Gunsmith budget punches

If you plan on using it more than once or twice, those "cheap" sets will end up costing you more. They bend very easy if you have a tough pin. If you use one or two specifically, you can buy them one at a time for the same $20. If you need a whole set and plan to use it many times over the years, don't go cheap. JMHO.

becket said:

anyone recommend a $20-ish pin punch set via eBay or Amazon? Don’t need a hammer but will take it of course if included. I have trouble finding tiny pistol/revolver punches locally, thx!

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Best bet is to buy from Brownells where gunsmiths shop. They have deals on occasion and their tools are properly hardened.

Do you need steel, brass, plastic?

Eventually you will need at least two of those types but for now I can only recommend the Wheeler starter sets of either steel or brass depending on your needs.

I have a set of the steel ones that I use for my day job which is heavy equipment mechanic and they have held up to that. Gun work is much more gentle.

When you grind them down, do you chuck them in a drill (or lathe) to maintain concentricity?

Yes, I can! I built a pretty compete collection of sizes by buying Tekton punches as Add-On items for ~$3.49 each a couple years ago.

They're Indian or Chinese, but they're perfectly sufficient. I've never had a soft one, and when they peen or chip you fix them on the belt sander.

Now, it looks like the Grace set is cheap, so I'd go there. You can also setup price watches via CamelCamelCamel.com, and gran them when the price drops.

For brass punches, I bought a package of 6"x1/4" hard rod, and shape to suit per job. You need to reshape brass so often that there's no point buying a fancy punch.

Good options at Tractor Supply... usually as cheap as amazon and very good quality (Mayhew punches). Rural King probably has good options, too.

I miss the old-time hardware stores where you could walk in and buy one of something like a punch and they were not priced to rip you off. The ones we used to have around here had bins of small tools like punches and screwdrivers.

becket said:

anyone recommend a $20-ish pin punch set via eBay or Amazon? Don’t need a hammer but will take it of course if included. I have trouble finding tiny pistol/revolver punches locally, thx!

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If you know what you are looking for, a lot of times you can get deals on used tools via Ebay. I have picked up various handtools made during the age of craftsmanship that are as good as anything on the market today. Tools used to not be regarded as throwaways.

Larger ones I like the cheap Stanley or craftsman. Just fine. But smaller ones, like the 1/16 used in the AR charging handles and such, the cheap one's are too fat to even fit in the holes even though they both plainly said the size on the side. Much less pass through the hole. I use starrett for those but I already had them from other work. Tekton runs true to size as well. I have a roll pin set of those. For general takedown and such I use a cheap Stanley set. Then when I get into precision things and roll pins I use the better ones

I use what Brownell's sells. Most all of the small diameter punches 3/32 on down, are too long to start a pin moving. I'll use a tapered "starter punch" to get small pins to start moving out of place, a drop or two of Kroil, and then go to the smaller diameter straight punches.
For spring roll pins, you're better off to use punches specifically for those. They have a "nub" on the working end that fits into the center hole on roll pins, that will keep the punch centered on that pin so it doesn't move off location and ding surrounding metal.

You'll regret being cheap on punches for gun work. Do it right

https://www.ebay.com/itm/STARRETT-S...808738?hash=item58b64fdae2:g:wHUAAOSwLdBaCihK

They are available individually if you lose or break one, or you can just buy the smaller sizes if that's all you want.

boom boom said:

… a lot of times you can get deals on used tools via Ebay. I have picked up various handtools made during the age of craftsmanship that are as good as anything on the market today. Tools used to not be regarded as throwaways.

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^^^^ A very good option.

drband said:

good quality (Mayhew punches)

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Mayhew are not as pretty as Starrett (I own both brands), but none have ever failed me.

SGW Gunsmith said:

For spring roll pins, you're better off to use punches specifically for those.

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Sound advice.

I use Starrett exclusively. I bought a full set in the wooden holder 40 years ago when the price was not so ridiculous. Have replaced what I have broken or bent, mostly the two smaller ones, with the individual Starrett punches from Brownells. They are affordable one at a time.
I keep the broken ones and regrind them into center and starter punches.

These are a good option that allows you to change the pin if you bind them

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...-tools/punches/starter-punch-set-prod549.aspx

Whatever you decide to buy, stay away from Harbor Freight for punches. They will spaghetti the first time they are used. Way too soft.

EO1 said:

Whatever you decide to buy, stay away from Harbor Freight for punches. They will spaghetti the first time they are used. Way too soft.

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Yup!

EO1 said:

Whatever you decide to buy, stay away from Harbor Freight for punches. They will spaghetti the first time they are used. Way too soft.

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Not if you use a harbor freight hammer to try to drive it with.

Blue68f100 said:

These are a good option that allows you to change the pin if you bind them

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...-tools/punches/starter-punch-set-prod549.aspx

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I've got those. Have to tighten the collar frequently.

Inexpensive set that will give you a good start.

https://www.fieldsupply.com/winchester-15-pc-brass-steel-punch-set-cr-dawin363257.html

Jim Watson said:

I've got those. Have to tighten the collar frequently.

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I've used these for years and have learned to always check the collar before using. I'm thinking a little dab of fingernail polish on the threads might cure the problem but have never taken the time to try it.

I think buying budget (cheap) punches in very small sizes is a mistake. It's easy enough to mess up a good quality small punch. The good ones aren't terribly expensive.

I have Starrett, Mayhew, Brownells replaceable pin punches, and these from Tekton:

https://www.zoro.com/tekton-gunsmit...ts&gclid=CPCVgY_DtOICFc-ZgQodvScO6Q&gclsrc=ds

Because of the convenience of the bench block, they are the ones that I grab most frequently. The ones that I have are U.S. made. Their quality is equivalent to that of the others. I am a gunsmith by profession.

Bill Jacobs

Ar-stoner has 7 piece roll pin punch set for 14.99 on midway. No clue how good they are. Just fyi. I'm sure midway would stand by them though

boom boom said:

If you know what you are looking for, a lot of times you can get deals on used tools via Ebay. I have picked up various handtools made during the age of craftsmanship that are as good as anything on the market today. Tools used to not be regarded as throwaways.

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I haunt auctions and antique shops; Better prices at the auctions, but spottier chances of a good find. I've bought several good older micrometers from the antique shop that knows my wife so well they yell "Norm!" when she walks in. (OK, not really "Norm!", but her name.)

Jim Watson said:

I've got those. Have to tighten the collar frequently.

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I have, and use those also. Yes, you do need to watch the end cap to make sure it's down tight. That's a PITA. I have found the pins to be a bit too hard and will break. For starter punches on small diameter pins, I much prefer the "tapered" punch to at least get the pin to start moving out of place. Much less breakage involved.