Violent Precision! The Starrett 18C is an Auto Center Punch on Steroids. Thank you for suggesting it

On Amazon. Note the crazy other option prices!

[brianmoore]

Outstanding! You can tighten and loosen the cap to control how hard it punches. Handy for different materials. Not a pronunciation guru, but I am reasonably sure that it is pronounced stair-ett.

[randysmith]

I'm 63 and Starrett was pretty much the only brand you bought 40 plus years ago if you wanted a high quality tool. When I bought all my measuring tools starting my career Starrett was the brand I was told to get.
If you haven't yet, check out spring punches. Talk about having a insane amount of punch pressure, they have it. The 3 PC Mayhew set is highly recommended.
Thanks for another great video brother.

[Iron_Condorr]

Hey Doc, maybe you could do a tour of your toolbox 🧰 or garage where you keep all these awesome tools 🔧? Plz plz

You have soo many amazing tools 🔧 😍 I would be in heaven, even better you have the knowledge to use them properly!

[scotts]

You and CP both doing auto center punches today. I went down the same journey not happy with my cheap CP's and wound up with an 18c. Punches hard. I keep mine in the original box.

[chiphill]

I have the smaller Starrett, which was handed down to me. That 18c will last many lifetimes. Great choice!

[robertfandel]

10s of thousands of punches on mine I'm retired now. Replaced the punch and spring once.

[boosted._sky]

The Spring Tools centerpunch is awesome... the best to me...👍

[MrShadyCash]

I just snagged the 18A and it comes tomorrow. Really excited, I have some nice center drills but this is my first good automatic center punch. Last one was 3.99 lol

[danielspencer]

You need to try the Japanese Toledo, it's another level higher! Feels great in the hand and is powerful.

[FearsomeWarrior]

I think the 18A is the second one I have that is smaller. Makes a good set with the 18C. I use the smaller one for wood and larger one for metal or super hard exotic woods.

[plsreleasethekraken]

"Stair-it" rather than "Star-it"

[esechillin]

I have this auto punch “starrett 18c” but it failed on me about a year in. The only thing i need to replace is the spring. Ive had zero luck in finding the replacement spring. Ive found a couple part numbers but have never found a actual link to buy the spring. I basically gave up in ever repairing it & will maybe consider buying a new one sometime in the future.

[NWGR]

That really is a pretty big difference, thanks for showing it off Doc.
That said, for my work, the 18A would be a better fit. It looks to be closer in size to the general, but hopefully starrett quality. I'm thinking about grabbing one to try out.

[davidbere]

We need to do a name pronunciation video now for starrett 🤦

[MrCheezeus]

long story short, Starrett is the dukie ... it's why machinist like them so much, that and Mitutoyo .

[Harleyjoe]

i got a facom Auto Center Punch that is really good never let me down

[mcspikesky]

Got myself a Rennsteig, no complaints it'll smash stainless no problems

[paulhunt]

If you were a machinist, you would know all about and be exceedingly loyal to Starrett. They are the gold standard of the machining industry. As Snap-On stands king of the mechanic industry, so Starrett enjoys and deserves this position. Each industry is marked by the premium brands that support that industry. Other brands can perform very well, and an individual tool may arguably be better in performance or value than the premium tool brand, but Starrett is very hard to beat. Mitutoyo and Brown and Sharp are current major contenders. Lufkin is a has been, but some of their tools rival Starrett. I just picked up a lovely flawless Fowler miniature depth mic that is a gem, but it is probably 40+ years old. A fun dynamic of Starrett is that their tools are highly functional, accurate, but are also cosmetically beautiful. Satin tools are easier to read and for more tolerant of humidity.

The little adjustable square you own is called a double square. An engineers square is fixed and has no scale. The blade is thinner than the solid base. An engineers square is a true precision tool and depending on the grade is extremely accurate. I find that the double square is handier than the combination square style, but is far less common. You have the small size. I own two. They make a larger size. The fit, finish and function of other (even premium brands) won't quite compete with the Starrett.

I like the Starrett impact center punch for all the reasons that you demonstrated in this video. After you finally resharpen the tip until it is worn out, new tips are affordably available from Starrett. Starrett makes two versions of standard center punches, round and square body. I thought that the square version was just an anti roll feature to keep it in the bench. I have been told that the square body is a steeper point angle and is intended as a more precise prick punch, to be enlarged with the center punch. I only own one square body punch where I have the full set of round body center punches. I unfortunately dressed my punches by hand before this knowledge. I looked in Starrett's catalog for confirmation, but found nothing.

[markpinther]

Over $60 on Amazon… I was looking at one about a week ago. I don’t doubt the quality but it’s just a punch. If I used it every day I would but one.

[burnedupsparkytipsandrevie]

Should definitely try the spring tools center punch