Starrett Automatic Center Punch with Adjustable Stroke - 125mm Length, 14mm Diameter Tapered Point û 18A

Ive used this tool for two years now. Its still in like new condition. I was using it at work today and a coworker was admiring it. He had me order one for him.

Spot on punch

I dont do a lot of metalworking, but sometimes I need to mark to drill a hole. All I had were a couple of old hammer driven punches, and every time I used them, the tips flattened out. So I ordered a Starrett 18C from a nonAmazon source. I got it quick, and it was new, but when I tried it, it would hardly ever reset without unscrewing all the parts and screwing back together. I didnt want to go through the hassle of returning it. I got on the Starrett website and using their contact form, I told them the problem and sent a copy of my receipt. After a couple of attempts, I had not received a response from them. I finally called and spoke to a nice lady. She did some searching and found that someone had responded by email, and that they were sending a replacement spring. She suggested checking spam in my email. The response was not there either, but the spring did arrive in my mailbox. After installing it, it resets every time! So I am happy with my 18C.

Sure you can get a less expensive one handed auto center punch. I have had a few. Sometimes the tips dull and aren’t as hard as they should be, or won’t dent that harder steel. This one will & should last a long time. Treated like a fine tool should be it will still be doing it’s job after your gone. I am spending quite a bit of time & $$ upgrading many tools with pro level stuff. I’m not a pro but center punch used a lot. Even limited use tools, take this piece of wisdom from an old guy. Buy the good stuff. When you need it you need it and want it to work, not break.

Just an amazing tool, easy to use and works perfect.

Used it to punch dimples on aluminum to drill holes

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 wasnt 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. Im not an anti-China guy at all but Im really happy to support genuine US manufacturing and thats 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.

Buen material

Being a Starrett product it is first class materials and workmanship. I like the hex cap…keeps it from rolling around.

Works as described