Questions and Answers for General Tools Hardened Steel Center Punch

A:  Yes, the punch will work for 1/16" drilling.

A:  Yes

A:  Hi, based on our assessment it should work. Thanks!

A:  That is a good question, i did not know the answer. I took a file out of my tool box, that is hard steel. i set the punch to MAX and used the punch, it made a dimple. so YES you can use this on hardened steel.

A:  yes this item will work for that application

A:  this punch is used to make a dimple, for drilling. it does not punch a hole,

A:  This will do.

A:  There are a lot of articles and videos on the Internet about using an automatic center punch to quickly break tempered glass in side windows of a vehicle as a means to exit a vehicle if it is not possible to open a door or window of a vehicle. An automatic center punch can be used to break tempered glass by pressing the point of the center punch against the face of tempered glass until the spring in the center punch compresses and releases against the glass. Care should be used to avoid getting cut from glass shards when breaking tempered glass. This automatic center punch is similar to the automatic center punches marketed and sold specifically for breaking tempered glass. This tool has a hardened punch and a precision and sharp point on the punch for precisely marking center holes on most materials including metals. The punches in automatic center punches marketed and sold specifically for breaking tempered glass likely are not hardened enough to be used to reliably mark center holes on all types of metals and may not have a point as precision and sharp on the punch since those features are not required for breaking tempered glass.

A:  Yes

A:  Well, you could use it for that. The grip would be a bit small and you may get cuts from broken glass. Better to use the punch designed for that purpose.

A:  Yes, it absolutely does work for that purpose. I bought a case of these and gave to to our local police department for that purpose. On 2 occasions, they were used to rescue dogs from hot cars in parking lots.

A:  Yes, i used it for that once.

A:  Use this tool to accurately mark the point then, if necessary, use a manual punch to deepen/enlarge it. DO NOT hit this with a hammer. If you feel the urge to do so then apply the hammer to your own head instead. Problem solved, right?

A:  Would not recommend striking an automatic center punch with a hammer because that will shorten the life of an automatic center punch and will also likely destroy the automatic spring mechanism inside of an automatic center punch that transfers force to the center pin of the punch. It is not worth destroying an automatic center punch unless it is not going to be used as an automatic center punch anymore. Striking an automatic center punch with a hammer will not make a better indentation since the force of the punch is controlled by the stroke length of a spring inside of the punch. Home Depot and other suppliers offer a 3 piece manual center punch set that requires a being struck with a hammer. It is cheaper to use a manual center punch with a hammer then it is to destroy an automatic center punch with using a hammer. Model # 89082 Internet # 100159163 Store SKU # 560182 Can also use a large steel nail such as a #10 as a manual center punch in a pinch a few times depending on the hardness of the material being marked until the point of the nail is no longer useable.

A:  Don't do that!!! This is a spring loaded punch. If you need a better indentation, re-punch several times or increase the tension of the punch. If it still isn't deep enough, you need a manual punch.

A:  I do not think so. this is not a striking tool.

A:  No...