The 7 Best Transfer Punches

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This wiki has been updated 15 times since it was first published in July of 2019. Instead of attempting to visually align and mark holes in a surface, you can employ one of these handy transfer punches to ensure that the center of the new hole perfectly matches that of the original. Most come in sets of 20 or more, making them appropriate for a variety of projects. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

1. Auto Body Now SAE

2. Fowler 33 Piece

3. Rennsteig Expanding

Editor's Notes

September 05, 2019:

Like pin punches, transfer punches are a crucial tool for machinists, tool makers, repair persons, and even home DIYers. We’ve looked for sets that can meet this range of needs, but for most general applications, we think the Auto Body Now SAE or Fowler 33 Piece are fine options. They’re strong enough to take some abuse, simple to use, and marked for convenience. For those who need industrial-strength quality, we added the Spellmaco SSG-33, which is quite pricey but exceedingly robust. If you’re looking for something a little different than typical sets, we might suggest the Rennsteig Expanding. The screw found at the top of each in this three-piece set allows you to adjust the piece to fit a hole precisely. This saves you some space in your tool drawer and can make finding the right size easier.

Special Honors

Shars Tool Company Universal Instead of relying on a set with many pieces to keep track of, you might use this Shars Tool Company Universal. It has a guide cone that accommodates a range of hole sizes as well as a knurled body that’s a cinch to grip and use. shars.com

4. H&H Industrial Products 28 Piece

5. Fowler Xtra-Punch

6. Neiko Punch Set

7. Spellmaco SSG-33


Melissa Harr
Last updated by Melissa Harr

Melissa Harr is a language-obsessed writer from Chicagoland who holds both a bachelor of arts and master of arts in English. Although she began as a TEFL teacher, earning several teaching certificates and working in both Russia and Vietnam, she moved into freelance writing to satisfy her passion for the written word. She has published full-length courses and books in the realm of arts & crafts and DIY; in fact, most of her non-working time is spent knitting, cleaning, or committing acts of home improvement. Along with an extensive knowledge of tools, home goods, and crafts and organizational supplies, she has ample experience (okay, an obsession) with travel gear, luggage, and the electronics that make modern life more convenient.


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