Automatic Center Punch with Hardened Steel Metal - 100mm Length, 11mm Punch Diameter Tapered - 18AA

Why did you pick this product vs others?: Anyone who knows the Starrett brand knows that their products are of the finest quality and design and this is autopunch is no exception. I do a reasonable amount of control panel design and construction requiring starter punches prior to drilling/tapping fastener holes and this punch makes me smile every time I use it. Solid construction, fluid action with a point that resists deformation.

Punch is nice and very affective, works easily, good deal

Excellent machining on the tool, like all of the Starrett tools that I own. And, like all Starrett's I own, it comes without an instruction manual. I guess that they figure if you're buying Starrett, you don't need instructions. :-) The tool has a very wide range of operation, when you turn the top knob to adjust the striking force. It would likely dimple soft wood very significantly, at its lowest setting though. The point is very sharp and you can mark soft items quite well, by simply applying a little downward force that isn't sufficient to compress and release the spring that strikes the tip. The tool is very light and easy to handle, with lots of gripping area, if needed. A pocket clip would have been a welcome addition to the tool, but other than that, I can't think of any cons. It's a very nice tool.

Quality looks very impressive at first glance, but had the center punch break after less than 20 punches. The threaded portion snapped off. I sent it back for a new one and the exact same thing happened this time only after 6 punches! I use a Starret caliper daily and love it, but i would not recommend these center punches. Hopefully it’s just a fluke that i 2 bad ones in a row, but buy at your own risk.

Don't buy this expecting to use it on hardened steel for large projects. It's a compact punch for smaller scale, light duty use. It's slightly smaller than a tube of chapstick and 4" long. Works great on aluminum, brass, copper, or soft steel that requires a small, precise dimple for a small diameter hole. If you're needing a punch for a 1/2" drill bit on carbon steel, buy the 18C. It's much larger and has a more robust spring. Both tools are exceptionally well made and Starrett will replace them with no questions asked in the event of failure.

After yet another Harbor Freight punch wore out, I decided to buy a real tool. The Starrett auto punch is definitely well made and feels good to hold, and operates smoothly -- but it doesn't do much. I'm getting just a tiny nick in 24ga steel sheet metal, and not much better in 1/8" aluminum extrusions. This is at the "highest" setting. I guess this punch is only really intended for softer materials, but that wasn't super clear to me in the description. I'm just a "weekend warrior" and not familiar with the intricacies of selecting proper fabrication tools. Evidently I I was also surprised by how small it is...the dimensions are clearly given but I have small hands so figured it wouldn't be an issue. I can hold it fine but it gets lost in the pencil-loop of my toolbelt where I kept my old one -- I have to take off my gloves and poke around in there to fish it out, which isn't much of a time-savings. I'm returning the punch in favor of the full-sized 18C, which apparently is more like what I'm looking for.

I use this metal punch nearly every day as a carpenter. It has worked every time, and has been dropped a lot, amd still works perfectly. If you're looking for a metal punch. Buy this brand.

Product not what I was looking for

Fab tool for art & crafts

Für kleinere und weichere Materialien hervorragend geeignet. Bei dickerem Blech allerdings Probleme, aber dafür ist der kleine ja auch nicht gedacht.

Il prodotto è buono, consiglio l’utilizzo sull’alluminio rispetto all’acciaio dato che riesce a fare buchi più profondi rispetto al secondo, però comunque è tranquillamente utilizzabile con l’acciaio

Item arrived as advertised and I’m very happy with it Thank you Good quality

Fonctionne tres bien, a voir avec le temps…