Free 186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook:  
Get 2,000+ tool plans, full site access, and more.

User Tag List

Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 21

Thread: DIY square hole punch press

  1. #11
    wb8nbs's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Posts
    13
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts
    I use Altoids tins for small electronic projects. For buttons I use standard 1/4" square PCB mount tactile switches. Just punch a quarter inch square hole in the Altoids lid with a hollow chisel mortise bit sans auger. It works OK but is pretty hard on the bit. Put a block of soft pine underneath the lid so the bit and punchout has a place to go.

    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook

  2. #12
    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Peacock TX
    Posts
    11,178
    Thanks
    1,974
    Thanked 8,766 Times in 4,195 Posts

    Frank S's Tools
    The center is not raised the head would be hollow ground while rotating this would leave a center punch like protrusion for locating the desired hole to be punched.

    2000 Tool Plans
    Never try to tell me it can't be done
    When I have to paint I use KBS products

  3. #13
    Supporting Member Ralphxyz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Posts
    1,564
    Thanks
    2,378
    Thanked 279 Times in 228 Posts

    Ralphxyz's Tools
    Thank you Metalmuncher, I wondered the same thing about the raised center.

    Ralph

  4. #14
    Supporting Member Paul Alciatore's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Beaumont, TX
    Posts
    303
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked 155 Times in 82 Posts

    Paul Alciatore's Tools
    I am afraid I have to disagree about the reason for no other shapes than round. The Roper-Whitney tools cost a fortune and could easily be modified to allow both the needed angular alignment with a tool free change-over and the precision needed for them to work properly. I think the real reason for this is that these hand punch tools, the R-W and the many copies of it, have a limiting diameter of about 1/4". These punches work by shearing the entire circumference at one time. So larger diameters, larger sizes would require that a longer edge would have to be sheared at once and that would take a proportionally larger amount of force. The length of the circumference of a 1/4" circle is a bit over 3/4" and that is about what these tools are capable of shearing. The fact is, that there is very little call for holes other than round that are smaller than 1/4". I have cut many, many holes in sheet metal for switches, lights, and other components and have never needed a 1/4" or smaller "D" or square or any other shape than round hole. So the reason why these hand tools do not have shapes other than round is that there is no need for small ones and the tool is not capable of the force needed for larger ones.

    Greenlee makes a line of chassis punches that come in sizes from 1/2" and up. I have a collection of round ones from 1/2" up to a bit over 2" in diameter as well as several square ones, a couple of rectangular ones, "D" shaped, double "D" shape, and some others that are specific to particular electronic connectors, like the sub-D series. These chassis punches use a central draw bolt with a nut. The non-round ones use some kind of key on that draw bolt to provide the needed alignment.

    Oh, one other thing, these chassis punches do not attempt to shear the entire perimeter of the shape at one time. They incorporate an angled edge on the punch that starts at two opposite points and cut at only two places at at time. But it takes a longer stroke of about 3/8" to 5/8" for the full cut. In this way, the amount of cutting force is greatly reduced. In fact, I have measured the force they need and found that a 2" diameter hole can be cut with about the same amount of force as a 1/2" diameter. Both of those punches only cut at two places at a time. It would be impractical and expensive to modify the R-W style hand punch tools for such a long stroke so that approach could not be taken with them.

    I obtained this collection of chassis punches by purchasing lots of used punches on E-Bay. I usually had to sharpen them, but that is easy once you know how. By purchasing several collections, sharpening them, and then selling any duplicate sizes that I wound up with, I was able to get the collection at a greatly reduced price, almost for free. I am sure that this could still be done today and it would be an excellent way to get a collection of punches.



    Quote Originally Posted by Toolmaker51 View Post
    Cool results, and rather surprising as well. Removing the chamfer on sockets [die] will clean up results more than same effort on extensions [punch].
    The hand punch copies the Roper-Whitney Jr.; in every HVAC and duct workers box. The reason 'shaped' dies aren't made for it is twofold.
    One is that neither punch or die can be fit in a tool-free change over for critical alignment. Those gauges of material matching punch capabilities are down in range of .005" and less per side, which relate to second impasse.
    You'll notice, screwing in the die can position itself any height allowed by it's thread length. At extremes that prevent enough travel or such a large gap of the handles no grip could span. Limits on round sets are far less.

