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

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.

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.

The Starrett automatic center punch has the same high quality as all other Starrett tools I have ever owned. It is a little stiff to use when adjusted for full impact but creates a nice little punch mark where you want it. I can highly recommend this item.

Almost gave up on this. The punch arrived a few days ago and I could not get the stroke adjustment to work. Assuming it might be defective I returned it - I was tempted to use a vice and pliers to see if the top would turn but thought this might damage it and a new product shouldnt arrive jammed like this. Sure enough the replacement would not turn eitehr - so into the vice with soft jaws and use and use some tape to protect from the pliers teeth. Didnt take much and now it works! But no way either of them would turn by hand and I tried pretty hard. I guess some bodybuilder works at the factory? Love the tool - well built - its replacing my General Tool punch I left out in the rain by mistake and that was already damaged (tip falling out)

I was hesitant to spend this much money on an automatic center punch, but am glad that I did. This is a very high quality tool that is not only a pleasure to use but should last a lifetime. There are parts (such as the tip and spring) that may need replacing after a lot of use, but as with many quality tools you can buy those parts without having to buy a new tool. I took a star away because I had to use pliers to start the adjustment cap turning and once the cap was broken free hand turning wasnt smooth and even. That was quickly fixed using a small brash brush and air compressor to remove what looked like small metal particles in the threads. Once that was done cap adjustments were smooth and easy. I was also contemplating getting one of their lighter duty punches after reading some of the reviews. Im glad I didnt because this punch is versatile. Unlike some reviews, even at the highest tension setting I had no problem using the punch and the range of adjustments was significant. At the lightest setting I used it on hard wood, plastic and thin steel which made a larger dent than on heavier metal. Unless youre a weakling, this may be the only punch you need.

Good hit, heavy duty

Not my father’s Starrett center punch. Doesn’t operate with the same clean smooth feel. And most important it does not appear to have the very hard and very tough grade of steel at the tip as the ones I grew up with: Punching mild steel with the Starrett punch set to highest force I could press (a lot), the mill finish on the test piece is barely touched. SAD!

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)

Wow... this is powerful. Like other reviewers, I received this with the knurled cap so tight I couldnt budge it until I put it in a vice and rotated it w/ pliers. But even before loosening the tension, I tried it on a piece of hardwood (Teak) and it punched a good hole in it (albeit at the expense of straining both of my hands). After loosening, the tension/punching was much easier to manage. Id buy again - a bit pricey but worth it.

Works well and the ability to adjust it for your needs is a bonus