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REVIEW
Punch and Die Set
barkingdigger
Associate Editor
#013
Joined: June 20, 2008
KitMaker: 3,981 posts
Armorama: 3,403 posts
Posted: Friday, May 03, 2013 - 02:47 AM UTC
Darren Baker takes a look at the latest offering from RP Toolz - a punch and die set.
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If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
Link to Item
If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
Headhunter506
Joined: December 01, 2007
KitMaker: 1,575 posts
Armorama: 1,509 posts
Posted: Friday, May 03, 2013 - 04:24 AM UTC
Nice set, the MSRP is reasonable and I want one. 
majjanelson
Joined: December 14, 2006
KitMaker: 1,355 posts
Armorama: 979 posts
Posted: Friday, May 03, 2013 - 04:27 AM UTC
Thank you for the review, Darren.
This Punch looks pretty funstional, but the price is still a little high (for me). If the punch is made well enough to last for 20-30 years of use, then $75 is a pretty good price.
The manufacturer should consider providing a second plexiglass alignment plate, since this it what wears over time and causes failures for this type of punch design.
If I had one of these, I would also add a disk of plastic on each punch to act as a impact absorber to help protect the plexiglass alignment plate.
This Punch looks pretty funstional, but the price is still a little high (for me). If the punch is made well enough to last for 20-30 years of use, then $75 is a pretty good price.
The manufacturer should consider providing a second plexiglass alignment plate, since this it what wears over time and causes failures for this type of punch design.
If I had one of these, I would also add a disk of plastic on each punch to act as a impact absorber to help protect the plexiglass alignment plate.
CMOT
Editor-in-Chief
Joined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
Armorama: 8,571 posts
Posted: Friday, May 03, 2013 - 05:08 AM UTC
Replacement parts are available when required.
Grumpyoldman
ConsigliereJoined: October 17, 2003
KitMaker: 15,338 posts
Armorama: 7,297 posts
Posted: Friday, May 03, 2013 - 07:15 AM UTC
Thanks Darren very nice review.
You beat me to it.
I got mine a few weeks ago, and hadn't had the time to review it.
I like it better than my two Waldron sets, the pins are much shorter, and heads much larger than Waldrons, and not as likely to bend.
You beat me to it.
I got mine a few weeks ago, and hadn't had the time to review it.
I like it better than my two Waldron sets, the pins are much shorter, and heads much larger than Waldrons, and not as likely to bend.
CMOT
Editor-in-ChiefJoined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
Armorama: 8,571 posts
Posted: Friday, May 03, 2013 - 08:47 AM UTC
Dave I didn't mention the large cantact surface on the head of the punches but your right in that it is easier to hit while missing your knuckles.
For the scratch builder and/or super detailers this tool is I believe ideal.
For the scratch builder and/or super detailers this tool is I believe ideal.
Vodnik
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Friday, May 03, 2013 - 07:18 PM UTC
I have this set for about two weeks and I must say it is a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT! If you have ever used high quality punch & die set (I also have a Historex set), you're probably going to be as dissapointed as I am if you get it...
The holes in the transparent plexi top plate are slightly larger diameter than corresponding holes in the steel plate!!! The plexi sheet is also a bit too thin. This makes punches wobbly in ther sockets during punching and usually means that they are not perfectly perpendicular to the surface when you hit them... This means that very often the punch pin hits the edge of the hole in the steel plate, so it wears off very quickly (note small pieces of steel cut off from the steel plate visible in the review pictures!). And as this is the actual cutting edge, this means that the tool won't last very long...
In a few cases one size larger pin perfectly (tightly) fits in a plexi plate hole desired for the smaller size pin! Of couse it is not usable that way, as the holes in the steel plate are correct diameter.
Even new, this tool does not work very well, as the loose fit of punches means that cut discs have quite rough edges
You can clearly see it in the review pictures! My 8 years old Historex punch works like that now after several years of heavy use - I never expected brand new tool to work that bad out of the box
The punch pins by the way are just drill bits of appropriate size cut to a desired length- one of the smaller ones have fallen off from it's "handle" in my set after a few uses, so I was able to examine it...
