Center Punches

When you work on a drilling application, you will often come across the need to use a center punch. In other words, you will be able to use the center punch tool in order to create a small indentation within a workpiece. This indentation will then continue to serve as the guide for your drill bit. You will be able to get the drill bit to cut the hole around this location, without experiencing any slipping. As a result, you will be able to ensure the accuracy of your hole placement.

How to use a center punch?

Now you have a basic idea on what is a center punch all about. While keeping that in mind, you should also learn how to use a center punch. But before you start using your center punch set, you will need to prepare yourself for it. For example, you will need to mark the exact positioning of your drill hole placement. You can mark it as point X.

Then you should keep the center punch tip on top of the point X, while keeping the body in perpendicular direction to your material. This can be quite tricky as you will not be able to see the tip at all times. This is where you need to keep the tip along one of the X lines, so that you can ensure that you achieve correct placement at all times. When the tip comes near this position, you need to straighten the body of the punch in perpendicular direction to your workpiece.

When you position the tip in its place, you need to make sure that the shaft of your punch is perpendicular to your workpiece. In case if it slips, you will end up with creating a line. You need to keep it in place for creating a dot.

What does a center punch do?

When you are using a drill bit to drill a hole, it will tend to wander in different directions. This would make it quite challenging for you to place the drill in the right place. On top of that, you will have to go through a sloppy drilling experience. This is where you should think about using a center punch.

The center punch uses are quite beneficial for people who engage with drilling. You will be able to use it and create a small indentation in the place where you want to drill. As a result, you will end up with creating a precise and neat hole placement. It would also ensure the accuracy of the cut. The process of using a center punch would provide an extra step to your drilling operations. Moreover, you can get neat and safe work done at the end of the day.

Automatic vs manual center punches

When you take a look at center punches available out there, you will be able to divide them into two main categories. First option is manual center punches. In here, you will need to use a hammer along with the center punch. You will be using a force in order to create the starter hole on your workpiece.

However, an automatic center punch will keep you away from the hassle of using a hammer. That's because it comes along with a spring-loaded hammering method. You just need to position the tip near the exact location where you plan to drill. Then you need to push the shaft of your center punch with the palm. After some distance, the spring will be released. This will strike the pin to your workpiece. As a result, you will be able to create an indentation for drilling.