Starrett Steel Automatic Center Punch with Adjustable Stroke - 5" Length, 9/16" Punch Diameter, Lightweight, Knurled Steel Handle - 18A

I own and enjoy using a variety of Starrett combination squares but I should have gotten this center punch a long time ago. It works like a charm!

So let me tell you a story. I work in the automation industry for warehouses and mailing. I had to assemble 79 pulleys with flanges on both sides that needed to be pressed down and swaged. Unfortunately the tool they had does not work well at all and I had to resort to manually punching 8 points around the flange both sides to ensure it stayed properly and securely in place. That's 16 points per pulley x 79 = 1,264 hits x 3-4 hits per initial hit to ensure the material went over the flange to hold it in place. Thats a whopping total of roughly 5,056 total hits in a 8 hour shift. NOT ONCE did the punch seize up or give me any trouble. the tip still retains its sharp point and the punch still works smoothly and effortlessly compared to the junk one at my job they gave me originally that at every 3-4 presses it would seize up and not want to follow through. If this doesn't scream quality and durability then I don't know what does. Starrett know what they are doing and do it well. Fantastic tool, it won't let you down.

Thanks!

My Starrett experiences have been largely mixed with quality control issues but took a gamble on this bad boy. After over 100 punches, this thing is still performing like a welterweight champ. It looks good, feels good with plenty of texture for easy gripping, and just the right size. Accuracy is made easy by surgical like tip that is sharp to the touch even after wood and metal (mild steel/aluminum) applications. The sensitivity is easy to set and has yet to jam. I can't vouch for its ability to punch stainless steel, but based off experience I'd imagine that SS is squarely outside it's weight class.

Quality that is expected from Starrett.

This 18A punch is well made. I am primarily a woodworker, and this punch has to be used on the light setting to use on soft wood. I am considering the purchase of the 18AA for soft wood. The 18A works well for soft metals. For steel this punch still left an acceptable indentation. If one wants to use hardened steel the 18C should be considered.

High quality, durable, easy to use, and does exactly what I need for a fair price. Ive used it on hardened steel, mild steel, aluminum, etc, never an issue. Knurling adds a lot of grip on it even when your hands are oily. Can't go wrong with Starrett.

I had one of these gems for over 20 years, on my third point, and someone walked away with it. Got by with an inferior and irritating model from General and decided to pick up tried and true again. If this is a tool you use much at all, it is so worth spending the extra dollars on the Starrett. I was a little concerned after reading some reviews here that said it was jamming and that it wasn't machined as well, had debris or was dry, etc. Pleased to report that mine is every bit as well machined and finished as the one I got in the 90s. Clean inside, impeccable threading, properly and lightly lubed, anvils are polished for smooth operation, still a nice aggressive knurling, works a treat. I'm not an anti-China guy at all but I'm really happy to support genuine US manufacturing and that's getting harder and harder to do these days...glad that Starrett has remained through all of the upheaval and changes over the last few decades while so many others have capitulated into a reduction in quality and/or function, or disappeared altogether.