Nail punch Q

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RickH

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I have some very old nail punches.
Instead of a flat face, they have a half round ‘dimple, to allow them to fit on the head of a nail better.

Are these still available, and if so do they have a particular name ?
 
They used to be called nail sets (you use them to set the head of a nail or pin beneath the surface), maybe partly to differentiate them from taper punches aka taper drifts, which have flat faces and are designed to drift out or drive engineering pins, bolts, etc. Nail sets have always had concave/hollow points, because without it they would not be able to locate on and remain on stay on the head of a nail or pin - and you'd make a gawdawful mess of the woodwork around the nail/pin when you hit the nail set with a hammer and it slides off the fastener. Stanley, Starrett and Bahco all still make them, because every joiner needs a set of 3 or 4 of them
 
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i know its not quite the same but a hand pin push can leave a fairly flush head with minimum wood bruising or a more pronounced ring for countersinking but need less skill or attention as it positively sits on a raised head
 
big-all said:
i know its not quite the same but a hand pin push can leave a fairly flush head with minimum wood bruising or a more pronounced ring for countersinking but need less skill or attention as it positively sits on a raised head
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I have one of those for panel pins, nut suitable for 16G x 50mm nails
 
It seems to me that all pin punches used to have the recessed heads until China got involved and the cheap flat-headed punches got sent over en-masse.

Best nail punch ever is a Japanese Mokba double-headed punch. Best by far, you won't regret owning one.
 
^woody^ said:
It seems to me that all pin punches used to have the recessed heads until China got involved and the cheap flat-headed punches got sent over en-masse.
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Which is a good reason for avoiding certain Chinese tools. The little list of makers I quoted all manufacture in Europe and make properly dimpled punches

^woody^ said:
Best nail punch ever is a Japanese Mokba double-headed punch. Best by far, you won't regret owning one.
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Surely they only do the one size, though? OK for filled and painted work, but not necessarilly for stuff like clear lacquered oak
 
JobAndKnock said:
Surely they only do the one size, though? OK for filled and painted work, but not necessarilly for stuff like clear lacquered oak
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It's a proper nail punch for proper nails. Not namby pamby pins. Lol.

The point is quite narrow though.

I find the smaller end the most useful though, especially for sinking the bigger nails in tougher timber as it's easier to control.
 
You know, I can just see you fixing delicate mouldings in place with 6 in French nails...

I probably punch more pins under than nails
 
^woody^ said:
Best nail punch ever is a Japanese Mokba double-headed punch. Best by far, you won't regret owning one.
Click to expand...

Whilst I do not doubt that it is a great punch, won't you damage the recess/dimple if using it on larger nails?
 
opps said:
Whilst I do not doubt that it is a great punch, won't you damage the recess/dimple if using it on larger nails?
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It does not have a dimple. The point is about 2.5 - 3mm and flat so whilst it can be used on pins with care, I suppose it's really for larger nails.

I just find it so much easier to hold and use. On second fix timber to be painted, its fine for sinking the nails, but it's really versatile.
 
^woody^ said:
Not a problem as long as you blunt the points to stop the moulding splitting - so I prefer cut clasps instead.
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I have actually come across panel pin size cut nails on some listed building jobs - holding beads and mouldings in place
 
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