Transfer Punch Set Recommendation
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DSLTRK
Well-known member
I typically buy USA made, but I needed a set of these immediately for a job and Harbor Freight had a very complete set for around $10.
I find the price very fair for what they are.
Transfer punch set
I find the price very fair for what they are.
Transfer punch set
gonna be following this one, got one of the HF sets - used the 3/8 and the 1/2 on mild steel, both times with a 12 oz. ball pein and a "medium" tap, BOTH punches "points" are now rounded over (maybe half dozen holes each).
Hopefully one of the more serious fab guys will respond with something that actually holds up a while... Steve
Hopefully one of the more serious fab guys will respond with something that actually holds up a while... Steve
DSLTRK
Well-known member
Well of you need top quality probably go with Spellmanco. USA made, but you will pay for it.
I'll try a cheaper set first. I'd hate to drop $100 on punches I don't use often. But the info is good to have.
I was needing to instal 10 rivnuts on a 5" center to attach a strip of L Track. I could have installed one, secured it with a screw and continued down the line punching exact centers. Instead, I got it close, and had to enlarge some holes to get the screws to start. Sloppy for someone with my level of OCD....
I was needing to instal 10 rivnuts on a 5" center to attach a strip of L Track. I could have installed one, secured it with a screw and continued down the line punching exact centers. Instead, I got it close, and had to enlarge some holes to get the screws to start. Sloppy for someone with my level of OCD....
rlitman
Well-known member
I used my HF set to mark WOOD. I was transferring bolt holes on my pine outdoor playground, and while the points didn't round over, the heads mushroomed enough to the degree that I had to sand them.
Still, the HF set suits my needs. Transfer punches are about making a mark, not doing actual punch work.
redwrench60
Well-known member
This is the proper way to use them. Since transfer punches end up being a consumable of sorts buy cheap, use just to mark then use an actual quality center punch to make your divot.
If you don't want to spend much money then state that in the thread so people don't waste their time recommending good made in the USA products, and can point you towards cheap chinese junk.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That's the way to use them and they will last a long time if used correctly. No need to buy a $100 set for this application. I've looked before and there does not seem to be a middle ground for these. All the import ones are basically the same and the expensive US made ones are just to much money for what they do.
plinker
Well-known member
^this.
I bought the generic madi in china set and some better ones (US made) from MSC I think. Zoro also had individual punches for a couple dollars each. I used them for replacements for the generic set I bought after they got worn.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
Any decent brand will work fine. I also have been using a HF set for years.
Just remember you only do one light tap on the transfer punch to make a little mark, then you use a regular punch to make make the mark bigger.
Just remember you only do one light tap on the transfer punch to make a little mark, then you use a regular punch to make make the mark bigger.
vanapplebomb
Well-known member
I have used the HF set daily at work for two years.
Pros;
-Cheap
-Full set that doesn’t skip sizes
-Good soft plastic, not brittle, holder for them
Cons;
-Softer material than more expensive sets, and do round over quicker when used on steel or other hard metals. Also the backs peen over and will not fit back in the holder the way they came from the factory. That’s fine because I do not like the points sticking up anyways. Just flip it over and put the point side in the holder.
That said, they are easy to sharpen again. I just chuck them up in a drill and spin it against a belt sander or die grinder. Aka, the hand lathe method. Before doing so, knock the peen off the hammer end so that it runs true in the drill while sharpening.
Like I say, I have been using them daily at work for two years now. For the price, I have zero complaints.
Pros;
-Cheap
-Full set that doesn’t skip sizes
-Good soft plastic, not brittle, holder for them
Cons;
-Softer material than more expensive sets, and do round over quicker when used on steel or other hard metals. Also the backs peen over and will not fit back in the holder the way they came from the factory. That’s fine because I do not like the points sticking up anyways. Just flip it over and put the point side in the holder.
