Metal Hole Punch

Tim Carter, of AsktheBuilder.com, demonstrates how to cut perfectly round holes in thin metal using metal hole punch tools sometimes called knockout punches.

Yes, you are right. This a copper bowl, alright. But what do you think I am going to use it for. I know, it sounds crazy. I am going to turn this thing into a sink bowl, but what is missing? There is no hole on the bottom of it. I am going show right now how I am going to cut that perfectly round hole in this piece of test metal. And I do it by using these two simple tools. They are called knockout punchers. The first thing you have to do though is drill a pilot hole into the piece of metal. Now, we have got the whole drill of the pilot hole, and it is just slightly bigger than the diameter of the bolt on the first knockout punch. And all you have to do is just take it apart, and this part of the knockout punch has very sharp cutting metal edges. And you can see how it shaped to actually help cut. And what you do is put it through, put this thing through like this, and go ahead and screw it on. And then you use a wrench to tighten this bolt. And as I tighten the bolt, it draws this parting closer and makes the hole. There you go, it just made it through. Pull it through, and look at that hole. Now the problem is, it is not as big as the size hole I am going to need for the drain outlet. This is what is actually going to go in the bottom of the sink where the water goes through. So how am I going to create that? It is simple. You use the next big knockout punch. Now, hear what is important. This hole in the piece of metal is slightly larger than the size of the bolt on this knockout punch, and the hole that it is going to create is slightly bigger than the diameter of the drain outlet. It is that simple. You need knockout punches to make perfect holes and metals. I am Tim Carter of AskTheBuilder. If you want to discover more home-improvement tips, go to AskTheBuilder.com.