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

This tool is great. Ive used it for everything from marking shipping containers to building engine stands to marking cuts for the band saw on steel, aluminum, stainless, cast, galvy sheet metal, and chineseium. My only complaint is that the case has started to get a rust on it, making it look way older than the year Ive had it for. No averse performance issues though, the striking unit is clean as a whistle. Keep an eye on this piece... Ive found it in other peoples tool boxes on quite a few instances.

Great for starting holes in the exact spot you want. This bad boy pits a sizeable divot in the metal and there is no bit wondering. Extremely hard to push though on the stiffest setting. The usual Starrett quality youd expect. Im a happy buyer.

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.

A little bit pricey compared to similar items but it’s true that you get what you pay for even in these modern times - at least sometimes… The thing is a beast I thought I needed the “heavy duty“ model which is the 18C and it turns out that I absolutely did not need the heavy duty model but will be keeping it just because it’s quite the lovely tool to use. I will definitely have to get the 18A to round out the set though. Of course the reason that I was under the impression that I should get the heavy duty model (compared to the 18A which is the lighter duty model of the same design), is because of my past experiences with so-called heavy duty automatic punches… Needless to say, Starrett’s 18C sort of immediately redefined the meaning of heavy duty for me.

A little steep in price but well worth it! This punch will be more reliable and outlast dozens of cheaper foreign made models.

When it comes to this Starrett center punch, it is definitely buy once cry once. After many years using cheap Chinese punches, that I would give up on. I decided to make the purchase. And boy an I glad I did. The quality of this is amazing, you just feel it. It marks steel as deep as a hand punch and hammer. It is adjustable as well, for thinner material and wood. The nurling is excellent for grip. Overall just a great punch that my son will inherit.

I bought one of these over thirty five years ago but i thought i lost it so i bought this one it looks exactly like my first one except for a little strip of knurling about a half inch from the point outside of that they are exactly the same and before this one arrived i found my old one just the name starrett stands for high quality and durability because of that i now have two of them they are made in the U.S.A because of that and the name you just cant go wrong i would definitely recommend this tool to everyone fast shipping and high quality you cant go wrong.

If you are looking at the reviews this is already the product for you cause you must care about quality. It’s built like a brick wall. It’s made to last. Most importantly it’s made in America. Not much more to say.

Finally broke down and bought this one after trying the spring tools punch and the general tools 79. The spring tools punch the spring eventually broke, snapped and hit my finger. The general tools 79 I still use for wood. Only issue I have had when I have it a heavy tension and I am odd angle cannot easily depress it but that is ok.

This is the best spring loaded center punch that I have used, but (for complete disclosure) I havent used a lot of them. I experienced a tiny bit of jump on the accuracy (which is why I rated the accuracy a 4 - if they offered a 4.5, I would have selected that). Looks and feels solid, very easy to adjust and use. So much so that I bought the 18A as well. So far, I would buy again.