Transfer Punches

[scmhogg]

I bought a set of these Transfer Punches from Lee Valley when they were on sale for $9.99.

My allotted space for my shop is rather small. So, I mount a lot of small tools on boards that I hang on the wall. Small belt sander, grinder, Lion miter cutter etc. I have always had difficulty drilling all four mounting holes, in the board, to match the tool. Usually three would line up. This inexpensive set has solved that problem.

Now, HF has the same set. Their recent ad lists them at $4.99. Regular price on line is $9.99.



Steve

[LCHIEN]

So I've never used this tool.
Are there a assortment of punches in diameters (like a drill bit set),
Pick the punch closest to but smaller in dia to the mounting hole.
Looks like each punch has a centered point to make a starting dimple for drilling in the exact center of the hole? Place the punch in the mounting hole and tap it with a hammer?

whats the range - 3/32 to 1/2" by 1/64? (looks like about 28 punches)

[scmhogg]

Loring,

Yes, 28 punches, 3/32'' to 1/2'' punches (by 64ths), plus one 17/32'' punch. Your description of their use is correct.

Steve

[JR]

You mean you don't just drill the whole too large and let the piece flop around? Huh. Learn sumphin' ever' day.

JR

ps Thanks for the tip, Steve. At $5, how can you go wrong?

[LCHIEN]

Loring,

Yes, 28 punches, 3/32'' to 1/2'' punches (by 64ths), plus one 17/32'' punch. Your description of their use is correct.

Steve

Obvioiusly, another tool I need.

So, in a pinch (assuming we're working with wood), I could use my brad point bits for a transfer punch set.

[Tom Slick]

Transfer punches work great. you won't know how you lived without them.

[Uncle Cracker]

You mean you don't just drill the whole too large and let the piece flop around? Huh. Learn sumphin' ever' day.

Sounds like you need to invest in a Lee Valley hole shrinker...

[big tim]

I asked for a set of those for christmas.

Tim

[iceman61]

Transfer punches work great. you won't know how you lived without them.

AMEN. When I was in engineering & in charge of the shop, every maintenance man including electrical & the carpenters had their own set. Oh the days of getting to decide on what tools to order with a $50k per year budget for tools.

I remember ordering tools sets from Sears. I would order a 1/2" drive ratchet set & instead of them sending 1 set they would send one case of ratchet sets. Happened all the time.

[leehljp]

These things are VERY common in pen turning for disassembling pens. I have used them for other things since buying them for pen turning. I have two sets - USA home and Japan home.

[LCHIEN]

...I remember ordering tools sets from Sears. I would order a 1/2" drive ratchet set & instead of them sending 1 set they would send one case of ratchet sets. Happened all the time.

They've gotten cheap. Nowadays they won't even accidentally sell you a $529 drill press for any less than $179.

[iceman61]

They've gotten cheap. Nowadays they won't even accidentally sell you a $529 drill press for any less than $179.

I hear they hire the sign people that get fired from road construction, the ones that hold the Stop & Go sign.

[bearwood]

sears

used to be if you returned a tool to sears..no questions asked. money back. now you have to pay a 15% restocking fee. used to besears craftsman tools power or hand, were guareented for life... free replacement. now only certain hand tools, very few. used to be a sears tool salesman, like a home depot salesman, had to know thier stuff. Now both companies are hirering morons who know nothing of what they sell. Ever since they merged with K-Mart it has gotten ever so much the worse.
lenny

[ryan.s]

I've been meaning to get a set of these. Thanks for the tip.

[LinuxRandal]

used to be if you returned a tool to sears..no questions asked. money back. now you have to pay a 15% restocking fee. used to besears craftsman tools power or hand, were guareented for life... free replacement. now only certain hand tools, very few. used to be a sears tool salesman, like a home depot salesman, had to know thier stuff. Now both companies are hirering morons who know nothing of what they sell. Ever since they merged with K-Mart it has gotten ever so much the worse.
lenny

From some of the power tools I had owned and had access to (neighbor who kept everything), the power tools didn't have a lifetime warranty. Just the hand tools. Some of the ones he, I, and others I know have and had, are:
No longer made (certain socket sizes, dogbone wrench, etc)
No longer a Craftsman brand (newer examples, Weiss snips, and Robogrip pliers), now oem makers brand.
Now serviced, in a way they were originally thought to be (handles that were replaceable, refillable tape measures for broken tapes). From what I have seen of Sears in my life, this kind of thing changes so when they are very profitable, they tend to just replace instead of repairing (time verses cost).

People tended to replace a broken handle themselves (not any more), replace the guts of their tapes (again not any more), consider things consumable like Drill bits, chisels, etc (not any more), and not return things like Dull knives because they didn't know how to sharpen (Craftsman knives have come and gone at least 4 times in my life). They weren't tool renters (Sears, HD and others had a big return on chainsaws after an ice storm a few years back, my local HD, had 135 chainsaws returned in one day). Their employees had to know their stuff, and used the tools, now everyone wants it all, and cheap (consumerism verses conservism), and skills have gone by the wayside. Things gave (only us, as customers, not consumers, can bring this back). Some common sense is required from both parties when returning something (afraid too many times it doesn't happen), and if you read on the back of your hand tools, you will see two things:
Satisfaction guaranteed (what things are normally replaced under) and lifetime warranty (NOT the same thing).


Kinda a pet peeve of mine, as I see this confusion a lot, and most people don't even attempt to understand it.