Punch for square pegs.. lots of pics.

[Rick Fisher]

I am building an island counter top for a builder. He wanted me to dress up the edges a bit .. make it look like it had bolts running through.. which it does not .. So I decided to put black 1/2 x 1/2 squares in the edges..

I got this set of " Greene and Greene " punches from Lee Valley.. I first read about them on Darryl Peart's blog on his website..

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/jokerbird_photo/P1170331.jpg

That punch is 1/2 x 1/2.. The set is 3/16" thru 1/2 ".. I also got the sharpening cones which could be used on my hollow mortising chisels..

Basically, I just drill a hole, 1/16" smaller than 1/2" .. Then hammer in the punch, completely covering the hole.. The punch is razor sharp and easy to insert. .

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/jokerbird_photo/P1170332.jpg

The Punch is also very easy to remove.. I thought it would be stuck, but it was not..

It took about 10 seconds to clean out the hole with a 1/4" Chisel.

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/jokerbird_photo/P1170334.jpg

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/jokerbird_photo/P1170335.jpg

I cut the square stock off with a Japanese flush trim saw..

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/jokerbird_photo/P1170336.jpg


I have to say.. These punches work very well.. They are hammered in .. built tough.. strong etc..

I kinda wish the body was square.. The biggest trick seems to be keeping them square, and wonder if a square body could be easier ..

The punches are made in Canada by Lee Valley.. I believe Darryl Peart helped design them.. He does a lot of this type of work..

[Josiah Bartlett]

That looks like a great application for worn out mortiser chisels.

[Kyle Kaldor]

Rick,

I'm not sure if you saw this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGgLcGQbnFk) or not, but Darrel explains exactly how to use these punches. It might help you to keep it square to the work. I was contemplating getting a set of these chisels as well. It looks like they work well and are a quality tool.

Thanks for the review and good looking counter top. Show a pic after it's finished if you can.

[Cody Colston]

That looks like a great application for worn out mortiser chisels.

I believe that's where the inspiration for those punches originated...woodworkers using old hollow mortising chisels.

[Prashun Patel]

That's a nice island, btw. I'm in the middle of such a project, and I am jealous of your clean lines...

[Don Bullock]

Rick, thanks for the information on the punches. I've been looking at them and am glad to know how easy they are to use.

[Rick Fisher]

Thanks for posting the video.. I watched it and it makes sense.. If I do this again on a counter top, I will not router the edge until after the squares are cut.. I dont think I have drill bits that size that are not brad point..

[Jim Heffner]

If you want these to look like old bolts, why not leave the stock about 1/16" longer than needed and bevel all exposed edges slightly then glue and tap them into place? It would really
look real bolts then instead of square pegs.

[Van Huskey]

If you want these to look like old bolts, why not leave the stock about 1/16" longer than needed and bevel all exposed edges slightly then glue and tap them into place? It would really
look real bolts then instead of square pegs.

I think he is going for a Greene & Greene inspired look. A sample piece with multiple examples of G&G details:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ptwoodschool.com/i/General/Greene_and-Greene_class2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ptwoodschool.com/GreeneAndGreeneDetails1.html&h=473&w=379&sz=28&tbnid=ipjVfZzLVQ6XIM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=103&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgreene%2B%2526%2Bgreene&zoom=1&q=greene+%26+greene&usg=__VdWm0y4hMY1U4qe3QLEulWEikgs=&sa=X&ei=dv9ETZ_RKtLogAeZxcDoAQ&ved=0CFsQ9QEwBg

[Gene Howe]

Thanks for the informative review, Rick. Nice job, too.