Lisle 30280 Automatic Center Punch

This is a great little pen sized punch that works well on wood/plaster/plastic/soft metals. It has a decent spring, and makes just the right sized small indent. I use it on wood and to hang stuff on the walls all the time and it does great. That said, it is a LIGHT duty punch. If you are looking for a big dimple, or the ability to punch cold pressed steel, you will be disappointed. For the price, performance, and adjustability, it is definitely worth it to get more than one and put in multiple tool boxes.

I have been needing a new auto-punch since my 4 year old was "helping" me a few months back and took my old one apart an lost critical internal parts. He loves to help me build and stuff, so how can I be mad? I searched my local hardware stores and if they had heard of such a tool, none of them carried one. I then came here and saw a few. One almost like the ones I had from before, but I really like the looks of this one, that it was made in the USA and has adjustable tension unlike my old one and some of the new ones. Well, it works great so far and just like I had hoped. I also like that this one is think and has a clip to clip onto my shirt pocket with my marking pencil. So if you need one of these, look no further

Excellent tool this is my 2nd punch, would still be using the first one if hadn’t lost it or possibly got stolen. Works great for more precise use, as it doesn’t have a sleeve over the top and beats the heck out of a hammer and regular punch for building electrical panels, mounting components on back planes!! Love it. Had 1st one for at least 5years without any issues!

Poor Quality. I relied on my perception that Lisle manufacturing was of high quality, USA made tools. I was incorrect. The knurling was much too sharp, with the milling debris not removed. Not worth the aggravation to return, but better quality available at Harbor Freight.

I’ve had this center punch for about a month; used mainly for auto body work. The punch resets about half of the time and the tip is already very worn down. I’m am surprised at the wear on the tool, given I only use it on 18 and 20 gauge sheet metal.

I had one of these for many years, purchased about 25 years ago I think, but it went missing. I use a Starrett most of the time (absolutely worth the money...you'll never regret it) but this little pen jobby is so handy to have, especially for ladder work where you may need to hold a part with one hand while punching with the other, or reaching past deeper lips on parts and such. The punch force is plenty strong enough - you can adjust it very slightly if need be or source lighter springs if you work on particularly thin or soft metals. These are pretty much made exactly the same as they have been for a very long time, and still made in the US, but I think the quality is slightly lower than it used to be. The knurling on the cone and the top cap on mine is pretty terrible - like an oops moment that got passed along the line anyway. There are chuck marks on the body but who cares about that. Tip is not as sharp (fixable) but the metal doesn't seem to be as hard so it's dulling faster than my old one. Haven't had any misfires with it yet but that does happen sometimes. If you want to disassemble yours and clean up any burrs and such, remove the top cap and top end parts first, paying attention to the orientation of the "baseball bat". The concave bushing thing can be shaken out or removed more easily after you remove the nose cone/point - be sure the concave portion faces the top/back end of the tool when you reassemble and be gentle cleaning any burrs from it. If you have trouble there is a good diagram available on the Lisle website page for this product and the review here that graciously provided a good photo is helpful, too (just mind the concave bushing orientation). Don't lube these, in my opinion...if you feel the need, then just a very thin film of light silicone or mineral oil along the front half of the tip and maybe in the upper barrel where the long spring compresses. Lube can actually work against these and cause them not to preload or trip correctly.

After borrowing a friends automatic punch a few times I had to have one of my own for mostly automotive work. So much easier to center punch a precise mark for drilling holes in metal when compared to a hammer and punch. The point is very sharp and very hard to endure lots of strikes. The spring tension is just right to leave an ideal sized divot in the metal to keep a drill bit from wandering. The size makes it handy to keep it in shirt pocket or a pencil slop in a tool bag. A very nice addition to my tool collection. I continue to be impressed with Lisle tools.

Lisle is a great company, this punch is made in the USA, good quality hard tip unlike the chinese ones. I buy a lot of Lisle tools and have not been disappointed with any of them.

good quality, works well

Very light and comfortable to hold. Variable adjustment works well in steel, plastic and wood leaving the desired dimlpe. I used steel auto punches during my working career in aviation and this works every bit as well. All I can do no is use it and see if it stands the test of time.

Doesn't always work

Really happy with this punch, it works very well and is well made. For the price it's excellent value.

I was shown this tool while extracting broken exhaust manifold studs, and now I use it every time I have to drill, much easier to get it perfectly centred vs holding the punch with one hand and the hammer with the other, and you can centre punch in places you wouldn't have room to fit the hammer. 10/10 Recommend