Punch tools are devices used to make an indentation or hole in a rigid surface. Typically, they consist of a rigid metal rod with a large flat “butt” at one end and a narrow tip at the other.
When using the rod, point the narrower end against a target surface and strike the broad end with a hammer or mallet.
As a result, the rod body absorbs the blunt power of the impact and concentrates it more forcefully into a small region. Typically, woodworkers strike a punch with a ball-peen hammer. In this reading, we’ll explore what a punch tool is, its applications, parts, diagram, types, and how to use it.
Let’s begin!
What is a Punch?
A punch serves as a tool for making holes or indentations on a hard surface. People often use them on metal, wood, or plastic. Hard metal rods with a narrow tip at one end and a flat surface on the other make up their construction.
In an engineering workshop, you’ll need a variety of punches to permanently mark a piece after you’ve completed marking it with lines using a scriber or a surface gauge because the lines produced with a scriber may be damaged.
Workplaces across numerous industries have long used a variety of punches. A punch is frequently a stiff metal rod with a blunt end and a sharp tip on one end.
The design of a punch’s tip often determines its classification. The prick punch tool, which may be used to mark metal with references, is the tool that is most frequently employed among these. This allows you to directly transfer the dimensions from a paper pattern to the metal.
This requires perfectly aligning and laying the paper pattern on the metal. This article will teach you about the various types of punches and their respective uses.
The design of a punch’s tip often determines its classification. A prick punch, which can mark metal with sources, is the most common tool.
This allows you to directly transfer the dimensions from a paper pattern to the metal. This requires precise placement and laying of the paper pattern on the metal. Now, use the prick punch to go over the pattern’s outline.
Lightly hitting the punch with a small hammer should leave minor indentations on the drawing. Use these feelings as a guide for cutting the metal. Never apply a forceful blow with the hammer, as this could bend the prick punch or possibly cause severe damage to the work material.
Making huge indentations in metal, such as those required to activate a twist drill, requires the employment of a center punch. Be careful not to strike the object with enough power to have the end push through the metal or cause the metal to dimple around the depression.
A center punch often weighs more than a prick punch and has a point ground at a 60-degree angle. Use the drive punch to release damaged rivets, bolts, and pins stuck in holes. The drive punch lacks a point and has a flat front.
The width of the punch’s face, such as 1/8-in or 1/4-in, identifies this type. Drive punches have sides that taper all the way to the face, but occasionally you might need to utilize one with a straight shank.
This process uses a pin or drift punch. In practice, you first use a drive punch to drive the pin or bolt that needs removal until the hole stops the punch from moving forward.
Then, drive the bolt or pin the remaining distance with a pin punch until you force it out of the hole. To remove bolts or pins from holes, take care not to use a prick or a center punch because the point of the tool can spread the object, making removal far harder.
You have to use a transfer punch when a drill-locating hole in a template is required. The transfer punch normally measures 4 inches long and has a tip that goes straight for a little distance after first tapering. The tip of the transfer punch resembles a pin punch.
The name of the transfer punch accurately describes its ability to transfer the location of holes through a pattern or template onto metal.
Parts and Diagram
Types of Punches
The following are the types of punch tools that can be found in engineering workshops:
Automatic Punch
Bell punch
Center Punch
Drift Punch
Drive Punch
Decorative Punch
Hollow Punch
Letter Stamps
Prick Punch
Pin Punch
Tablet Press
Transfer Punch
Solid Punch
Spring or Roll Pins
Automatic Punch
These types of punch are also unique. High-carbon steel undergoes toughening or tapering to create these punches. The use of a hammer is not necessary for this punch. A spring is attached to the body of the primary punch.
A lever head holds the spring in place. The lever head depresses when marking is required. The pressure compresses the major punch, completing the marking process.
The lever head can reduce or control the punch’s blow. The lever head angles its main punch either at a 60° or 90° angle.
Bell Punch
These punches, as their name suggests, have the shape of a small bell. The circumference of the bell determines its size. We use it to pinpoint the exact center of circular projects and to gently mark them.
A punch similar to a center punch secures itself in this perimeter with the aid of a spring. The punch spring elevates on its own when a hammer strikes its head to activate it.
Center Punch
To identify the center of a point, center punch types of punch tools are used. Typically, we designate the center of the hole when drilling. If a drill doesn’t begin in a break, it will likely “wander.”
A center punch creates a dimple that is sufficiently large to “guide” the drill tip. A center punch’s tip has an angle ranging from 60 to 90 degrees. A pilot hole must typically be drilled before drilling a larger hole when the drill bit is broader than the indentation made by a center punch.
Drift Punch
The use of these types of punches differs from traditional punches, leading to confusion. A drift punch, drift pin, or lineup punch aligns bolt or rivet holes before inserting a fastener. The large end of the tapered rod that makes up a drift punch is where the hammer strikes.
We insert the semi-aligned bolt holes of two different components into the long end of a drift punch, then drive the punch into the hole.
As the fastener presses in, the taper forces the two parts into alignment, simplifying the insertion process. You should never force the tip or end of a drift pin, unlike most punches.
Drive Punch
Drive types of punch are used to remove broken rivets, bolts, or pins that are locked or worn into a hole. It has a flat face rather than pointed ends. Because the sides of this punch taper the face, it may be necessary to use a straight shank in certain situations.
Decorative Punch
Punches with decorative motifs have produced patterns and images on metals and several other materials, including leather. Bookbinding, armor construction, and goldsmithing employ the pointillé technique.
Punches used in the printmaking method produced the majority of the image on the printing plates for metal cuts.
