Pin Punches

About Pin Punches

Pin punches are essential precision tools designed to drive out pins, rivets, and small fasteners without damaging the surrounding material or the component itself. Unlike standard punches with tapered tips, pin punches feature parallel-sided shanks that maintain consistent diameter throughout their length, allowing them to follow through holes and push pins completely out. Manufactured from hardened alloy steel or chrome vanadium steel, these tools are built to withstand repeated hammer strikes whilst maintaining their shape and accuracy.

The pin punch selection at Tooled-Up.com includes individual pieces and comprehensive sets from trusted brands including Sealey, Draper, Priory, Faithfull, and Stanley. Available in both metric and imperial sizes, these punches cater to diverse applications from automotive work and machinery maintenance to general engineering tasks. Professional-grade sets typically range from 2.5mm to 10mm diameter, with lengths varying from standard 150mm versions to long series options that provide extended reach for recessed pins.

Quality pin punches are heat-treated and hardened to specific Rockwell ratings (typically HRC49-53), ensuring they resist mushrooming at the striking end and maintain sharp, accurate tips at the working end. Many feature knurled grips for improved handling and are ground to precise tolerances for accurate pin removal. Whether working on gearboxes, door hinges, chain assemblies, or machinery dismantling, having the correct size pin punch prevents damage to both the workpiece and the fastener you're removing.

Jargon Buster

• Parallel Pin Punch: A punch with a uniform diameter shank that doesn't taper, allowing it to pass completely through holes to drive pins out from the opposite side.
• Rockwell Hardness (HRC): A standardised measurement of metal hardness. Pin punches typically rate HRC49-53, indicating they're hard enough to resist deformation but not so brittle they'll shatter under impact.
• Long Series: Extended length pin punches (typically 200-300mm) designed for reaching recessed pins or working in deep assemblies where standard length tools cannot access.
• Chrome Vanadium Steel: A high-quality alloy steel (often abbreviated as Cr-V) that combines strength, toughness and wear resistance, making it ideal for impact tools like punches.
• Mushrooming: Deformation that occurs at the striking end of a punch after repeated hammer blows, creating a dangerous flared edge that can splinter and cause injury.
• Ground Tip: The working end of the punch that has been precision ground to maintain accurate diameter and perpendicularity, ensuring clean pin removal without binding.

Who Uses Pin Punches?

Pin punches are indispensable tools across numerous trades and industries:

• Motor mechanics and vehicle technicians removing suspension pins, brake components, and gearbox assemblies
• Agricultural engineers servicing farm machinery and replacing worn pivot pins in implements
• Plant fitters and millwrights maintaining industrial machinery and production equipment
• Bicycle mechanics working on chain assemblies, derailleur pins, and frame components
• Fabricators and welders dismantling assemblies for repair or modification
• Locksmiths removing hinge pins and lock mechanisms
• General engineers and maintenance technicians across manufacturing and industrial settings
• DIY enthusiasts tackling home repairs, furniture restoration, and general maintenance projects
• Heritage and restoration specialists carefully dismantling antique machinery and vehicles

How to Choose the Right Pin Punches

Selecting appropriate pin punches depends on several practical considerations:

Size Range: Assess the typical pin diameters you work with. Comprehensive 6-piece or 9-piece sets from brands like Priory and Faithfull provide versatility for varied applications, whilst individual punches suit specialists who repeatedly work with specific sizes. Metric sets typically cover 2mm to 10mm, whilst imperial versions serve older machinery and American equipment.

Material Quality: Professional-grade chrome vanadium steel punches offer superior longevity compared to basic carbon steel versions. Check the Rockwell hardness rating—tools rated HRC49-53 provide the optimal balance between hardness and toughness. Heat-treated and tempered punches resist mushrooming and maintain their working tips longer.

Length Requirements: Standard 150mm punches suit most general applications, but long series versions (200-300mm) are essential when working with recessed pins in gearboxes, deep assemblies, or machinery where access is restricted. Consider your typical working environment when choosing between standard and extended lengths.

Handle Design: Knurled or textured grips improve control and reduce slippage during use. Some professional ranges feature hanging holes for workshop organisation. The striking end should be properly tempered to resist mushrooming—regularly inspect and dress damaged heads to maintain safety.

