by Doug Ripka
Here is a broken automatic center punch I turned into a magnetic screwdriver in about 15 minutes.
The punch is a No. 77 made by General Tools and no longer popped when you pressed down on it. I noticed the hole in the end where the punch came out of the body was 1/4”. From some previous experiments, I knew that if the hole was enlarged with a size “I” drill bit, then a standard magnetic bit holder would be a press fit into this end.
So, I chucked the piece in the lathe and drilled it out using an “I” drill, then pressed the holder in with a press. The end of the bit holder is just flush with the inside of the drilled top. The part of the main body that the bit holder end screws onto will hold one screwdriver bit, while the other end will hold another. Then, instead of scrap metal, you have a quick and dirty screwdriver that will fit in a toolbox or small space. Photo 1 shows the finished product and Photo 2 is a shot of the components.
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