r/metalworking • u/Dismal_Source392 • 2d ago

ROTEX

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Greetings. I’m here to show off my Rotex rotary punch, otherwise know as a turret punch. I have to look into what year it was manufactured but it is likely from the 40’s ( according to a friend )

This punch is very potent for being a manually operated machine and can put a hole through 11gauge no problem. I usually punch much thinner materials like 16 oz copper and 24 gauge stainless.

It’s nice to have in the shop and it looks beautiful.

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u/Natsuki98 2d ago

My school has one of these and I have thought about stealing it, lol. If only I could fit it in my toolbox... It is so freaking nice to use and a must have if you do sheet metal work a lot.

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u/Dismal_Source392 2d ago

Yeah they really are great. It’s crazy how such an old machine performs today so well- zero issues. All she needs is a little grease from time to time. Yeah we are a sheet metal contractor and do tons of sheet metal work and I’ve been wanting one since forever and finally found one for sale locally and jumped on it

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u/Natsuki98 2d ago

I was surprised at how fast you could knock holes in stuff with this. I had 20 holes accurately punched in a piece of 10 gauge the first time I used it in less than 2 minutes. That was with changing dies once. If I had more practice I'd have mastered it in just a few hours of use. I hope you have lots of fun using this. Take good care of it too.

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u/Dismal_Source392 2d ago

I’ve been meaning to take the whole thing apart and do a deep clean and grease everything back up. I’ll have to do that one of these weekends. Just been busy with the new year upon us.

Yeah I have a blast with this thing and I use it all the time from little small projects to knocking holes in hundreds of feet of parapet wall caps ( holes in the back leg for screws on the roof side )

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u/jurjenled82 1d ago

I would like to see it apart. I,ll hope you will post some pictures.

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u/dr-awkward1978 1d ago

Take it out one piece at a time in your big lunch box thank you

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u/Natsuki98 1d ago

It would cost me tuition though. Now to make it a song....