Punch sets

[Albert Botha]

Hi, I am a blacksmith. I want to know how to make a punch tool, with what material and what is the hardening process? The tools I have available is an anvil, coal forge, hammer and grinder. Any ideas please?

[Albert Botha]

Forgot to add. The point of the punch has to be round and 3mm in thickness and about 5cm long ,this is for a mechanic to punch pins out on cam shafts.

[Steve Sells]

read the pined posts in the heat treat sections to answer part of your question.

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

Welcome aboard. It would be helpful to know where in the world you are located. Here in the U.S. what you want to make is called a drift. punches usually have a sharp point, where drifts have a flat point to drive out pins. Just a matter of semantics really. I make most of my drifts & punches out of 4130 or 4140 steel or spring steel like coil springs from automobiles or garage door springs for the smaller one's and leave them normalized. For center punches and chisels, I quench in oil and temper them to straw or blue.

This thread may help you out.

https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/66472-a-collection-of-questions-i-have-about-punches/

 

[swedefiddle]

Good Morning Albert,

They are called 'Roll Pin punches' They come as a set, multiple sizes.

Any good Tool supplier will have them.

Neil

[Albert Botha]

[Steve Sells]

18 hours ago, Irondragon ForgeClay Works said:

Here in the U.S. what you want to make is called a drift. punches usually have a sharp point,

this statement is not accurate I have a few handled punch tools with 3/8 inch diameter faces as well as a set in his size range for removing pins as well

[Albert Botha]

I am in South Africa, the person that asked me to make these punches , don't want the punches that you buy at the tool store ,he wants me to make them, i now have an idea of what steel to use ,my next question is ,do i just hammer the steel to 3mm thickness!!? Phew! Can it be done? 

[Frazer]

You probably could, but it might be easier to get it part of the way at the anvil and then grind it to final thickness after heat treatment. If you have a drill and a belt grinder you can grind it while spinning the punch using the drill to get it more round than trying to do it by hand. There are probably better ways, this is just what comes to my mind.

[Albert Botha]

I don't have a belt grinder.

What if i make it square? Will it be stronger than the available punches they buy at tool stores?

[Frazer]

I suppose you (or someone else) could hold a piece of sandpaper while you spin the punch with the drill. That would probably have the same effect.

[Albert Botha]

O yess ,that could work..

[Frazer]

Let us know how it turns out!

By the way if you put your general location in your profile it will help others remember where you are located after they leave this tread. Often location plays a role in the way questions are answered and there are members from all over the world here on IFI, some may even be in your area!

[anvil]

I've made a set of roll pin punches. I hand forged them, then filed them by hand to the diameter I wanted. I used coil spring, quenched in oil and drawn to a blue.

[swedefiddle]

Good Morning, Albert

Roll Pin Punches have a tiny ball that centers it in the hole of the Roll Pin as well as a square shoulder around the outside of the ball, that pushes on the Roll Pin. Two different functions, 1 = keeps the punch centered on the roll pin, 2 = provides a face to push square, on the outer end diameter of the roll pin. You can make them with a metal lathe, or, you can use an electric hand drill with a switch that will lock in the ON position. The hand drill now becomes your Lathe. Hold the drill firmly (between 2 boards, held with clamps or a Vice with a rag wrapped around your drill. Careful File work will fulfill your needs. Heat Treat not too hard, better tough.

Neil

[anvil]

Thanks for the info. I did not make roll pin punches, just a small set of punches to remove small pins, rivits, and roll pins.