Center Punches

About Center Punches

A center punch creates a precise starting divot that keeps a drill bit from walking across metal, wood, or plastic. Every shop, from the weekend garage to the professional machine floor, keeps at least one on hand. Whether you are marking hole locations on sheet metal, spotting a layout scribe line, or guiding a twist bit through hardened stock, the punch comes first. The products here range from compact single punches to multi-piece alloy steel sets, spanning $7.15 (Mayhew 24301) to $61.03 (Starrett S816PC). On the lighter end, the Starrett 117C checks in at 1.06 ounces with a 4-inch length and 1/8-inch diameter, suited for tight layout work. At the heavier end, the Mayhew 62215 four-piece alloy steel set with black oxide finish weighs 10.5 ounces combined. Prices, sizes, and materials vary widely, so knowing your use case narrows the field quickly. To choose, ask two questions: how often do you punch, and do you need a single tip size or coverage across multiple diameters? Regular shop use and metalwork justify a Starrett or Fowler in the $16 to $32 range. Occasional home-project use is well served by the NEIKO 02638A at $10.65 (10,900 reviews, 4.7 stars) or the Mayhew 24301 at $7.15. If you need multiple sizes at once, the Mayhew 62215 bundles four alloy steel punches for $21.18.