Fed Up Of Cheap Rotary Punches... What Next?

[LumpenDoodle2]

Many thanks, I shall now commune with the great god google.

[TinkerTailor]

Having small hands, I have difficulty using rotary punches, so have been using the one's you hit with a hammer (what are they called again?).

Biggest problem I have is the quality. Although I use a dead weight plastic hammer, and a big lump of end-on grain tree trunk, they don't last my abuse for long.

Does anyone know a good make of punches in the UK (or EU) that I can buy, and sneak past the husband.

How do they fail? do they get dull or do they break?

[LumpenDoodle2]

One bent, and two others have a distinct 'list' (I obviously don't know my own strength). Another, after punching just 4 holes, the end crumpled inwards.

[Matt S]

One bent, and two others have a distinct 'list' (I obviously don't know my own strength). Another, after punching just 4 holes, the end crumpled inwards.

Gmace on here has a YouTube channel with some great tips. One on rotary punches is to put a scrap of leather between the anvil and the piece you want to punch. This not only protects the cutting edge but makes for a cleaner cut hole. I guess this might help with your problem too, where I think in order to complete the hole you might be squeezing so hard as to bend the punch tubes. I find that if I use a scrap on top of the anvil the punch is much easier to use.

[TinkerTailor]

One bent, and two others have a distinct 'list' (I obviously don't know my own strength). Another, after punching just 4 holes, the end crumpled inwards.

Do you sharpen them when you get them? I have never bought a punch sharp enough, and a dull punch does not cut well. You can sharpen them by spinning them in a drill press and holding a stone to the bevel. I have also done them by hand with a diamond file. My drive punches are sharp enough to push through 6 oz veg by hand.

[Red Cent]

Stopped using a hammer most of the time.

https://www.zoro.com/dayton-press-arbor-1-ton-4z328/i/G3382994/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PLA_%7BCampaignID%7D&utm_term=A_PB200_PowerTools

[LumpenDoodle2]

I'm learning to sharpen my tools, and maybe these punches were at the bottom of my learning curve. I'm not entirely ruling out cheap metal being part of the problem though.

I have gently sharpend, and mainly polished the punches, and the ones that haven't died, work well.

As to using an arbour, I bought myself a 1/2 ton arbour, and it certainly does the job, but for the moment, I'm enjoying releasing my pent up frustrations and inhibitions, by hitting things with a hammer. :-)

[judgebc]

I have a old Sargent Rotary punch.

I need to replace one of the punches.

The thread size is 5/16-24 which is Fine,

I tried Tandy and they are 5/16-18 Coarse but won't fit.

Does anyone know the thread size of Osborne Rotary punch?

Also my Copper anvil needs to e replaced?

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack this thread.