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

Buy once cry once, the bar is set with this punch.

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.

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.

The day I received my 18C from Amazon, I tried using it on some suitable aluminum stock, to get familiar with it and see how its adjustment works. For a while, I couldnt get it to fire at all, even though I was adjusting it correctly: I turned the end cap so the spring nearest the user would be compressed less. Finally, I loosened the threaded sleeve near the tip, even though I figured that that sleeve isnt there for any adjustment purpose (I found out later I was right). After loosening the sleeve near the tip a bit, I could get it to fire about 50% of the time. I wanted to see whether, in fact, the only adjustment on the tool is performed by turning the end cap; so I looked on the Starrett website for an instruction manual. (As other reviewers have pointed out, none of the Starrett automatic center punches come with any instructions, probably because the company believes that anyone who buys a Starrett tool must already know what hes doing.) There is no instruction manual available on the Starrett website either. I called Starrett using the toll-free phone number on the website. The nice tech support person I talked with told me: Yes, the only adjustment on the tool is via the end cap, and the threaded sleeve near the tip should not be loose prior to using the tool. I explained that I could only get the punch to fire if I slightly loosened the threaded sleeve near the tip; even though I had loosened the end cap quite a bit. I also said that even after I did those 2 things, the punch would only fire about half the time; based on at least 50 attempts. I asked the Starrett tech support person whether I might have a defective item. He said I might have, and I should probably exchange it for a different example. Im kind of disappointed. This is the first Starrett tool Ive ever purchased, and it took me a while to talk myself into paying what I did for it. (By the way, I think Amazons price is very good: as I recall, its the lowest I saw, and of course shipping is free for an Amazon Prime member.) I may purchase a Starrett 18A, which is also a current Starrett product. The length of that unit is 4.85 in, according to the drawing I downloaded from the Starrett website; its largest diameter is slightly less than that of the 18C; and according to the website, the spring near the end cap has a smaller diameter than the one in the 18C. So the 18A should apply less force to the material than the 18C. That would be fine with me. I think the 18C would apply too much force for most of the work I do. Strangely, I see that if I purchase a Starrett 18A on Amazon, it would be through an Amazon reseller, so I would have to pay a shipping fee. If I do purchase another Starrett automatic center punch, Ill cross my fingers and hope that I dont get another defective example. By the way, 18C that I received is beautifully machined and seems to be well designed. I even took it apart, and I dont see anything wrong with it. Given all that, Im very surprised that I can only get it to fire about 50% of the time.

I figured out that to get the punch to reset after each punch, the rear cap had to be unscrewed almost all the way off. (Yes, Im working with steel.) I currently have the cap taped to the body of the tool so its position doesnt change. The video didnt help. My 20 year old tool started not resetting, which is why I bought a new one. If you fiddle around with the tip after each punch, it sometimes resets. I expected a better tool for the price.

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 thing is ridiculous. It is by far the biggest and strongest center punch Ive ever used. Its about the same size as the el cheapo center punch from ace hardware, maybe a little bigger, but has a much thicker punch and a far stronger spring. You can partially unscrew the tailcap to have a softer punch and at the softest I can make it without the tailcap popping off, it is still stronger than the el cheapo, plus it works every time as opposed to ~25% of the time. On max strength, it punched itself far enough into wood to lodge itself sideways. It punched a sizeable dent in a solid brass block. It punched a noticeable divot in a hardened steel safety plate designed to stop you from drilling. I considered returning this not because its a poor product but because its too damn powerful and I was gonna buy a smaller one! (I didnt)

This is a quality tool, yes a bit more expensive than its counterparts, but its the only one you will buy in your lifetime. Unless you are like me and must have the 18a as well BAM! This tool hits with significant force, enough to mark stainless steel billet. Im getting the 18a as well for some lighter sheet metal work. You dont find quality like this often. Im really proud to own this tool. No regerts :)

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.

I use it at work