Centre punches/bench tools

I bought these from H.roberts measuring tools, to be honest to make up my order to get free delivery.

The smallest punch was listed as a prick punch but the ones I have seen are different in design.

The scriber is nice and big compared to the usual eclipse ones.

And the 8 inch rule is a super flexible one useful for the lathe.

Anyone have preferences of bench tooling?

Oooh, 8 inch rule, I haven't come across one of them before. Looks right handy. Just when I thought I had all the tools I'll ever need...

I've seen a few of those given out for free, usually in pub carparks around closing time. I've never been offered one but I know a few who did. From what I heard, it didn't sound as if there was a lot going for them.

Murray

I much prefer my 8" rule over the 6" ones, B&Q had them several years ago for 99p and I got several

I think it is a metric ruler - the imperial scale is the inferior one (they used to be the superior scale - which meant drawing, or marking, a line using the device was more difficult if wanting a metric length!).

Tape measures were the same for a long time (and might still be) after metrification - a pita to use for metric measurements - and it was difficult to even find a metric-only tape for quite some time afterwards.

A Mitutoyo Eight inch rule! Now if they did a 200mm only one I might be interested.

Is the second from left an automatic? If so, I'd be interested in how well such a slim point survives use on steel. All the ones I've had tend to either blunt if they're soft or chip if they're hard. I've made silver steel replacements with some success, but only after quite a bit of faffing about - it's not easy to strike a soft/brittle balance.

In my experience with a branded example (Eclipse?), these can only be used effectively if you are standing almost next to a bench grinder. As you say, a soft / brittle balance. I expect a carbide scriber tip would just shatter.

Murray

Am I alone in very rarely using a centre punch ? I mainly mark out on the mill using the readout and a 1/4" diameter piece of tool steel spun to a concentric point for scribing and a spotting drill for starting/positioning holes.

Access to a cutter grinder or similar is required for the marking scriber but they last years.

When I worked for James Neil (Eclipse ) we made the pocket scribers with either hardened or carbide points , and my two samples are still working well many years later . Perhaps things have changed now Eclipse is owned by a foreign company ?

Trevor .

I have that automatic centre punch, it's a much better quality one than the £5 ones you see a lot. Definitely a good buy. 

People might scoff at centre punches in a day of cnc but it isn't always practical or even possible to mount something on a milling table. 

Michael W

Edited By Michael-w on 17/01/2018 21:11:47

Some of us still do things the proper way using rules, squares, dividers etc and centre punches

Roy

8" rule?

I have been given a free 7" rule by one of our regular advertisers with my order. No makers name on it. Nice clear markings so I'm pleased with it and use it a lot in workshop.

Does seem very odd not to keep to traditional 6/12" for imperial measure rules.

Cannot understand failure to put name on a product that seems good/OK. Experience has shown that no name tools can be excellent to awful, no rhyme or reason.

I've just centre punched 864 holes ready for punching out with 5mm punch on flypress.

I use one of the Eclipse automatic ones, but it is so painful on the hand after that quantity of dinks.

Admittedly it is in aluminium 1.5mm sheet. Trouble is I need a deep dink in order for the pointed tip on punch tool to locate correctly.

I'm on my third Eclipse punch, the mechanism seams to give up after several thousand uses.

I did find one of the larger size Eclipse automatic punches on which the tip can be unscrewed and changed, but I have never seen any of the alternate tips.

Colin

Colin,

Do you make heavy duty meccano?

NDIY,

It feels like it sometimes. Over last few weeks cut up around 60 metres of Unistrut into pieces 12" or 20" long. The bandsaw, linisher all get lots of use and then finish filing by hand, then average of 6 holes in each piece. The aluminium I mentioned earlier all has corners radius cut on fly press. then partially rolled on Gabro folder once holes punched. My should takes a lot of stick on the flypress. then all rivetted together. Trouble is it don't get chance to use equipment for hobby use.

Colin