Centre Punch

[Parm]

Can silver steel be used to make a centre punch?

if yes what’s it best hardened in, oil or water?

 

[Kram]

Yes its a good steel for it. Veg oil works well.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Yes it can.
I use old engine oil for a black or darker finish.
Or ground but oil if I need to keep a "shine".

A good source of steel for punches or drifts are old gear boxes.

 

[8ob]

Yes it can.
I use old engine oil for a black or darker finish.
Or ground but oil if I need to keep a "shine".

A good source of steel for punches or drifts are old gear boxes.

No doubt Parmster will be flicking through the COSHH gumph as we speak

Bob

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

No doubt Parmster will be flicking through the COSHH gumph as we speak

Bob

Bed side material to read.

 

[awemawson]

Leave the hammer striking end fairly soft to avoid it chipping and bits flying about.

(The number of old cold chisels you see with bits curling over and about to fly off is worrying - they should be dressed on a grinder regularly

 

[Pete.]

Old decent sized allen keys make good centre punches. The type that were hardened and tempered not the cheapo mild steel ones. Bonus is that you can re-do the point by putting them in your battery drill and spin them up for a lick on your grinder. They also look good if you leave the hex on but turn a section of round shank towards the point.

 

[Munkul]

Sds max chisel shanks make the best centre punches bar none.
Cut to length, grind a point on, and thats it. Done.
It still narks me that you literally cannot buy a good centre punch. Even the best auto punches fron beta and starrett need sharpening regularly.

 

[Pete.]

Sds max chisel shanks make the best centre punches bar none.
Cut to length, grind a point on, and thats it. Done.
It still narks me that you literally cannot buy a good centre punch. Even the best auto punches fron beta and starrett need sharpening regularly.

I have a feeling you mean SDS plus because the max chisels are 18mm diameter. Make a pretty big punch.

 

[Spark plug]

This has been my go to for many a year now, made from a bit of silver steel I had lying around, one day when I couldn’t find a centre punch:

 

[Pond frog]

Old decent sized allen keys make good centre punches. The type that were hardened and tempered not the cheapo mild steel ones. Bonus is that you can re-do the point by putting them in your battery drill and spin them up for a lick on your grinder. They also look good if you leave the hex on but turn a section of round shank towards the point.

I like that idea, I might be able to dress my punches with the point actually at the centre for a change

 

[Rkweld]

I recently made some punches from silver steel, they are holding an edge/point very well.

I hardened by quenching in water, If you have not got alot of oil to quench in and your punch is a reasonable size you may end up with a fire on your hands, you may wonder if I was mystic Meg in a previous life or if I learnt that from experience

I also tempered them according to a colour chart I found online, I heated from the hammer striking end so I could watch the heat colour through the material and also because it would soften the hammer striking end more.

Good advice shared on here also with punches was not to have an acute angle point. It will last much better.

 

[Ton-up]

Broken taps make great centre patches. Cut them off at the flutes. Make a holder by drilling a bit of mild steel rod with a tight hole. Knock the tap in and grind your point.

 

[Munkul]

I have a feeling you mean SDS plus because the max chisels are 18mm diameter. Make a pretty big punch.

Nah i mean max for structural steelwork you want a good big punch you can grip in your fist. Now you mention it though, probably not great for delicate work... that's what i would use an auto punch for though.

 

[Pete.]

Nah i mean max for structural steelwork you want a good big punch you can grip in your fist. Now you mention it though, probably not great for delicate work... that's what i would use an auto punch for though.

Ah, yes that would make sense

 

[Parm]

Ok. I have lots n lots of centre punches. Made from all the interesting specimens you mention.

Grandad was a tool maker and dad had his his own precision engineering firm.

ive just found a load of silver steel that I know is silver steel.
Just fancy making my own punch that’s a bit finer and easier to use than any of the ones I’ve got

Something to do on a Sunday afternoon

 

[Parm]

Would it be a silly idea to to braze in a 7mm Silver steel rod into a bar of my choice to make the handle?

 

[Barking Mat]

Would it be a silly idea to to braze in a 7mm Silver steel rod into a bar of my choice to make the handle?

Nice tight fitting hole Parm ? It's not offering...

 

[Parm]

No doubt Parmster will be flicking through the COSHH gumph as we speak

Bob

I’m still writting the risk assessment

Eleventeen Million pages and counting

then we get to the PPE...........

 

[Parm]

Leave the hammer striking end fairly soft to avoid it chipping and bits flying about.

(The number of old cold chisels you see with bits curling over and about to fly off is worrying - they should be dressed on a grinder regularly

I realy dislike the end of tools mushrooming over. Not because of H&S, just don’t like it

In some circles it’s seen as “how much work you do”