Good quality chisels and punches

[EdK]

I got these at least 12 years ago. Still made in the USA back then. No starter punches in the bunch so now I need to buy some more tools.  

Ed

   

[krv3000]

well sed it befor bootsales them rusty ones in the botom of old tool boxes will have bin good ones at one pont nothing a bath in acid to kleen them up

[Mayhem]

I thought exactly the same thing when I saw the punch with the concave tip - that's a nail punch!

Trying to find something of quality in at the very rare boot sales or in pawn shops is not worth my time. I don't want to buy something and get it home, remove the rust and find it is the same Chinese CRS piece of crap that I am trying to replace. As for making them, I have never seen drill rod/silver steel etc here and when I do I am sure I will be charged a pretty penny for it.

I like building stuff as much as the next guy but there are times when you just have to say that the time and effort is not worth it. This is one such time.

[DaveH]

No silver steel in Australia - a bit surprising   
 
DaveH

[DaveH]

(02-10-2015, 10:06 AM)Mayhem Wrote: I like building stuff as much as the next guy but there are times when you just have to say that the time and effort is not worth it.  This is one such time.

and a log splitter

DaveH

[Mayhem]

(02-10-2015, 01:23 PM)DaveH Wrote: No silver steel in Australia - a bit surprising   
 
DaveH

I never said there wasn't any. Just that I haven't seen it readily available. 

[Dr Stan]

(02-10-2015, 05:33 PM)Mayhem Wrote:

(02-10-2015, 01:23 PM)DaveH Wrote: No silver steel in Australia - a bit surprising   
 
DaveH

I never said there wasn't any. Just that I haven't seen it readily available. 

Isn't there something at least similar to McMaster down under?  If you decide to make punches and/or chisels from junkyard material Anvil Fire has a good chart.  Just keep in mind it is their best guess and not written in stone.

http://www.anvilfire.com/21centbs/jnkstee1.jpg

[NormanV]

Good quality anything is a problem these days. Everything seems to be made to last for one operation.

[how'sitwork?]

The steel in old computer printers is very straight and usually good grade. Might be worth heat treating with a bit of Kasenit? - for long punches?

Also High tensile bolts turn down with carbide tooling and can make good small punches of short length- eg the "starter punch" pictured.

As for cold chisels, probably best to buy a reasonable set. CTC tools in HK do nice collets etc might be worth a look for hand tools? They're a good bunch to deal with too.

[618 User]

Starrett makes good center, prick, and pin punches. According to the map in the on line Starrett catalogue, they've got something(distributor?) in Sydney.  Among American-made chisels, I like Mayhew. Snap-On has good stuff in their Blue Point line, but they're pretty pricey here, never mind shipping cost.

Tom