Hydraulic Hole Punching Tool Copper Iron Hole Puncher CH-60 Hole Digger

So this tool is absolutely amazing. There are a few gotchas:#1. It has a strange hydraulic fitting - It may fit some enerpack portable hand units, but if you are connecting to most hydraulic power sources (we use an electric hydraulic pump), most likely the fitting is incompatible#2. The threads to replace the hydraulic fitting are NOT NPT, its a metric taper thread (made in china, you should not expect any less)Once I overcame #1 & 2 above, then the last issue is#3. The Dies have way too much size difference between the punch die and the hole die (the tolerance should be fairly tight with the hole being only slightly larger than the punch). I understand they did this to ensure long life since they use cheap metals to make the die, but this results in a "domed hole punch" instead of a clean punch. This problem is the worst on thin metals (sometimes the punch gets stuck in the deformed metal hole and has a hard time retracting). They mainly did this to give a specification for punching very thick metals (1/4" steel)The problem is made much worse by trying to punch softer metals as well.At minimum they should make/offer dies that have a tighter tolerance (size difference between the punch die and the hole die) to allow clean hole punches of thinner/softer metals.I have punched thousands of holes with this tool, and it was a life saver over using a drill press. Also I think if you can provide a hydraulic power source, it is much better made than the one they make with the built in hydraulic motor that looks like a drill mounted on a stand.I have heard some people have had better (custom) dies fabricated for these by local machine tool shops and they work very well, but for us that would cost more than the entire tool itself.If the manufacturer can fix the dies, this would easily be a 5 star product!

This is the best value you will ever find on a tool like this

Do to the cast Construction of the c frame we are only using this at 5000psi to insure it doesn't fracture. It will punch a 13mm hole in 1/4 mild steel but won't punch structural c channel or I beams. I wouldn't recommend this unit at 10000psi.

work as supposed . great price

Stellar Product