I personally plan to buy a sheet of 3mm this plexi (the original is 2mm) and drill new holes in it - exactly the right size (luckilly I have all required drill sizes). I will first drill larger holes to be able to replace the original plexi plate in it's mount and then drill "working" holes using holes in the steel plate as guides for perfect alignment. Hopefully this will save the tool...
The holes in the transparent plexi top plate are slightly larger diameter than corresponding holes in the steel plate!!! The plexi sheet is also a bit too thin. This makes punches wobbly in ther sockets during punching and usually means that they are not perfectly perpendicular to the surface when you hit them... This means that very often the punch pin hits the edge of the hole in the steel plate, so it wears off very quickly (note small pieces of steel cut off from the steel plate visible in the review pictures!). And as this is the actual cutting edge, this means that the tool won't last very long...
In a few cases one size larger pin perfectly (tightly) fits in a plexi plate hole desired for the smaller size pin! Of couse it is not usable that way, as the holes in the steel plate are correct diameter.
Even new, this tool does not work very well, as the loose fit of punches means that cut discs have quite rough edges
You can clearly see it in the review pictures! My 8 years old Historex punch works like that now after several years of heavy use - I never expected brand new tool to work that bad out of the box The punch pins by the way are just drill bits of appropriate size cut to a desired length- one of the smaller ones have fallen off from it's "handle" in my set after a few uses, so I was able to examine it...
I personally plan to buy a sheet of 3mm this plexi (the original is 2mm) and drill new holes in it - exactly the right size (luckilly I have all required drill sizes). I will first drill larger holes to be able to replace the original plexi plate in it's mount and then drill "working" holes using holes in the steel plate as guides for perfect alignment. Hopefully this will save the tool...
mogdude
Joined: June 18, 2012
KitMaker: 459 posts
Armorama: 195 posts
Posted: Friday, May 03, 2013 - 11:38 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I have this set for about two weeks and I must say it is a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT! If you have ever used high quality punch & die set (I also have a Historex set), you're probably going to be as dissapointed as I am if you get it...
The holes in the transparent plexi top plate are slightly larger diameter than corresponding holes in the steel plate!!! The plexi sheet is also a bit too thin. This makes punches wobbly in ther sockets during punching and usually means that they are not perfectly perpendicular to the surface when you hit them... This means that very often the punch pin hits the edge of the hole in the steel plate, so it wears off very quickly (note small pieces of steel cut off from the steel plate visible in the review pictures!). And as this is the actual cutting edge, this means that the tool won't last very long...
In a few cases one size larger pin perfectly (tightly) fits in a plexi plate hole desired for the smaller size pin! Of couse it is not usable that way, as the holes in the steel plate are correct diameter.
Even new, this tool does not work very well, as the loose fit of punches means that cut discs have quite rough edges
The punch pins by the way are just drill bits of appropriate size cut to a desired length- one of the smaller ones have fallen off from it's "handle" in my set after a few uses, so I was able to examine it...
I personally plan to buy a sheet of 3mm this plexi (the original is 2mm) and drill new holes in it - exactly the right size (luckilly I have all required drill sizes). I will first drill larger holes to be able to replace the original plexi plate in it's mount and then drill "working" holes using holes in the steel plate as guides for perfect alignment. Hopefully this will save the tool...
Please let us know if this makes the tool more reliable having all those sizes would be nice (not to have to make do as mentioned in the review)
gcdavidson
Joined: August 05, 2003
KitMaker: 1,698 posts
Armorama: 1,563 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 04, 2013 - 02:22 AM UTC
Good review. Some of the holes punched out definitely do not look circular though. Also thanks to Vodnik for the counterpoint.
rustypepe
Joined: November 22, 2010
KitMaker: 28 posts
Armorama: 26 posts
Posted: Monday, May 06, 2013 - 05:15 AM UTC
Dear Friends!
