Punches are marking instruments made of steel, used by striking with a hammer. A center
punch and its sharper relative, a prick punch, have beveled points for starting holes in
metal and wood. A pin punch has a straight flank and a flat tip for knocking out the small
pins sometimes used to assemble machinery.
Using Punches
To use a center punch, mark the location of the desired hole with a cross marked with a
pencil or scribed lines. Place the point of the center punch on the mark, and tap the
punch sharply with a hammer. To make the punch mark more visible on dark materials, rub
it with powdered chalk.
Purchasing
Punches are available in lengths from 4 to 20 inches. The smaller lengths are suitable for
use on wood and soft metals. For making extremely precise starting holes, choose a prick
punch rather than a center punch.
Other Names
Center punch; prick punch; pin punch
Substitutes
An alternative is the automatic punch. It has a spring mechanism that eliminates having
to hit the tool with a hammer. Simply push the tool down firmly where you want a mark.
Steady the tool with both hands. Because an automatic center punch leaves only a faint
mark, for best results use the tool only on soft metals.
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