what is the machine called to punch picket holes

admin

I'm looking to buy the machine that u use to punch 3/4 square holes Into the bottom channel for aluminum picket to slide into when building aluminum rail. The one we had at the shop was blue and electric had a wheel that spun and a little lever that when you were ready to punch you pulled it down and it punched the hole In the aluminum channel. Does any one know when I can find this machine or at least what its called. Having a hard time finding it on the internet. I only need it for aluminum channel for making picket holes. Thanks
Reply:A iron worker will punch holes but there may be a cheaper solution if aluminum is all your gonna be punching.
Reply:Would you know of a model. The machine we had in the shop I worked in was not very big. It didn't look anything like the iron worker machines I've seen on the internet. And yep just punching square holes in 1/8 thick aluminum is all I intend to use it for.
Reply:What you're talking about sounds like an old mechanical punch press.  The big flywheel was belt driven from an electric motor.  Iit may have originally been belt drive from an overhead shaft if it's old enough.Dynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:Andy what your talking about sounds right. But do they still make them any more do you know were I might be able to find them. It was a pretty simple machine and very effective. And it dosent look like it cost an arm and a leg to get one. And it is belt driven from and electric motor. Any other info would help and thank you
Reply:Basically, what you want is a punch.There are two kinds of em, in common use- older, mechanical punches, and newer, hydraulic ones.The simplest off the shelf ready to go one I know about is the Bantam-http://www.rogers-mfg-inc.com/ban.htmLots of used punches out there, but most are just set up for generic punch press tooling, so you would need to put together some sort of punch and die holders.You can put a unipunch on most any mechanical or hydraulic press -http://www.unipunch.com/catalog/over...it=170&Page=20a little 5 ton Kenco would probably do your aluminum- I have seen em go a lot cheaper than this, usually in the $500 to $1000 range, but thats without specific tool holders to hold the punch and die.http://cgi.ebay.com/Kenco-Taber-Tele...on-/7564265307Punches and dies themselves, come from Cleveland-http://www.clevelandpunch.com/A real ironworker does punch holes, and will punch square ones, but it will also shear and sometimes notch.Some companies make what they call single end punches- like this GEKA-http://www.comeq.com/Geka/pp50.htmA few ironworker companies- all of these machines will do what you want, but, since they also do so much more, they aint cheap.http://scotchman.com/ironworkers/http://www.megamfg.com/http://www.peddinghaus.com/MainProdu...pID=IronWorkerhttp://www.comeq.com/Geka/geka.htmlhttp://www.comeq.com/Geka/geka.htmlLast edited by Ries; 06-25-2011 at 04:09 PM.
Reply:That  Rodgers used to be called a Bateman the standard of a railing shop will punch and  shear cap rail bar , flats and punch holes including square.
Reply:Thanks guys I checked out ebay and found what I was looking for. I appreciate all the help cause I was only finding ironworkers and they were around 5000 dollars. A bit more than I wanna spend. So I appreciate it once again
Reply:Can you post the link to ebay where you found this punch or attach a photo of what you bought?  Just to complete this thread.Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:Originally Posted by PavinsteelmanThat  Rodgers used to be called a Bateman the standard of a railing shop will punch and  shear cap rail bar , flats and punch holes including square.
Reply:Originally Posted by joseph_zlnskI'm looking to buy the machine that u use to punch 3/4 square holes Into the bottom channel for aluminum picket to slide into when building aluminum rail. The one we had at the shop was blue and electric had a wheel that spun and a little lever that when you were ready to punch you pulled it down and it punched the hole In the aluminum channel. Does any one know when I can find this machine or at least what its called. Having a hard time finding it on the internet. I only need it for aluminum channel for making picket holes. Thanks
Reply:One thing to add , Presses are like Mills ... a, You'll wonder how you ever lived without oneb, You will have to justify the outlay  against the volume of workc, You may own the press but you will need dies made for each applicationd, they are heavyA good guess is better than a bad measurement
Reply:Originally Posted by Brett I'm positive you will be able to find pre punch rail though.Brett
Reply:You should be able to obtain an older flywheel driven OBI (Open Bed Inclinable) punch press in the 5 ton range for scrap price or a few hundred dollars.  You'll need specific tooling, the male punch and corresponding female but any good shop can make them for minimal cost.  The small OBI's are easy to set up, bolt the female to the ram and the male to the bed plate, align the sections, bolt on guides and go to town.Small OBI's can be driven with low horsepower 110 volt motors because the energy stored in the flywheel provides the power to punch and they are really simple.  Flywheel, crankshaft, dog clutch (usually air operated) bronze ram guides and actuator switch.Just be cautious.  Many operators have lost fingers or worse getting between the ram and the bed.Newer OBI's have fail safe's that wn't allow the ram to energize unless your hands are out of harm's way.
Reply:Hey, you never posted a pic of what you bought!I was searching for UNIPUNCH and it brought this thread up.Thank you, come again.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:i think you are talking about 1 of these, the red one i use for punching pickets, te grey 1 is set up for pipe notching, i recently sold the picket punch! Attached Images