    And to RalphXYZ: Ratchet and regular sockets are close in hardness, quality impacts are far tougher by use of shock resistant steels. Both are through hardened, thin walls and case hardening will be a brittle combination, especially in the various corners.
    Paul A.

  5. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Paul Alciatore For This Useful Post:

    Metalmuncher (Sep 8, 2017), Tooler2 (Aug 14, 2021), Toolmaker51 (Sep 7, 2017)

  6. #15
    Supporting Member Toolmaker51's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Midwest USA
    Posts
    5,330
    Thanks
    7,041
    Thanked 2,977 Times in 1,892 Posts

    Toolmaker51's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by Metalmuncher View Post
    What advantage comes from raising the center of the bolt head, as you are showing?
    That presents the cutting edge more directly to area being cut, to induce a bit of shearing action vs sheer pressure. A similar action can be seen in a common paper punch or scissors. I still have to post the charts promised above, but other forms are cross-cut [criss-cross] that have 2 inclines from side to side, where they face each other in the middle is a shallow elongated X profile, like crossing your arms. Another has a middle center point; useful to locate punch on layouts, and holding the sheet in place just before punch penetrates material. Very typical in hand operated and larger portable tools.
    Sincerely,
    Toolmaker51
    ...we'll learn more by wandering than searching...

  7. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Toolmaker51 For This Useful Post:

    Metalmuncher (Sep 8, 2017), Paul Jones (Sep 9, 2017), Sleykin (Jul 9, 2018)

  8. #16
    Jon
    Jon is offline Jon has agreed the Seller's Terms of Service
    Administrator
    Supporting Member
    Jon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Colorado, USA
    Posts
    25,446
    Thanks
    7,925
    Thanked 38,616 Times in 11,283 Posts
    Congratulations bobs409 - your Square Hole Punch Press is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

    Huge week! Some good picks: a Sine Plate by rossbotics, a Magnetic Cutting Guide by Frank S, a Camping Stove by Tuomas, a Solder Feeding Attachment by brianhw, Stand Off Blocks by Frank S, a Punch Guide by Frank S, a Drill Guide by Frank S, a Leather Creasing Tool by frugalolgeezer, a Leather Cutter by frugalolgeezer, a Collet Rack by mars-red, a Boring Bar by xynudu, a Cable Tie Tightener by rgsparber, and a Drill Press Elevator by rgsparber.

    You'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, Giftrocket, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away. And, we've added your tool to our All Homemade Tool of the Week winners post.


    This is your 2nd Homemade Tool of the Week win! Here are both of your winning tools:



  9. The Following User Says Thank You to Jon For This Useful Post:

    bobs409 (Sep 10, 2017)

  10. #17
    ChrisB257's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Posts
    19
    Thanks
    15
    Thanked 15 Times in 7 Posts

    ChrisB257's Tools
    I like this lateral thinking!! I also am a great fan of re-purposing things too. May have to give this a try.
    Ain't technology great - until it goes wrong!
    The Old Man's Shop

  11. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to ChrisB257 For This Useful Post:

    bobs409 (Sep 10, 2017), Paul Jones (Sep 9, 2017)

  12. #18
    Supporting Member Tuomas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Jyväskylä Finland
    Posts
    832
    Thanks
    558
    Thanked 1,834 Times in 507 Posts

    Tuomas's Tools
    Great idea.

    Also that red.. "..a nice jig made up as a finger brake press for my shop press.." is very usefull.

    Thank you!

  13. The Following User Says Thank You to Tuomas For This Useful Post:

    bobs409 (Sep 10, 2017)

  14. #19
    Supporting Member bobs409's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Posts
    201
    Thanks
    449
    Thanked 591 Times in 111 Posts

    bobs409's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by Tuomas View Post
    Great idea.

    Also that red.. "..a nice jig made up as a finger brake press for my shop press.." is very usefull.

    Thank you!
    Thank you. Here is the thread for that build and more pictures of it: http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/f...1855#post94933

    It really works well and was a lot of fun to build.


    Bob

  15. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to bobs409 For This Useful Post:

    Sleykin (Jul 9, 2018), Tuomas (Sep 10, 2017)

  16. #20

    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    San Diego, Cal.
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 37 Times in 3 Posts

    pkuphaldt's Tools
    Slick !! great idea. Paul

  17. The Following User Says Thank You to pkuphaldt For This Useful Post:

    bobs409 (Mar 13, 2018)

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •