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Jim Wilkins Jim Wilkins is offline
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Default What tool to punch a .375" hole in 18 Gauge 304 Stainless Sheet?

On Dec 6, 5:05*pm, Gunner Asch wrote:
pasted
On Fri, 5 Dec 2008 18:49:23 -0800 (PST), wrote:
For low volume work, what would you suggest?


Stainless steel requires 1.5x the energy as standard steel to
punch/shear
Roughly. Often times a bit more.
What size work piece and where the holes are at, makes a big difference
as well
Gunner


Punching pressure in mild steel:
http://www.roperwhitney.com/tech/chart1.cfm

1.2 Ton hand punches:
http://www.roperwhitney.com/punching/2-45.cfm

4 Ton Deep Throat bench punch:
http://www.roperwhitney.com/punching/2-14.cfm

I used the bench one quite a bit at one job. The lower die is tricky
to install, it's both located and held in place by four setscrews so
it shifts as you tighten the screws. Otherwise it worked quite well
for the one-off test equipment I was building. It didn't have work
guides so you need to center-punch each hole location and wiggle the
point on the punch into the dimple by feel.

Jim Wilkins