Spring Tools Professional High Speed Steel Center Punch - Marks Hardened Steel & HARDOX 450 - True Tempered Tip - 3500 LBS Impact Force - Spring Punch

Fantastic product that I always gotta have on hand, was always using my father's from his days of construction in his younger years and now finally have one of my own. Bought specifically for it's ability to function in tight spaces and to work with hardened steel as I broke off two hardened steel bolt extractors in a couple of broken bolts on my car. Very durable and did it's job perfectly, marks it very easily compared to trying to swing a hammer at a traditional punch underneath the car where I really don't have the space to. Wear gloves if you are new to the design or unsure while using it, I did as well because of the space I had to position my fingers to hold it next to a pinch weld. Struck maybe 20 times into the broken extractors and the tip still remains sharp. Comfortable to use again the only thing that will work with confined spaces where you can't swing a hammer properly. Very well priced and the best value for your money considering its flexibility in use and USA made durability. Need to grab a chisel tip Spring Tool next for even more use cases.

Great tool. Well made USA i think. I've gone through 3 spring loaded dot punches, the ones that you push down on and they all have failed. I like this one because it is simple and no moving parts.

Transitioning from traditional methods involving a hammer and a conventional steel punch, I've experienced a mix of outcomes, often marred by sliding punches that scratch surfaces or fail to make a significant indent. The Spring Tools 28R45-1 Hammerless Single Ended High-Speed Steel Center Punch marks a notable improvement in both design and functionality. Its hammerless operation not only streamlines the process but also significantly reduces the margin for error, providing a safer and more reliable method for marking metal surfaces. I've put this punch to the test on 10 gauge steel and can attest to its power and effectiveness, achieving clean, deep indents with minimal effort. Despite its strengths, there's a lingering concern about the potential for pinching my finger in the steel coil mechanism during use. While this hasn't occurred, the possibility remains a slight drawback in an otherwise excellent tool. This punch has proven to be a valuable addition to my toolkit, offering a blend of precision, power, and ease of use that traditional methods simply can't match.

This tool is fantastic. It reminds me of those old spring door stops that prevent wall marring from door knobs. To make a center punch mark, use one hand to alight the pointy end where you want it. and use your other hand to pull the back of the spring and let go. It hits hard where ever you set the point. Every time. No more brass center punches that miss fire and drive you nuts (I'm looking at you hazard fraught). 2 interesting things about the tool. If you aren't careful and your hand aligning the pointy end slips, you will leave punch marks in the wrong spot. Be warned. Additionally, you can use this for more than center punching. If you need to hammer a really small nail, this will work in a pinch. I think there are versions that have a blunt end for doing just that (and for hammering out hinge pins). I will caution that extended use with this tool will mess up your fingers. Since I wasn't wearing gloves, my finger skin started peeling from all the repeated use holding the sharp edges of the tool. But otherwise, a couple punches here and there won't harm you (or if you are calloused over the years). I highly recommend this tool over a normal center punch.

Will put a nice dimple in almost any surface. As the design is unusual, I had to learn to hold it quite firmly in place as I pulled the plunger back, or the dimple missed the mark. Good quality, should last a lifetime.

At first I did not like the functionality of this punch. I was use to the normal press in to spring load snap punch. This one works more like a 'sling-shot'. However that lets you decide how much force you want to impart on the striking surface. It works great to punch dimples for starting holes for drilling. It also works great at driving small to medium pins; a door hinge would be about as big as I would think it could handle. It also works great to un-stick rusty/frozen hardware; it has quite the mechanical 'shock' to it, like a very precise hammer blow. Love it! I will buy another when I lose this one.

Effective and accurate

I didn't really know I needed this until I got it. I was stuck trying to remove a broken bolt that was stuck below the surface. I used this tool to "spin" the bolt out of the aluminum housing. Worked a treat for that. And now I've found a ton of other things to use it for including it intended purpose of punching materials for drilling. It is much more accurate than trying to use a traditional punch with a hammer. Definitely recommend especially when you have limited space to swing a hammer.