Thread: Punch

I needed one of these to put a hole in my shed.



They are way too expensive to buy so I decided to have a go at making my own.
I've done the cutter part, now I just need to make the die.
Does anyone have one around 25mil and can tell me what the diameter clearance is between the punch and die ?

You've got to drill a hole for the bolt so why not keep going & bring it to the size you want with a step drill?

For clearance work on 10% of material thickness.

Originally Posted by Snapey

You've got to drill a hole for the bolt so why not keep going & bring it to the size you want with a step drill?

For clearance work on 10% of material thickness.

Because I want a clean cut hole.
I will drill the bolt size with a step drill.

I have 2 and would a like a third one at 20mm and was contemplating to diy one as well, let us know how it turns out - here are mine the clearance is in the order of .05 - .06 mm or around a thou' or 2 - bear in mind that mine have a thin coating of rust and that calipers are not really a precision instrument when it comes to inside measurement. The first time I used one of mine I was surprised at how effective they are, I didn't really expect it to punch through a 150mm C section purlin bit it did work.

Originally Posted by familyguy

I have 2 and would a like a third one at 20mm and was contemplating to diy one as well, let us know how it turns out - here are mine the clearance is in the order of .05 - .06 mm or around a thou' or 2 - bear in mind that mine have a thin coating of rust and that calipers are not really a precision instrument when it comes to inside measurement. The first time I used one of mine I was surprised at how effective they are, I didn't really expect it to punch through a 150mm C section purlin bit it did work.

Wow that's a lot closer than I thought it would be.
I can see the punch getting hung up on the edge of the die easily.

I didn't think they were that expensive to buy. $18

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/31298905...mis&media=COPY

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Originally Posted by Com_VC

I didn't think they were that expensive to buy. $18

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/31298905...mis&media=COPY

Sent from my SM-N975F using Tapatalk

You're kidding !
I searched and searched and the best I could find was just over 100 bucks from RS components or a kit of 6 from Amazon for 400.
I would have just bought one if I knew that.

Ah well, too late now.
and, I'm astounded. It worked and worked really well.



If anyone's wondering how I got the shape of the punch :

Hi Phaser, Guys,

My hole punches all have only two scallops in the punch, 180 degrees apart, even the big 50 mm one. The only thing that changes is the HT bolt size.

Nice work
From memory they're called a Chassis Punch.
Kryn

What material did you make it from, is it hardened? The genuine Qmax and other brands of chassis punches are hardened.

Originally Posted by Techo1

What material did you make it from, is it hardened? The genuine Qmax and other brands of chassis punches are hardened.

Just what I had laying around. The punch is bright and the die is mild.
Both heated til pale blue (just after dark blue) then dropped in oil. Not an attempt at hardening but is a good way to protect from rusting.

Hi Guys,

Talking about hardening, I remember many years ago a blacksmith showing me how to harden stone work chisels, he heated the end until it was red hot and then pressed it into a wooden block, it stank something rotten. He did this several times each time reheating it, then reheated it and plunged it in water before grinding the end.

I don't really remember how good or effective the hardening was, but I do remember the awful stink !

Originally Posted by BaronJ

Hi Guys,

Talking about hardening, I remember many years ago a blacksmith showing me how to harden stone work chisels, he heated the end until it was red hot and then pressed it into a wooden block, it stank something rotten. He did this several times each time reheating it, then reheated it and plunged it in water before grinding the end.

I don't really remember how good or effective the hardening was, but I do remember the awful stink !

I'm not sure, but I think this was to add extra carbon to it, from memory crushed up bones were also used to do a similar thing.
Kryn

Hi Kryn, Guys,

It is surprising how a comment triggers bits and pieces of memory, long lost in the past ! Oddly it was the mention of hardening that brought back the memory of the horrible smell of burning charring wood !

I wouldn't have been very old, maybe around 14 or 15 years. The forge was a few hundred yards down the street. I used to go in, talk to him and watch him hammering out pieces of red hot iron, making horse shoes, pokers and coal rakes. Both my Mum and Gran had fire guards that had been made by him. Mum used to dry washing on ours around the kitchen fire.

I'm going to buy a few of those ebay ones so it will make up a set, in case I need one in the future.
Thanks Com_VC