Making a Center Punch
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Short video this week about how to make a center punch. They're handy little tools when you need to drill a hole through something, and considering they can be done from scraps there's definitely no reason to go out and buy one.
Music:
John Woodward - Here Today
I make punches and followers out of old HSS tool bits. They are stronger and harder than any you can buy off the shelf.
you might wanna slow down a bit when grinding it, as you might ruin the heat treat by heating it too much
Excellent use of old SDS bit shank. I've got many of them and have been reluctant to give them the toss. Now I can recycle a couple. Using a stop on the bench rest would help to center the point a bit more. Looks like you got it by hand though.
Indeed, resting it against something would've also yeilded a greater surface finish on the tip. However, because the shank is spinning in the drill it's kind of like a pencil sharpener, the point will be in the center of the center punch regardless if you want it to be or not.
If you have a lathe and carbide cutting tools there's probably quite a lot you can do with those shanks, I only had the one though.
Cheers!
/Daniel
Excellent Video Daniel, I have a center punch my friend John made from a 3/4" tape. Same idea as yours. Fantastic punch, use it every weekend.... Because I have a toolpost grinder, I use that for the final grind of the point... Cheers, Daniel.
Switch & Lever
Just a thought, this CAN be (2) tools "in one":
Add a magnetic 'hook' to the end(using small neodynium magnets for strength) to make a plumb line
Again, just a thought :-)
Thanks a lot, i had a concrete drill lying around. Managed to make it on a grinding wheel. Works well.
The tip on marking the angle on the grinding wheel is ingenious, so simple, so good.
I have to give that credit to Tom Lipton over at oxtoolco here on TH-cam. I've never seen anyone be so liberal with a sharpie before, and it makes sense, it cleans off easily and sharpies are dirt cheap.
The grinding could be more accurate if you use a V-shaped support to turn it in ;-))
Nice tip !
That's a good tip Keld! I wish I had any V-blocks, but then again even a simple one made from scrap wood on the bandsaw would've worked well I guess.
Cheers!
/Daniel
Switch & Lever Not even a "block", just a pease of angle iron with a V in one of the "legs" will do - clamp the other "leg" to the normal grinding fixture !
is it useful for punching wide bandsaw punching, bandsaw is made from high carbon steel. when making a punch from drill bit, there is a chance for breakage while hitting on tip of punch, can this concrete bit heat treat?
I have made some of this center punchs in the past. One thing i have learned: They should not so short. And not nearly cylindrical. Because i have to see exactely, where the tip hits the material. So your center punch would not work for me. But the idea is good anyway. Regards from Germany.
That is a nice punch ..I like how you spun it with the drill while grinding it
Thank you!
/Daniel
Does HSS steel need heat treatment?
+Ivan Nekić all high carbon steel need heat treatment if you want to make use of their hardenable properties.
what lathe process is it?? Facing or Turning
+Joe Matt almost laughed myself to tears... not
did you heat treat the tip or it was unnecessary?
It's carbide, you don't heat treat carbide, there is no point. In fact, one of the greatest strengths of carbide is that it keeps its hardness even when scorching hot, unlike steel.
@@SwitchAndLever ok great. I thought only the cutting edges are made from carbide, and once you cut it off, the body is made from silver steel or something.
@@TigerCarpenter There are ones like that too, for sure, but then you see a clear line between the two different materials.
Nice little project and it reuses old tools. Thumbs up on this one!! Good job- Fred
Thanks Fred! For sure, there's always an enjoyment in making things from what many would deem unusable trash. Sure enough, I probably don't need that many center punches, but I bet there are many other uses as well.
Cheers!
/Daniel
Daniel, thanks for another fine video. I have a very nice center punch already, but I'll keep this method in mind for when I need one bigger or smaller, longer or shorter, or when there might be a chance of damage or loss.
It might be useful to grind flats on at least one side to prevent rolling. Helps when not working on a level bench.
Might be worth noting that when grinding you need to keep the tool cool...like with frequent dips in water....so it doesn't lose its hardness. If it does you can re-harden, but you'll need a torch or induction furnace for that. You aren't planning a video about making a home induction furnace are you? ;-)
I've used the drill and grinder (or sander) method for chamfering rods to be used like dowel pins, and for doing the same to wooden dowels to be used for joinery. As someone else said, when you don't have a lathe, you use what you have.
Thanks!
-- Mike
I have a bunch of punches as well, one with a really beautifully mushroomed out head which belonged to my dad, but I keep misplacing them. Having more is never a bad thing, they're kind of like pencils, you don't miss them until you can't find one.
Good point about the grinding a flat though, I didn't think of that.
Not planning a home induction furnace, though I have looked at quite a few videos on how to make your own. It's slightly out of my area of expertise for now, though who knows for the future.
Cheers!
/Daniel
making a pin punch from a drill bit, there is a chance for breakage when hitting on top. in this case it is a concrete bit, in your experience, had happened any breakage during hit on top?
It's a concrete impact drill bit, they're made for taking hits.
Esse punção ficou muito bom mesmo parabéns lindo trabalho
I also made a centre punch with my 4 sided file.
Good find this channel. I predict more subscribers very soon.
I'm already surprised and amazed by how many subscribers I've gotten so far, during my fairly short stint on TH-cam.
Cheers!
/Daniel
Great videos, I just subscibed
Before I had a lathe, I would use the drill and grinder trick to do all sorts of stuff, and sometimes use a bolt and nut as a mandrel. Good tip!
You gotta use the tools you have available. Nothing is bad as long as it works!
Cheers!
Fabricating things when your in a pickle is all part of the trade.
thanks for reply
U awesome
Wont HSS (High Speed Steel) shatter when you hit it ?
Considering this came from a concrete impact drill I somewhat doubt that would happen. :)
/Daniel
ok
that's awesome!
Cheers!
/Daniel