Brand Reputation: Established manufacturers like Draper Expert, Sealey, and Stanley produce punches to consistent quality standards with reliable hardness ratings. Tooled-Up stocks brands known for accuracy, durability and professional performance across demanding workshop environments.

Popular Accessories

Enhance your pin punch toolkit with these complementary products:

• Engineer's Ball Pein Hammers: The correct striking tool for pin punches, with hardened faces suited to repeated impact work
• Drift Punches: Tapered punches for initial pin loosening before following through with parallel pin punches
• Centre Punches: For marking positions and creating starter dimples for drilling operations
• Punch and Chisel Sets: Comprehensive tool collections including multiple punch types for varied applications
• Penetrating Oil: Essential for loosening seized or corroded pins before removal attempts
• Safety Glasses and Face Protection: Critical PPE for protecting against metal fragments and splinters
• Tool Rolls and Storage Cases: Organised storage solutions protecting punch tips and keeping sets complete
• Engineer's Vice: Secure workholding equipment for safely supporting components during pin removal
• Brass Drift Punches: Softer material alternatives for delicate work where steel punches might cause damage

Safety Information

Pin punch usage involves impact forces and metal components requiring proper safety precautions:

Personal Protection: Always wear safety glasses or a face shield when using pin punches. Flying metal fragments from mushroomed punch heads or sheared pins present serious eye injury risks. Work gloves protect hands from sharp edges and pinch points, though ensure gloves don't reduce grip or control.

Tool Inspection: Examine the striking end before each use—mushroomed heads create dangerous splinters under impact and must be ground smooth immediately. Inspect the working tip for damage, cracks, or excessive wear that might cause binding or breakage during use. Replace worn or damaged punches rather than risking tool failure.

Correct Technique: Support the workpiece securely in a vice or on a stable surface. Align the punch perpendicular to the pin being removed to prevent bending or binding. Use controlled hammer strikes rather than excessive force—if a pin won't move, apply penetrating oil and allow time for penetration rather than forcing the issue.

Work Area Safety: Ensure adequate lighting to see pin alignment clearly. Keep your work area organised with tools properly stored when not in use. Be aware of where pins will exit—position the work so ejected pins don't create hazards or become lost in machinery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a pin punch and a drift punch?

Drift punches have tapered shanks designed to initially loosen pins and drive them partway through. Pin punches feature parallel-sided shanks of consistent diameter, allowing them to follow completely through holes without binding, pushing pins out from the opposite side. Best practice involves using a drift to start movement, then following through with the appropriately sized pin punch.

Why do my punches keep mushrooming at the striking end?

Mushrooming occurs from repeated hammer impacts and is normal wear, though quality hardened punches resist it longer. Using excessive force, striking off-centre, or using punches beyond their intended hardness rating accelerates mushrooming. Regularly dress the striking end with a bench grinder to remove flared metal, maintaining a slightly domed profile. Always wear eye protection when grinding and when using punches with any mushrooming present.

Can I use pin punches on hardened pins?

This depends on relative hardness. Quality pin punches hardened to HRC49-53 handle most standard steel pins, but attempting to drive out pins harder than the punch tip will damage the tool. Hardened dowel pins or case-hardened components may require specialised removal techniques. If you encounter unusual resistance, stop and assess whether the pin material exceeds your punch's hardness rating.

Do I need both metric and imperial pin punch sets?

This depends on the equipment you service. Modern European machinery uses metric pins, whilst older British equipment and American imports often feature imperial sizes. Using an incorrectly sized punch (even if close) risks damaging both the punch tip and the hole. If you regularly work on varied equipment ages and origins, having both measurement systems available at Tooled-Up prevents frustrating delays and tool damage.

How should I store pin punches to maintain their accuracy?

Store punches in dedicated tool rolls, cases, or holders that prevent tips from contacting other tools or hard surfaces. Contact damage can burr or chip the precisely ground working ends, causing binding during use. Keep punches clean and lightly oiled to prevent corrosion. Hanging storage keeps sets organised and allows quick size identification, whilst protecting the critical working surfaces from accidental damage.