That said, they are easy to sharpen again. I just chuck them up in a drill and spin it against a belt sander or die grinder. Aka, the hand lathe method. Before doing so, knock the peen off the hammer end so that it runs true in the drill while sharpening.
Like I say, I have been using them daily at work for two years now. For the price, I have zero complaints.
LeeG
Well-known member
I use the HF set also. If a punch gets worn or damaged, I replace it with one from McMaster. This allows me to have a full set for cheap, but the commonly used punches are better quality.
bwringer
Well-known member
In the category of "things I didn't know existed but now I want", I was poking around on McMaster.com and found expanding punches
https://www.mcmaster.com/3380a11
Expensive lil' boogers, but if I did a lot of fabrication work...
The issue many times is that you're working with an existing hole rather than one you just drilled. And many times, a hole for, say, a 10mm bolt was drilled to 10.4mm or something like that at the factory for easier assembly. So even if you use a 10mm transfer punch, it's going to be a little sloppy and end up off-center.
Also, I'm wondering if anyone has tried hardening/tempering the tips of the HF punches. I don't know much about this sort of metal voodoo, but it seems like this could be worth a shot to get more life out of them.
https://www.mcmaster.com/3380a11
Expensive lil' boogers, but if I did a lot of fabrication work...
The issue many times is that you're working with an existing hole rather than one you just drilled. And many times, a hole for, say, a 10mm bolt was drilled to 10.4mm or something like that at the factory for easier assembly. So even if you use a 10mm transfer punch, it's going to be a little sloppy and end up off-center.
Also, I'm wondering if anyone has tried hardening/tempering the tips of the HF punches. I don't know much about this sort of metal voodoo, but it seems like this could be worth a shot to get more life out of them.
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If you don't want to spend much money then state that in the thread so people don't waste their time recommending good made in the USA products, and can point you towards cheap chinese junk.
Waste time...USA products...same sentence?
There are people besides me that search these threads for info too, so it's nice if all the info is in one thread.
Manwithtools agrees with Timboy and also suggests a cheap set. It's ok to ask which tool is the best, only to find that the best isn't the better option...says the guy who bought an $800 professional pressure washer to clean off his kids sidewalk chalk.
I'm not afraid to drop coin, it just has to make sense first.
Thanks guys! Very good recommendations and suggestions, I'll save $70-$80, and use it to buy a couple of Starrett automatic center punches to complement the set.
Dude! Damnit! This is why my wife hates GJ... Lol so I decide not to spend $100 on a good set because it didn't make sense, but I'd absolutely buy one set of those for $144.
Versatility baby!manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Excellent choice, I almost mentioned that in my post. I have had terible luck with the the cheap automatic punches. I have friends who have had good luck, but not for me. The Starrett punches are worth the coin for me.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
Spellmanco or bust, IMO. My sets go to 1” x 64ths and we use them ALL the time.
I find the quality of the heat treat and steel to be far superior to the cheap imports.
I find the quality of the heat treat and steel to be far superior to the cheap imports.
Alpine4x4
Well-known member
https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/transfer-punch-set.html
I have this set. Its USA made. A few of the punches were bowed when it arrived and I have flattened the head on one. I'd consider transfer punches consumables so no need to spend a ton on them. These were a "No idea I needed them till I saw then" deal when a mechanic buddy let me borrow his set.
I have this set. Its USA made. A few of the punches were bowed when it arrived and I have flattened the head on one. I'd consider transfer punches consumables so no need to spend a ton on them. These were a "No idea I needed them till I saw then" deal when a mechanic buddy let me borrow his set.
Thanks for all comments; I do know about just using the transfers to make a light mark, etc, guess even that 12 oz hammer was too much for the HF set I have, basically I just let the hammer FALL maybe 4" on its own weight 
Guess from now on I'll use the little 3 oz hammer on "gravity" setting ... Steve
Guess from now on I'll use the little 3 oz hammer on "gravity" setting
... Steve