Expert By Facom Parallel Punches

Expert By Facom Parallel Punches at Tooled-Up.com

Expert by Facom represents the accessible face of one of the world's most respected tool manufacturers, delivering professional-grade parallel punches that combine French engineering excellence with practical affordability. As part of the Stanley Black & Decker family, Expert by Facom parallel punches are designed to meet the demanding requirements of British tradespeople and serious DIY enthusiasts who need precision striking tools for pin removal, alignment work, and component assembly. These parallel punches feature hardened and tempered steel construction with precision-ground parallel sides that maintain contact throughout the striking process, preventing the punch from walking or damaging surrounding surfaces.

The Expert by Facom parallel punch range available from Tooled-Up.com encompasses various diameters and lengths to suit different applications, from delicate electronics work to heavy engineering tasks. Each punch is manufactured to exacting tolerances, ensuring the striking face remains parallel to the base throughout its length – a critical feature that distinguishes quality parallel punches from standard pin punches. The carefully designed striking heads resist mushrooming even under repeated hammer blows, whilst the knurled or clearly marked bodies provide easy size identification and secure grip during use.

Tooled-Up stocks Expert by Facom parallel punches both individually and in comprehensive sets, allowing professionals to build their toolkit according to specific requirements or invest in complete solutions. Whether you're working on automotive components, machinery maintenance, or precision metalwork, these punches deliver the accuracy and durability that Facom's reputation demands at the Expert range's competitive price point.

Why Choose Expert By Facom Parallel Punches?

Expert by Facom parallel punches bridge the gap between budget tools and premium professional equipment, offering exceptional value without compromising on the quality standards that have made Facom a trusted name in workshops across Europe for over a century. The manufacturing process incorporates heat treatment protocols that create an optimal balance between hardness for wear resistance and toughness to prevent brittle fracturing under impact loads.

The parallel design philosophy ensures consistent performance throughout the punch's working life. Unlike tapered pin punches that can only contact at a single point, Expert by Facom parallel punches maintain full-face contact with the workpiece, distributing force evenly and significantly reducing the risk of component damage or punch breakage. This makes them indispensable for removing bearings, bushings, and pins where precision and care are paramount.

Expert by Facom's commitment to practical design extends to user comfort and safety. The striking heads are engineered to specific dimensions that resist mushrooming and spalling – common problems with inferior punches that create dangerous flying metal fragments. The clearly marked sizing on each punch eliminates guesswork and speeds up workflow, particularly valuable when working with sets containing multiple similar-sized tools.

Who Uses Expert By Facom Parallel Punches?

Expert by Facom parallel punches serve a diverse range of professionals and skilled enthusiasts:

• Motor mechanics and automotive technicians removing stub axles, wheel bearings, and suspension components
• Agricultural engineers maintaining farm machinery and equipment with precision pin work
• Manufacturing and production engineers assembling and disassembling jigs, fixtures, and machinery
• Maintenance fitters performing bearing replacement and alignment work across industrial settings
• Fabricators and metalworkers requiring precise alignment and component positioning
• Plant engineers maintaining heavy equipment and production machinery
• Railway maintenance teams working on rolling stock and track components
• Aerospace technicians where precision striking tools are essential for assembly work
• Serious DIY enthusiasts tackling mechanical repairs and restoration projects

Key Features of Expert By Facom Parallel Punches

Expert by Facom parallel punches incorporate several distinctive features that enhance their professional capability:

• Precision-ground parallel sides: Maintain consistent diameter throughout the working length, preventing binding and ensuring smooth operation through bearing housings and pin bores
• Hardened and tempered alloy steel construction: Delivers exceptional durability and resistance to deformation under repeated striking
• Engineered striking heads: Designed with specific geometries and heat treatment to resist mushrooming and maintain safe operation throughout the tool's lifespan
• Clear size identification: Laser-etched or stamped markings ensure quick selection of the correct diameter for each application
• Knurled grip sections: Provide secure handling even in oily workshop conditions, improving control and safety
• Consistent length proportions: Balanced design ensures appropriate reach whilst maintaining structural integrity under striking forces
• Quality control standards: Each punch manufactured to ISO specifications ensuring dimensional accuracy and material consistency

