[Elecraft] Hand Punch - Handy as a pocket in a shirt!

[Tom Hammond]

Folks:

If you're a builder. Particular if you're a 'from scratch' builder, here's 
a device which I've found invaluable... too bad I had to wait about 40 
years to find it!

Harbor Freight offers a hand punch (sheet metal, PC board, plastics, 
leather, etc.) which includes dies & punch sets in the following sizes:

    3/32", 1/8", 5/32", 3/16", 7/32", 1/4", and 9/32"

This punch has a LOT of power behind it, esp. if YOU have a decent grip.

I've found this punch to be great for making holes in thin metals where a 
standard drill bit might catch and tear the material, or in plastic where 
the bit will heat up and melt the surrounding plastic. It's also great for 
making precision-placed holes in PC board and front panels.

The Harbor Freight web site shows this device at:

   www.harborfreight.com

Then do a search for Item Number 44060.

The web site (as of 06/03/03) currently states that this device "Includes 
2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 4.5mm, 5.5mm, 6mm and 7mm punch and dies, and a handy 
storage case", but THIS IS IN ERROR. It really does include the SAE 
diameter punches listed above. I have spoken with Harbor Freight today and 
they will try to get the advertisement corrected to properly reflect the 
SAE measurements. And no, they do NOT currently offer a metric equivalent, 
unfortunately.

If you buy the punch off their web site, it's currently going for $16.99 
plus shipping & handling. However, if you get their catalogs, you will 
often find it discounted to as low as $12 with free shipping (be patient, 
it does show up in their catalogs this way at times).

One suggestion if you do purchase one of these punches... in order to 
change dies, there is a Allen-type cap screw which must be removed to allow 
you to remove the die. This screw tends to lock rather tightly once it's 
been replaced and 'snugged down'. I've found that if I added a small 
O-ring, just the size of the O.D. of the cap screw itself, between the head 
of the screw and the body of the punch, I can now tighten the cap screw 
finger-tight and it will remain tight until I want to remove it, again with 
my fingers, rather than with an Allen wrench. Makes die changing a lot easier.

73 to all,

Tom Hammond   N0SS