Four years of hand punching holes, finally got a fly press

Used to drill every single hole in brackets and straps, took forever and always wandered off center. Picked up a 2 ton fly press at a farm auction in Ohio last month for $300. Now I punch clean holes in 1/4 inch flat stock in about 10 seconds, no cleanup needed. Anyone else make the jump from drilling to punching and never look back?

1 comments

1 Comment

hernandez.brooke1mo ago

I was just reading a blacksmithing forum the other day and a couple guys were saying the same thing, once you switch to a fly press you never go back to drilling. The key they mentioned was getting the dies matched right so you dont get that flared lip on the backside. Sounds like you already got that figured out though if youre getting clean holes in ten seconds. That farm auction find was a steal, people sleep on those old presses.