Popular Expert By Facom Parallel Punches

The Expert by Facom parallel punch range at Tooled-Up includes various configurations suited to different workshop requirements:

Individual Parallel Punches: Available in commonly-used diameters from 2mm through to 25mm, allowing professionals to replace worn tools or add specific sizes to existing sets. Popular sizes include 3mm, 4mm, 6mm, and 8mm punches for general engineering work, whilst larger 12mm, 16mm, and 20mm variants suit automotive and heavy engineering applications.

Parallel Punch Sets: Comprehensive collections typically containing 6 to 12 pieces spanning the most frequently-used diameter range. These sets provide excellent value and ensure tradespeople have the right tool immediately to hand, housed in organised storage cases or pouches that protect the precision-ground surfaces during transport and storage.

Long Series Parallel Punches: Extended-reach versions designed for applications where standard length punches cannot access deeply-recessed pins or bearings, particularly valuable in automotive gearbox work and industrial machinery maintenance.

Safety and Compliance

Expert by Facom parallel punches are manufactured to meet relevant British and European standards for hand striking tools. Users should observe proper HSE guidelines for impact tool usage, including wearing appropriate eye protection to guard against metal fragments or debris dislodged during striking operations. Safety glasses or visors conforming to EN 166 standards are essential PPE when using any striking tool.

Regular inspection of punch heads is crucial – any signs of mushrooming, cracking, or spalling require immediate withdrawal from service as damaged striking heads can fragment under impact, creating serious injury risks. The punches should be struck squarely using an appropriately-sized engineer's hammer or soft-faced mallet, avoiding glancing blows that can cause the tool to slip or bend.

Proper tool selection prevents workpiece damage and reduces injury risk. Always select a parallel punch with diameter slightly smaller than the pin or bearing being removed, ensuring clearance whilst maintaining adequate strength. Never use punches as pry bars or chisels, as this subjects them to lateral forces they're not designed to withstand and can cause catastrophic failure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Expert by Facom parallel punches and standard pin punches?

Parallel punches maintain a consistent diameter along their entire working length, whilst pin punches taper towards the tip. This parallel design prevents the punch from binding in holes and distributes striking force evenly across the workpiece, making them ideal for driving out bearings, bushings, and pins through their full depth without damaging surrounding material. Pin punches are better suited for initially starting pins before following through with a parallel punch.

Can Expert by Facom parallel punches be used for centre punching?

No, parallel punches are not designed for centre punching or making witness marks. Their flat, parallel-sided design and hardness optimisation suit driving applications rather than creating indentations. For marking work, use dedicated centre punches or automatic centre punches which feature pointed tips specifically engineered for that purpose.

How do I prevent damage to the striking head of my Expert by Facom parallel punches?

Always strike the punch squarely with controlled blows using an appropriately-sized engineer's hammer – typically 500g to 1kg for most applications. Avoid glancing strikes and don't use oversized hammers that deliver excessive force. Regularly inspect the striking head and dress any minor mushrooming with a file or bench grinder, maintaining the original head profile. Replace punches showing cracks or significant deformation.

Are Expert by Facom parallel punches suitable for removing press-fit bearings?

Yes, parallel punches excel at bearing removal when properly sized and used. Select a punch diameter that contacts the bearing's inner race without touching the outer race or housing. This ensures force is applied only to the component being removed. For larger bearings, purpose-made bearing pullers or presses provide more control, but parallel punches remain invaluable for smaller bearings and situations where pullers cannot access.

What maintenance do Expert by Facom parallel punches require?

Keep punches clean and lightly oiled to prevent corrosion, particularly the precision-ground parallel surfaces. Store them in organised holders or rolls that prevent contact damage between tools. Regularly inspect for mushrooming, cracks, or bending. Minor mushrooming can be dressed with a file, but replace any punch showing cracks, severe mushrooming, or bent shafts. Never attempt to straighten bent punches as this compromises the heat treatment and structural integrity.