General Tools Heavy-Duty Automatic Center Punch #78 – Nail Punch Tool to Mark and Scribe – Machinist Tools
$21.27
Price: $21.27
(as of Sep 19, 2025 22:51:53 UTC – Details)
Automatic Center Punch, Body Diameter 0.625 Inch, Length 5.63 Inches, Replaceable Point, Adjustable, Steel Body
STEEL BODY: This must-have pre-drilling leather punch tool can scribe, stake, and prepare nail and screw holes. It’s easy to use, and the one-handed spring tension adjusts for light or heavy strokes and marking on wood and metal surfaces.
REPLACEABLE HARDENED STEEL POINT: Fabricated from durable steel, our convenient metal punch tool has a conical-shaped steel tip that allows you to safely drill holes at the exact location without slipping and damaging the work surface.
ADJUSTABLE SPRING TENSION: Ideal for metal workers, machinists, automotive repair professionals, and DIYers, this spring-loaded center punch has an automatic mechanism that strikes with downward pressure so that you don’t need a hammer.
KNURLED FINGER GRIP: Allows a sturdy grip, easy handling, and less slippage, avoiding potential injury. It measures 6″ and has a rust-resistant black oxide finish. Add it to your accessories and other hardware essentials.
GENERAL TOOLS: We have been a recognized leader in the innovation, design, and development of specialized precision tools for many years. We encourage craftspeople, artisans, and DIYers to work smarter, measure better, and increase productivity.
Customers say
Customers find the center punch to be well-made and good value for money. However, the functionality and durability receive mixed reviews – while some say it works well and is super strong, others report it stops working after a few uses and breaks after weeks of use. Moreover, the punch accuracy, spring strength, and tip replacement are also mixed aspects, with some praising it as a standard automatic center punch while others consider it among the worst, and while some appreciate the strong spring, others find it weak. Additionally, the punch strength receives negative feedback, with customers noting it doesn’t produce a useful amount of force.
13 reviews for General Tools Heavy-Duty Automatic Center Punch #78 – Nail Punch Tool to Mark and Scribe – Machinist Tools
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$21.27
Wolf Counsel –
Sturdy construction
I bought this item to keep in the center console armrest, as an emergency “hammer” in case of an unforseen power window failure in my car. I’ve “punched” through several test beer bottles at different tensions and this thing works great. I highly recommend it.
colb1 –
Its Okay!
A bit pricy.
Ricardo E Maciel –
General center punch
Sharp and apply pressure when pushingÂ
Makerneer –
Works way better after cleaning and degreasing
When I first got this center punch I thought it was broken because it took way too much force to get it to “punch.” I get that it’s supposed to be a heavy duty unit, but it took both hands and most of my bodyweight to get it actuate with the adjustment backed way off.After reading some similar reviews, I took it apart, cleaned off the heavy oil it comes with and reassembled with a thinner oil and now it’s working as expected. I can use one hand to center punch holes.
Heeere’s Johnny –
As good as Starret
An Excellent general purpose auto center punch as long as you ensure the screw-in tip is securely tightened (screwed in, CW, as viewed from the tip) before each use. If you don’t, there’s a chance the tip will break off at the threads meaning you’ll have to get a ‘readily available’, new tip. Bang for your buck? On Amazon, a new tip ~$10, a new tool ~$17. You decide. After successfully using the same punch for over 5 years, I broke my 1st tip a few months back. I tried several “Lo-Priced, Menards, Lifetime Guarantee” punches that only worked for 10-20 cycles before beginning to fail the auto-re-cocking routine. If it won’t re-cock it wont fire. So I took the broken one back to the, store one town south of me and was handed a brand new one in the package. Before the 4th trip, I put the horse back in front of the cart and bought a brand new Central Tool from Amazon. The old one continues laying in my drill drawer needing a new tip. It sorta, but not 100%, reminds me of the old double edged safety razor gimmick where a Blade Mfgr gave you a free shaver then you spent the rest of your life paying for razor blades. DUH?
carefulShopper –
CHEAP & POORLY DESIGNED…One step up from a Hammer & Nail
Was looking for a reasonably priced, reasonable quality automatic punch. Thought I had a winner!! I believed the great reviews but once in hand, very cheap. Why should I have to take it apart to try and clear a jamb right out the gate??Unfortunately, none of the reviewers or the product description mentions this item is made in India…and that’s a big deal when it comes to quality and reliability. India made means about 89 cents (at most) to produce. So at 15 dollars & poor quality I feel like a sucker on this one.Cheap means:1. Limited life,2. Unknown reliability,3. Aluminum shell feels /looks like the cheapest & roughest aluminum door material.4. Definitely a LOW end product and yes I will agree, it can probably handle breaking glass…not sure I would bet my life on it in a pinch. Just saying what I see.5. Given the poor quality, this item is overpriced,6. Weak spring. OK for wood, aluminum glass. But could not take care of my steel gutters with a proper dent.Maybe this was a good product years ago, but in hind sight I should have known better given that over the last 6 years there were only 4 reviews…
Brian P –
Perfect
I used to use these for working on lock cylinders at the car dealership back in olden days and they never worked half the time. I bought this one for something unrelated and it works flawlessly.
