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

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.

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.

This thing is a beast. Against my better judgement, Ive used a pos $3 HF and $10 General for years. For the cost, those are great but they just dont have that feel you get from a quality tool. This, is that tool. I wasnt sure if it was more than I needed based on other reviews and yes, it will punch a hole into the thickest of metal but Ive loved it since the first use. I now walk across the shop (passing the other punches) to use this one. Maybe its bc I paid $50 for it but either way, I like it and will buy at least one more for the shop. Its Starrett, you cant go wrong.

No doubt this is the best auto center punch that I have owned. That is, until it stopped working. Lasted about 3 years, but I use it almost every day. This punch is for metal, not wood people. If you need a punch for wood get a Harbor Freight special. It held up to whatever I used it on - Stainless, Mild Steel, Aluminum, etc. and then one day it would not actuate. Tried everything and couldnt get it working again. Emailed Starrett, warranty on these is only a year from purchase, so I reluctantly sent it back for repair. The cost to repair was about $12 shy of buying a new one. Hate to do it, but like I said - this is the best Ive owned.

This thing put a nice notch in hardened steel pipe with 0 trouble whatsoever. It will mark whatever you need it to mark. Its strong and clearly well made. Great investment.

A little steep in price but well worth it! This punch will be more reliable and outlast dozens of cheaper foreign made models.

This is my first automatic punch I have ever owned. So, in all fairness I dont have anything to compare it to. I read the reviews by others and decided to pay more up front and get quality made in USA product. I made a few test punches with it and I am happy with the performance. It works every time and it makes a dimple of adequate depth to keep the drill bit from wandering. This thing is solid. Durability will be tested over time, but I have no reservations about it. It will outlast me for sure.

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)

I live on the Gulf coast in Texas and everything rusts if you dont keep it indoors or slather it in grease. This punch got left outside for almost two months by accident but NO RUST! Thats a big selling point for me. Punch is adjustable but I like deep divots so always use it at max pressure on steel or aluminum. On aluminum it makes a nice ding. On cold-formed steel like a metal building structure its just making an average ding, which was disappointing to me. Admittedly thats work-hardened steel but I did hope it would make a good deep dent. For mild steel the ding is good enough to center a 1/8 bit with one punch, though I usually double or triple punch everything anyway. On aluminum one punch is plenty. It feels too expensive for the difference in performance compared to the $2 HFT punch, and I still find a solid punch and a hammer does far better. However, its more convenient to use an automatic punch particularly in small spaces, plus I already own it, so Ill keep using it. Would I buy it again? Probably not. For reference, I do a lot of metal work but its all for personal enjoyment and not as a tradesman using it for a living.

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