Source of home type punch press??????

[RonR]

Hi,

I would like to limit my drilling time on projects I make, and I have shop experience running a punch press. It is SO NICE to punch a 3/8, 1/2, or 1" hole or slot in steel when you are building stuff.

Unfortunately, I don't work there anymore (or have contacts inside), so I'm considering trying to buy a punch for the garage.

I've seen some, but they are pretty pricey. Cheapest I've found is like $4K. I can drill a lot of holes for that amount.......

Any ideas? THANKS.

Ron

[Stimw]

I have a Scotchman 50 ton ironworker that will punch a 1 1/4 hole in 3/4" steel plus a lot of other nice cutting features. Shears 3/8" X 4" angle iron, 1/4" X 14" steel, 1/2" X 6" steel. I am spoiled when it comes to drilling holes now. I found a great deal on it because it was 3 phase. I am running it with a 3 ph converter and it runs great. Look for a 3ph unit, they can be cheaper.
They also sell a punch a Northern Tool for around $2500. Can find it cheaper on Ebay new.
If you are handy you could buy the punch and die sets and make a fixture to use them on a H frame press. Harbor Freight has the 20 ton presses for under $200.

[schmism]

second the ironworker

http://www.medfordtools.com/metalproironworkers.html

looks like $2600 with shipping

friends got on in his shop. its great

[dfkrug]

Sweet press. I hate drilling holes (mostly 1" in 1/2" steel) and I have
paid shops to do it for me ($1/hole, plus driving there). I have seen
the $2500 presses, and I may eventually get one. Tools and dies add
a lot, too.

I have considered getting the tools and dies and using a cheap H-frame
press, as mentioned. The problem is, how to you retract the tool from the
work piece? My press is only 20T and I see needing 40T for the holes I
want. Still thinking about it. Meanwhile I use the plasma cutter......

[RonR]

Sure would be nice to have a 3PH mounted punch press........... Tractor could run the hydraulics...................

I'd have to fab a lot more stuff than I currently do to justify the price of buyinng one for $3K.............

THANKS.

Ron

[HomeBrew2]

Sure would be nice to have a 3PH mounted punch press...

Hmm, vertical wood splitter ...

[schmism]

The problem is, how to you retract the tool from the
work piece?

from what ive seen there is really no need to retract it from the hole.

When you puch (shear) a hole in the steel you only get about half way through or less and the materal gives and "explodes" out the bottom.

the return springs on the shop press should be enough. (i also have a 20T shop press but havnt gotten any dies for puching stuff... yet)

[dfkrug]

from what ive seen there is really no need to retract it from the hole.

When you puch (shear) a hole in the steel you only get about half way through or less and the materal gives and "explodes" out the bottom.

the return springs on the shop press should be enough. (i also have a 20T shop press but havnt gotten any dies for puching stuff... yet)

When the tool punches thru the work piece into the die, it becomes
imbedded in the work piece. When the tool retracts, it must be pulled
back thru the work piece, while the die and work piece are held down. A
fixture on the punch presses I have seen does this. Also the press pulls
the tool back under power. I do not know how much force it takes, but
I suspect more than the retraction springs of a run-of-the-mill H-frame
from HF tools. I have watched my 1" holes in 1/2" plate being punched
and the retraction force sure looks substantial.

[RonR]

Homebrew, that might have some potential!

Most of the cheapy presses I've seen appear to have too much slop in them to be useful as a punch press---unless I am missing something.

I thought you had to have the punch fairly well aligned to the die for it to work well. I know you don't want to have them out of alignment unless you like broken dies and shrapnel flying around the shop....................

Sure would like to hear from someone that has used a cheapy press for a punch press, and has had success in up to 3/8" steel..............

THKS.

ron

[dfkrug]

I think the die-to-tool alignment issue is important, but
readily solvable with the fixture one needs to make to hold
the die and tool in the H-press. Pulling the tool out of the
work piece is the bigger problem that I can see.