Homemade Optical Alignment Centre Punch 'mr factotum'

Make Your Own Homemade Optical Alignment Centre Punch
Fairly easy to make in a couple of hours (excluding the box) with budget materials, or make them more ornate and with superior materials if you want.
They are a great addition to any workshop especially when your eyes are not what they use to be.!
many thanks
Kev

[lagunafishing]

I guess you could use regular 2000 grit emery for polishing acrylic in place of Crocus Paper - followed by a polishing compound, or even flame polishing if you want.

[mrmrst]

Fantastic video Kev lovely and well made 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🚂🚂🚂🚂

[lesstoneuk]

Bought my Optical centre punch in 1975 for £17. It was a Bakelite body with two brass inserts, one lens and one punch and a green felt base.
I was the only one in the toolroom with one. I'd do four punch marks as bang-bang-bang-bang. Others would do their marks then spend another ten minutes realigning the punch mark

[Steviegtr]

What a great little bit of kit Kev. Well made.
Steve.

[julias-shed]

That beech machined nicely Kev 😀 never think to use wood in the lathe.

[GoCreatehms]

Good timing! I was just thinking about making an optional centre punch. I was wondering whether or not the lens should be convex or something, you've answered my query. That's a nice evening job in the workshop, thanks for the video.

[nobbysworkshop]

Brilliant and detailed instructions on make the optical punch Kev. I’m sure this will encourage a lot of people to make one. I did try myself several years ago, but failed to get clear enough ends to the acrylic rod. Now I know how it’s done. Thanks Kev, and I’m sure you know why. Keep warm in the shop. ATB Nobby

[TheRecreationalMachinist]

Today's lesson is don't save videos for the weekend when you've time to fully digest them, watch them immediately or you might miss out on a give away! 

I expect making one of these will be near the top of my 2025 to-do list. Cheers Kev.

[OL.]

Hi KEV
Simple easy to make and the pleasure of a DIY tool.
👍👍👍👍👍
Have a nice sunday.
Bfn
Olivier.

[Xynudu]

Good one Kev. Very nicely made. I have a commercial one I bought at a workshop clearing sale, which is very similar and they are extremely good for accurate marking. Why they are so expensive to buy is a bit of a mystery, but they still are. Great giveaway. Regards Rob

[johntheoldmod]

Very useful video instruction this Kev, didn't know such a thing existed so thanks for showing the way to make one.

[jeff]

Very nice little project. Poly watch would polish the acrylic for a couple of bucks. Cheers

[RetroSteamTech]

Brilliant Kev 👍👍👍 I've always fancied an optical centre punch but am too much of a tight arse to buy one 😂 Might just have ago at making one now. Cheers, Alan.

[RustyInventions-wzir]

Great video. Thanks. Something I think will be good to make. Thanks

[melroyal]

Best wishes Kev, pleased you’re still wasting hours turning out marvellous stuff 👍

[SevenWelt]

Hello,
I really liked your video, it was interesting!👍
Greetings from Seven🖖

[andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Hi Kev. Well I be blowed. Making a set does indeed look doable. Thank you for a very interesting and informative video. 👏👏👍😀

[raymondjackson]

Brilliant Kev. Might av a go at one o them. As you say fading eyesight is a bit of a bugger. Thanks again. Ray 👍👏

[SteamEngines-Jim]

Well that's bloody clever Kev! - Cheers Jim

[MattysWorkshop]

Gday Kev, I built one of these some time ago and there tea a handy tool to have, great job mate, cheers