General Tools Heavy-Duty Automatic Center Punch #78 - Nail Punch Tool to Mark and Scribe - Machinist Tools

I bought this item to keep in the center console armrest, as an emergency "hammer" in case of an unforseen power window failure in my car. I've "punched" through several test beer bottles at different tensions and this thing works great. I highly recommend it.

A bit pricy.

Sharp and apply pressure when pushing

When I first got this center punch I thought it was broken because it took way too much force to get it to "punch." I get that it's supposed to be a heavy duty unit, but it took both hands and most of my bodyweight to get it actuate with the adjustment backed way off.After reading some similar reviews, I took it apart, cleaned off the heavy oil it comes with and reassembled with a thinner oil and now it's working as expected. I can use one hand to center punch holes.

An Excellent general purpose auto center punch as long as you ensure the screw-in tip is securely tightened (screwed in, CW, as viewed from the tip) before each use. If you don't, there's a chance the tip will break off at the threads meaning you'll have to get a 'readily available', new tip. Bang for your buck? On Amazon, a new tip ~$10, a new tool ~$17. You decide. After successfully using the same punch for over 5 years, I broke my 1st tip a few months back. I tried several "Lo-Priced, Menards, Lifetime Guarantee" punches that only worked for 10-20 cycles before beginning to fail the auto-re-cocking routine. If it won't re-cock it wont fire. So I took the broken one back to the, store one town south of me and was handed a brand new one in the package. Before the 4th trip, I put the horse back in front of the cart and bought a brand new Central Tool from Amazon. The old one continues laying in my drill drawer needing a new tip. It sorta, but not 100%, reminds me of the old double edged safety razor gimmick where a Blade Mfgr gave you a free shaver then you spent the rest of your life paying for razor blades. DUH?

Was looking for a reasonably priced, reasonable quality automatic punch. Thought I had a winner!! I believed the great reviews but once in hand, very cheap. Why should I have to take it apart to try and clear a jamb right out the gate??Unfortunately, none of the reviewers or the product description mentions this item is made in India...and that's a big deal when it comes to quality and reliability. India made means about 89 cents (at most) to produce. So at 15 dollars & poor quality I feel like a sucker on this one.Cheap means:1. Limited life,2. Unknown reliability,3. Aluminum shell feels /looks like the cheapest & roughest aluminum door material.4. Definitely a LOW end product and yes I will agree, it can probably handle breaking glass...not sure I would bet my life on it in a pinch. Just saying what I see.5. Given the poor quality, this item is overpriced,6. Weak spring. OK for wood, aluminum glass. But could not take care of my steel gutters with a proper dent.Maybe this was a good product years ago, but in hind sight I should have known better given that over the last 6 years there were only 4 reviews...

I used to use these for working on lock cylinders at the car dealership back in olden days and they never worked half the time. I bought this one for something unrelated and it works flawlessly.

Punches like a heavyweight makes a noticeable dent in 1080