[TheForge] punchin holes

[Ries Niemi]

The 20 ton hand operated punch to look for is one of these:
www.roperwhitney.com/punching/2-1011.cfm

I bought one used from a private individual for about a hundred bucks- 
they probably go for less at auctions, depending on where you live.
You can get new punches and dies for 10 to 20 bucks a set, depending on 
size and shape, from either roper whitney or cleveland punch and die. 
And you will find you really dont need that many sizes, so it is worth 
buying nice sharp new ones-- 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" will do most of what 
most people need.

You do need to bolt it down to a bench that is bolted to the floor, 
because it takes quite a bit of leverage to punch a hole in steel, but 
it sure is fun.

ries