Hollow Punch
A hollow type of punch is a specific kind of hollow, hardened steel punch. It can puncture fabric, cardboard, and metal. It is available in a range of sizes and sets. They are hollow, allowing the cut metal to exit through the carved grooves on their side.
As a result, we are able to quickly create a large number of holes that are easily visible.
Letter Stamps
The letter stamps are in the form of a punch in the shape of a reverse image, which makes the final output immediately readable even if they can be produced as a positive image. Another term for it is a number or letter stamp.
We use these types of punches to transfer a letter or number print onto a workpiece. This is necessary to ensure that the finished product is readable when dyeing or creating molds.
Prick Punch
Similar to a center punch, a prick type of punch tool is used for marking out. Its tip is more acutely pointed, creating a narrower and deeper indentation.
The term “dot punch” also applies. You can then use a center punch to expand the indent before drilling. A prick punch has a 60-degree tip (the angle depends on what type of prick punch one is using).
Pin Punch
There are several ways in which these types of punches are different from others. It is longer than the majority in length. These shapes are parallel, not pointed. Pins that fit snugly use this shape.
Other punches cannot completely remove rivets and pins from a hole until they are completely removed, but pin tools can.
Tablet Press
The tablet press has these punches. Tablet press punches, in contrast to other types of punches, have a concave end that resembles the required tablet shape. To compress the powder in between, there are lower and upper punches.
Transfer Punch
Transfer punches are specific types of punches that have a fixed outer diameter, which is non-tapered and extends the entire length of the punch (typically found in an index set), except the tip.
When struck, they perfectly transfer the center of an existing hole to another surface, closely matching the tolerances of the original hole.
For example, you can use it to precisely position threaded holes (created through drilling and tapping) for attaching an object to a surface, or to replicate the hole patterns in a component.
Solid Punch
Solid punch tools are sometimes used for drilling holes in blacksmithing and sheet metal work. Depending on the task, we utilize these in various ways. Solid types of punch tools are made of hardened and tempered high-carbon steel.
It is essential to use cold water to cool down items after utilizing them in hot conditions. These are used in rough work since holes made with a solid punch are sometimes inaccurate and messy.
Spring or Roll Pins
The roll pin punch holds the roll pin’s perimeter in place with a little protrusion in the center of the pin tip. These punches drive roll pins and have a slightly rounded tip.
Punches for spring are also well-liked. When using a roll pin punch, make sure the axis of the shank is parallel to the axis of the roll pin. Avoid closing the roll pin punch with just one side. The shank of a roll-pin punch will bend if you strike it on the top of its head.
How to Use a Punch Tool?
To use a punch, you must understand its purpose and how to apply it correctly. Metalworking, woodworking, and other crafts utilize these common tools for creating holes, marking, and indenting. Below are step-by-step guides on how to use a punch tool:
The first step is to gather all the material and tools required, e.g., the appropriate punch tool for your task, a hammer for the kind of punch, safety gear such as glasses and gloves, and finally the material you want to work on, e.g., metal, wood, or plastic.
Secondly, you need to mark the specific location on the workpiece. Mark the precise location of the hole or punch mark using a pencil, marker, or scribe.
The third step involves positioning the punch tool by placing its tip on the designated spot. For accurate results, you should hold the tool perpendicular to the material.
Next, hold the punch firmly in one hand and use it. Use the other hand to strike the punch’s head with a hammer. Use a light tap for softer materials and a hard strike for tougher ones.
When using the automatic center punch, press down on the designated spot until you hear a click sound. The spring mechanism automatically creates the indentation.
Finally, you check the result of the mark or hole to ensure it meets requirements. If necessary, repeat the process to deepen the mark or make adjustments for precision.
Tips for Using a Punch Tool
Secure the Material: Use clamps or a stable surface to hold the material in place.
Use the Correct Tool: Ensure the punch is appropriate for the material and task.
Maintain Your Tools: Keep punches sharp and clean for effective use.
Safety First: Wear protective gear and keep your hands clear of the hammer’s path.
The jab, cross, hook, and uppercut are the four main punches used in boxing.
What are the 3 common types of punches?
Mechanical engineering workshops frequently employ a variety of tools. Center punch, prick punch, pin punch, and drift punch are a few examples of the fundamental types.
What kind of tools are punches?
A punch is a tool that creates an indentation or hole in a hard surface. Typically, they consist of a hard metal rod with a large flat “butt” at one end and a narrow tip at the other.
What are the common types of punches?
These four (4) types of punches are:
Jab.
Cross.
Hook.
Uppercut.
Which punch is appropriate for metal?
The most popular is the prick punch, which marks metal with references. This method facilitates the easy transfer of a paper pattern’s proportions to metal. This requires precise paper pattern alignment on metal.
What is a dot punch?
Dot punches are similar to center punches but have a sharper point that has been ground to a 60-degree angle by spinning it while holding it tangential to a tool grinder (i.e. in a similar manner to a Scriber).
What is pin punch used for?
After being loosened by a taper punch, pins are driven or removed using pin punches. Pin punches are designed to remove tension or solid pins and have a long head that is the same diameter as the tip.
What is a starter punch?
Keys and frozen pins are thawed using starter punches. This product will last you for many years because it is composed of high-quality materials.
What is a parallel pin punch?
Short-reach parallel pin punches. Metal pins are taken out of a hole with a pin punch. Use a starting punch to first loosen the metal pin, then a pin punch to fully remove it from the hole.
A word From Student Lesson
Punch tools are great tools to consider in any workshop including woodworking and metalworking. They are used after scribing or making lines on the surface of a workpiece.
