

Some ideas:

What about etching or engraving the size as well?

Knurling in the area of the colour grooves might be good as long as it doesnt interfere with the handle action.

Longer pins might be a option.

What about a tapered line up pin?

 

[M900]

Edit...

Also, I want one set.

 

[jrsndman]

Sweet... I broke a punch today because of the exact problem you talked about in the video.

How much?

 

[tonydanzah]

That is about the perfect size, thanks

 

[Stuey]

Bad-***!! Love it!!

I wholeheartedly share that sentiment !

 

[A_Pmech]

very nice. Like the colour coding. Nice detail.

Some ideas:

What about etching or engraving the size as well?

Hi Scooby, thanks for the ideas!

Etching the size and my logo is planned, possibly personalization. The etching equipment I need is in a box on a USPS truck about now! It's the same equipment used by NASA, Do-All, Boeing and a number of other companies.

Knurling in the area of the colour grooves might be good as long as it doesnt interfere with the handle action.

Knurling isn't needed as the grooves provide plenty of grip. Knurling would also interfere with the handle action as you say.

Longer pins might be a option.

They would come with both a short and long length pin. I sized the pins for The Punch using ANSI B18.8.2-1978, R1989. The two pin sizes, short and long, cover the entire range of "Practical Lengths" of slotted spring pins as laid out in the standard.

What about a tapered line up pin?

That's a possibility I hadn't considered...

 

[Shadowdog500]

They look great. Some gunsmiths use replaceable pin punches, so you may want to tap that market when you make them. You may be aware that Brownells makes replaceable pin punches, but they don't go as big as yours.

I also like the handle.

Chris

 

[MD11]

Put me down for a pre-order when you begin to accept them..

First Class!

 

[A_Pmech]

Bad-***!! Love it!!

Thanks, Merk!

M900 caught a slip-up in the video. The punch body is 5" long and 1/2" in diameter. I guess wouldn't make it too long on the TV a weatherman...

As to pricing, I need to make another set and work out some machining details. I should know more in a few days and then I'll be able to price them.

 

[chad s]

The punch holder/handle design is pure genius!

 

[tonydanzah]

Do you have plans on making roll pin punch tips?

 

[BTG]

Very Nice!!! If the price is right...I'm in. What would make it outstanding would be a nice custom-fit box for the set.

 

[street131]

oh man, that is so impressive. If the price was right, i would definitly buy a set. Not only is it a great idea, but just the design itself looks cool.

 

[Basskiller]

That is a slick setup!

 

[A_Pmech]

Do you have plans on making roll pin punch tips?

That's a possibility I'll have to look into, Tony.

Currently, the tips are ground with a slight crown to aid in centering the pin.

Very Nice!!! If the price is right...I'm in. What would make it outstanding would be a nice custom-fit box for the set.

I've been thinking about a case. What would you prefer?

oh man, that is so impressive. If the price was right, i would definitly buy a set. Not only is it a great idea, but just the design itself looks cool.

Thanks! I'll keep you up-to-date as I determine the pricing.

That is a slick setup!

Glad you like it!

 

[crashbumper]

WOW!


Those are incredible!

Great work

 

[Sloper0204]

I've been thinking about a case. What would you prefer?

A pelican with cutouts for The Punches and The Hammer

Once you get pricing on these down I will be submitting my order for The Hammer and The Punch at the same time since I still need to do that

 

[pearl_dude]

those look really cool. they look beautiful!!

 

[mrb]

i dont know what this is for, but I want one (price dependent of course)

 

[autoace]

Like the punches, seems like a great idea, can't say as a mechanic, that I would use the handle, unless I was doing bench work.

Nice well thought idea

Offer different length inserts, for brake caliper pins, you need a long 2.5 inch long pin punch at times. Long pin punches are the most used by auto mechanics.

Good luck

 

[toolfreak]

Very nice looking product but I can't see the allen screw holding the pin in place when using any force on a stubborn pin. I hope I am wrong because I like the looks and quality of them.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Very nice looking product but I can't see the allen screw holding the pin in place when using any force on a stubborn pin. I hope I am wrong because I like the looks and quality of them.

