Starrett Steel Automatic Center Punch with Adjustable Stroke - 5-1/4 Length, 11/16 Punch Diameter, Lightweight, Knurled Steel Handle - 18C

This thing put a nice notch in hardened steel pipe with 0 trouble whatsoever. It will mark whatever you need it to mark. Its strong and clearly well made. Great investment.

I have used both the 18C and the 818 automatic punches and I prefer the 818 in my tool pouch and the 18C on the work bench. The 18C is a workhorse that can be counted on to punch a clear impression on just about any material. Because of the added weight of the 18C, I feel that it provides more comfort in terms of kick-back than the 818 and is better suited to situations where repetitive use is needed. The redesigned tip is an improvement. I had an older one on a previous job that had a screw-in tip that always came loose at the worst time. The tip and shaft form a single unit on this model. The tip can still be replaced if you would rather not resharpen and reharden your old one as it wears down.

Despite laying in salty slush for two weeks over the winter after falling out of a hole in my pocker while entering my car, a wipe down with some scotch brite and some oil made this punch work like new again. Nice and sturdy with a smooth action and sharp knurling. Temper on the tip is excellent, with minimum tip rounding, even on harder materials, deforming rather than cracking when struck against something harder than it can handle. The only drawback Ive found is that sometimes the spring doesnt fully reset after use, and will just depress without hammering the tip when pressed against the stock. However, this only happens rarely and doesnt require disassembly to fix, you just have to press it again. This is in my pocket every day at work, and gets whipped out at every opportunity. No one else is allowed to touch it, just me.

Starrett tools are made only with the finest of materials, performs everytime as designed, markings are outstanding and second to none. I never loan out tools ever as my Starrett tools will confess.

Im a retired tool and die maker of 35 years. I started buying Starret precision tools in the early 70s. Back then those tools were far superior to anything on the market. I still use them to this day which speaks volumes about the quality. The only reason I purchased an auto center punch is because my original punch disappeared about a month ago. My daddy always said Dont buy the cheap tools because in the end it will cost more to keep replacing them than if you spend a little more on quality.

First off-this is a quality product, for professional use. There is no slop on the part fit up, and replacement parts are readily available through the manufacturer. It’s a tad expensive, but it’s worth more than what I paid for it. It’s easily adjustable, and strikes reliably, without losing its pinch pressure setting. A tad stiff at the hardest punching level, I would recommend some type of padding or impact glove for all day use. This tool works very well for pricking holes in 308 stainless for line up on a drill press, or an ironworker (punch).

Well made, reliable, very strong. With the adjustment nut screwed in fully, it takes a great deal of pressure to pop. Since I keep it in the car to break a window in an emergency, I replaced the spring with a slightly softer one, so it works with less pressure but is still strong. Also it could be used as kubotan if necessary. Tip: If you keep it in the car, or near machinery where there is vibration, the handle may come unscrewed and spray parts hither and thither. So tighten it up securely.

The body is beefy, knurling is perfect, sharp hardened point. Performed exactly as expected.

No doubt this is the best auto center punch that I have owned. That is, until it stopped working. Lasted about 3 years, but I use it almost every day. This punch is for metal, not wood people. If you need a punch for wood get a Harbor Freight special. It held up to whatever I used it on - Stainless, Mild Steel, Aluminum, etc. and then one day it would not actuate. Tried everything and couldnt get it working again. Emailed Starrett, warranty on these is only a year from purchase, so I reluctantly sent it back for repair. The cost to repair was about $12 shy of buying a new one. Hate to do it, but like I said - this is the best Ive owned.

If youre reading this, theres a 95% chance you saw this punch on the Canadian fabricobblers YouTube channel. Like he said, this isnt a necessary tool, but is it ever nice to have. I find that it either takes two strikes with heavy tension to get a good starting mark, or one strike on light tension, followed up with an actual hammer and punch. So, its not a one-hit wonder, but it will definitely let you mark the spot precisely. Its saved me enough time and frustration in the three months Ive owned it that Id say its earned five stars.