Amazon Customer –
A punch like Joe Louis
Punches like a heavyweight makes a noticeable dent in 1080
stu –
Iâve got Starrett auto centre punchers and these general auto centre punches and obviously these are not as good, infact I purchased the steel option punch above and when it came there was rusty oil coming down the bent shaft, yes thatâs right, it came bent. I had to strip it down degrease it and get rid of the rust which was caused by the adjustable spring on top and I also complained and and Amazon have sent me a replacement and the replaceable tip on the first one came half hanging off and after inspecting it the threads were stripped so it just spins in the hole so Iâve used blue thread lock which has sorted it out. My point is how did this pass QC (Quality Control) as itâs a mascot to this companies general workmanship and craftsmanship and pride so shows off there handy work. If this is a image of who these people are and there standards then it give people reason to belive that all of there tools are in this decrepit state or are of poor quality. Itâs the Chinese ethic of quantity not quality as with everything they peddle to us westerners ! Crap !
juan alberto lopez calderon –
muy buen producto, buen precio, práctico de usar
Rhodo –
If you’ve never had one before, buy this one. The cost is affordable. It does wonders for marking the start hole in a piece of wood and when it comes to metal. a couple of punches will give a start-hole which is good for any hole. I love mine and recomend it to everyone.
Jeffo –
O produto é muito bem construÃdo, qualidade superior aos que comumente vem da China (mesmo que este seja produzido lá, se destaca). Ele é bastante duro para apertar e disparar o puncionamento mas funciona todas as vezes (diferentemente dos comuns que começam a perder o disparo). Para melhorar um pouco a utilização, instalei uma manopla de madeira feita a partir de um puxador de madeira cambará, barato e fácil de achar. Ela encaixa no topo e torna muito mais fácil usar o puncionador.
JOSE RAMON LOPEZ BALBIN –
MI PRINCIPAL Y DIRIA YO MI UNICO PASATIEMPO ES CONSTRUIR PRODUCTOS DE METAL.MI PRIMER CENTER PUNCH FUE UN GENERAL TOOLS DEL MODELO DE USO LIGERO EL CUAL USE POR MAS DE 10 AÃOS SIN NINGUN PROBLEMA, DESPUES DECIDI COMPRAR EL MODELO DE USO RUDO DE LA MISMA MARCA QUE TAMBIEN USE POR MAS DE 10 AÃOS, HASTA QUE HACE UNOS 6 MESES PORQUE SE ROMPIO PARTE DEL SISTEMA QUE GOLPEA CUANDO SE LIBERA EL RESORTE.SOY UNA PERSONA MUY LEAL A LAS MARCAS, PRINCIPALMENTE CUANDO LA CALIDAD Y DURABILIDAD DE SUS PRODUCTOS LO MERECEN, ASI QUE DECIDI COMPRAR UN NUEVO CENTER PUNCH DE GENERAL TOOLS DEL MODELO USO RUDO, SIN EMBARGO EN ESTA OCASION CON MENOS DE 3 MESES DE USO ME DOY CUENTA QUE COMO EN MUCHOS PRODUCTOS, ORIGINALMENTE HECHOS EN USA Y AHORA HECHOS EN UNA LINEA DE ENSAMBLE CHINA, LA CALIDAD HA DISMINUIDO CONSIDERABLEMENTE Y EN ESTE ULTIMO CENTER PUNCH LA CUERDA QUE LA CUERDA DONDE SE ATORNILLA LA PUNTA AL CUERPO DE LA HERRAMIENTA, ESTA BARRIDA Y NO SE PUEDE APRETAR.ASI MISMO ME PASO CON UN TIPO AVELLANADOR (DE LA MISMA MARCA) PARA REBABEAR ORIFICIOS EN METAL DESPUES DEL TALADRADO, QUE EL MANERAL DE PLASTICO SE DESPRENDIO DEL AVELLANADOR Y NO PUEDES USARLO.ES UNA PENA QUE MARCAS TAN ICONICAS POCO A POCO VAYAN DISMINUYENDO SU CALIDAD Y TENGAMOS QUE CONFORMARNOS CON PRODUCTOS PRACTICAMENTE IGUALES CON COLORES Y MARCAS DIFERENTES, PERO HECHOS BAJO ESTANDARES DE CALIDAD MUY CUESTIONABLES EN LINEAS DE PRODUCCION QUE LO MISMO LE FABRICAN A MARCAS DE RENOMBRE COMO A MARCAS CON NOMBRES INPRONUNCIABLES.