Finnaly I have a little time to read this article and your coments. I always pleased the critics, be it negativ or positiv, becouse it can be learned.
Pawel! I'm very sorry you're disappointed.
I continuously improve our tools and I'm trying to create better tools for you.
In the instruction manual (which I attached to each box) I wrote: may at the first few punch will couse a little poke comming out from the die tool.
I used this tool a lot of times and My circles very smooth and nice.
The upper plexi part task only the guiding. Guiding for the punch tools.
Little bigger the upper part holes? I can't put the 0,6mm punch tool to the 0,5 mm hole. It may a little bigger the upper part holes, but how much? I think only a 0,02-0,03 mm.
In the near of the future I would like to make a "How can?" video abot all of my tools and I would like to share to the internet.
Thank you!
Peter from RP toolz
Finnaly I have a little time to read this article and your coments. I always pleased the critics, be it negativ or positiv, becouse it can be learned.
Pawel! I'm very sorry you're disappointed.
I continuously improve our tools and I'm trying to create better tools for you.
In the instruction manual (which I attached to each box) I wrote: may at the first few punch will couse a little poke comming out from the die tool.
I used this tool a lot of times and My circles very smooth and nice.
The upper plexi part task only the guiding. Guiding for the punch tools.
Little bigger the upper part holes? I can't put the 0,6mm punch tool to the 0,5 mm hole. It may a little bigger the upper part holes, but how much? I think only a 0,02-0,03 mm.
In the near of the future I would like to make a "How can?" video abot all of my tools and I would like to share to the internet.
Thank you!
Peter from RP toolz
Vodnik
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 31, 2016 - 12:39 AM UTC
I'm reviving this old topic to add some comments to my post from May 2013 above!
A couple of weeks ago I finally got in touch with Peter from RP Toolz (better later than never I guess
But it wasn't Peter's fault). It turned out that the tool I described back then was indeed an early less-than-pefect version and that the tool has since been modified. Peter was so kind to send me a latest version of the small circle punch & die tool to compare and test.
And WOW! What a difference! Previously I complained about too thin plexi plate - now it is 4mm. Just perfect!
Also the fit of punches in the plexi was very loose in my original tool - but now it is excellent! Quite tight - actually even a bit too tight in first use, but it is a GOOD thing, as punches are now guided very precisely as they should!
I tested the tool thoroughly today I must say that I'm impressed with results - clean and precisely cut circles (much cleaner than what you can see in the Darren's review of the original version)! Now this is the tool I wanted! My old Historex punch&die will finally be retired So now I can wholeheartedly recommend the RP Toolz tool!
Thanks a lot Peter!
A couple of weeks ago I finally got in touch with Peter from RP Toolz (better later than never I guess
But it wasn't Peter's fault). It turned out that the tool I described back then was indeed an early less-than-pefect version and that the tool has since been modified. Peter was so kind to send me a latest version of the small circle punch & die tool to compare and test. And WOW! What a difference! Previously I complained about too thin plexi plate - now it is 4mm. Just perfect!
Also the fit of punches in the plexi was very loose in my original tool - but now it is excellent! Quite tight - actually even a bit too tight in first use, but it is a GOOD thing, as punches are now guided very precisely as they should!
I tested the tool thoroughly today I must say that I'm impressed with results - clean and precisely cut circles (much cleaner than what you can see in the Darren's review of the original version)! Now this is the tool I wanted! My old Historex punch&die will finally be retired
So now I can wholeheartedly recommend the RP Toolz tool!Thanks a lot Peter!
CMOT
Editor-in-ChiefJoined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
Armorama: 8,571 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 31, 2016 - 12:58 AM UTC
Pawel: Peter is a good guy and unlike some producers does not just produce a tool and call it done. As you have seen he continues to refine his products based on feedback and each advance improves the tool either in result or ease of use, sometimes both.
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