I bet the pin is bottomed out in the handle and the allen screw just keeps it from pulling forward.

Chris

 

[X1 Mike]

If you are asking for opinions,

I would grind a slot for the set screw to seat in and also make the pins undersize. The set screw will keep the punch from galling and being impossible to remove. If I want to knock a .250 dowel out I would rather use a .245 punch.

 

[A_Pmech]

Here's the color code chart, for reference:

 

[bmwpower]

Very nice. I love stuff like this.

Only criticism I have is I wish the punch itself could be knurled somehow, but I realize that would mess with the idea of using the "holder" and sliding in/out.

Sometimes you just don't need to use a holder (confined space, etc.) so it would be helpful if you could use it without the holder as well. Would you using the colored rings for grip?

Oh, just thought of something else.... what about a screw on/off replaceable other end of the punch? You know, sometimes people get a little over anxious with the hammer...

Just some ideas off the top of my head...

 

[A_Pmech]

A pelican with cutouts for The Punches and The Hammer

Once you get pricing on these down I will be submitting my order for The Hammer and The Punch at the same time since I still need to do that

I like your thinking!

Very nice looking product but I can't see the allen screw holding the pin in place when using any force on a stubborn pin. I hope I am wrong because I like the looks and quality of them.

The pin is bottomed in the handle bore, so all the impact energy is transmitted directly to the pin. The set screw there only to hold the pin in place.

Like the punches, seems like a great idea, can't say as a mechanic, that I would use the handle, unless I was doing bench work.

Nice well thought idea

Offer different length inserts, for brake caliper pins, you need a long 2.5 inch long pin punch at times. Long pin punches are the most used by auto mechanics.

Good luck

Thanks for your input, Autoace!

 

[cnc-me]

X1 Mike,
Brass tipped setscrew would prevent marring.

 

[A_Pmech]

If you are asking for opinions,

I would grind a slot for the set screw to seat in and also make the pins undersize. The set screw will keep the punch from galling and being impossible to remove. If I want to knock a .250 dowel out I would rather use a .245 punch.

Hi Mike,

I haven't encountered any problems with the pin galling and seizing in the handle bore as the set screw doesn't make much of an indentation in the pin.

Good idea! Under-size pins are definitely a possibility for dowel pin applications.

Very nice. I love stuff like this.

Only criticism I have is I wish the punch itself could be knurled somehow, but I realize that would mess with the idea of using the "holder" and sliding in/out.

Sometimes you just don't need to use a holder (confined space, etc.) so it would be helpful if you could use it without the holder as well. Would you using the colored rings for grip?

Oh, just thought of something else.... what about a screw on/off replaceable other end of the punch? You know, sometimes people get a little over anxious with the hammer...

Just some ideas off the top of my head...

Thank you!

The rings do provide plenty of grip for holding onto The Punch. They're placed right were you grip it with your thumb and index finger, like a pencil.

While it's common practice to drive a pin punch with a ball peen and I'm guilty of it as much as anyone, best practice is to use a soft face hammer. It extends the life of the punch and avoids mushrooming out the anvil end. I like the idea of a replaceable anvil though, I may see what I can come up with.

 

[A_Pmech]

Well, I haven't even set the price yet and the serial #1 set is already spoken for!

 

[mossyboy6]

Personally, I would rather have one punch "handle" and then interchangeable pins of different sizes.

 

[tonydanzah]

I like the replaceable anvil idea

 

[nissan_crawler]

3 things.

First, the roll pin punch tips would be great, as mentioned. They're priceless for gun work.

Second, what about a straight 1/2" punch for the bigger work?

third, will these work with the 40/30/21/10 drill bits for drilling out rivets and snapping the heads?

These seem like a highly logical solution to punch problems. I can see where some tax money might be going.

 

[Monte]

sweeet !!!!!

 

[chrislehr]

That's some excellent engineering. Great video as well.