Best Drift Punches of 2025

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Drift punches are a type of hand tool used in metalworking and woodworking to align and enlarge holes. They are typically made of high-quality steel and come in various sizes and shapes, including tapered, straight, and pointed. Drift punches are commonly used to remove pins, bolts, or rivets from machinery and equipment. They can also be used to adjust or stabilise machinery parts or to shape and enlarge holes in metal or wood. Drift punches are a versatile and essential tool for any workshop or DIY enthusiast.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Drift Punches
Mayhew Tools Brass Drift Punch Set, 3-Piece
The Mayhew Brass Drift Punch Set is crafted from non-marring, non-sparking brass, ensuring that you can work on harder steel materials without causing damage. Its smooth polished finish, combined with a double knurled feature, provides you with a secure grip for more effective use. Made in the USA, this set includes three sizes: 3/4-19mm x 8", 1/2-13mm x 7", and 3/8-10mm x 6". You can confidently transfer the force of a hammer blow to specific locations, making it easier to remove or loosen parts and pins.
BRILLIANT TOOLS BT085070 6-Piece Drift Punch Set
The BRILLIANT TOOLS Drift Punch Set is designed for precision and quality, making it an excellent choice for manufacturing tasks. With its functionality rooted in German engineering, this set is ideal for DIY enthusiasts, craftsmen, and mechanics alike. You will appreciate the intelligent design that focuses on quality, providing you with reliable tools at an affordable price. With over 25 years of experience, this drift punch set ensures you have the right tools for all your applications.
S&R Heavy-Duty 6-Piece Punch Set
The S&R Punch Set is a comprehensive 6-piece collection, featuring five drift punches in sizes from 1 to 5mm and a 4mm centre punch. Crafted in Germany from durable chrome-vanadium steel, these tools are designed for intensive use and maintain reliable accuracy. The ergonomic multi-edge design ensures a comfortable grip, reducing hand strain while you work. Additionally, the precision hardened steel construction guarantees resistance to corrosion, providing long-lasting performance for your projects.
Facom Drift Punch Set with Ergonomic Handles
The Facom Drift Punch Set offers a sheathed design that protects the punches and enhances durability. With its long shank, you can easily reach difficult areas, making your tasks more manageable. The high tensile strength ensures that the punches withstand heavy use without bending or breaking. Additionally, the ergonomic handles provide a comfortable grip, allowing you to work for longer periods without discomfort. This set is ideal for aligning bolt or rivet holes, making it a practical choice for various projects.
Facom 249.GPB Precision Drift Punch Set
The Facom Drift Punches are designed for precision and ease of use. Their differentially hardened construction ensures durability, making them reliable tools for your projects. The tri-material shock absorbing handle provides comfort, reducing fatigue during extended use. Ergonomically shaped, these handles also enhance your grip, ensuring better control. Ideal for aligning bolt or rivet holes, these punches make it easier for you to insert fasteners accurately and efficiently.
Gunpla 7-Piece Heavy Duty Drilling Punch Set
The Gunpla Drift Punch Set is designed for durability and efficiency. Made from heavy-duty chrome vanadium, these tools are tough and resistant to scratches, ensuring they last for many years. The quality pin punches make it easy for you to remove or drive in bolts and pins, simplifying your tasks. Additionally, the special centre punch allows you to create precise indentations, helping you to mark your drilling points accurately. This practicality is enhanced by the included blue storage pouch, keeping your tools organised and easy to access.
Connex COXT660104 Drift Punch Set, 4 Pieces
The Connex Drift Punch Set includes four essential sizes: 120x10x2 mm, 120x10x3 mm, 120x10x4 mm, and 120x10x5 mm. This variety allows you to tackle different tasks with ease, whether you’re marking workpieces or aligning holes. Made from chromium-molybdenum-vanadium air-hardening steel, these punches are durable and resistant to wear, ensuring they last through numerous projects. The set is designed for convenience, making it a reliable addition to your toolkit.
Britool E418226B Drift Punch Set, 6 Pieces
The Britool Drift Punch Set offers a selection of six sizes, ranging from 2mm to 8mm, ensuring you have the right tool for various tasks. The one-piece design enhances strength and durability, making it a reliable choice for your projects. With a hardness rating of 48-56 HRC for smaller diameters and 50-58 HRC for larger ones, you can expect excellent performance. Weighing just 381g, this set is easy to handle, providing you with convenience and efficiency when working.
BRILLIANT TOOLS 6-Piece Drift Punch Set
The BRILLIANT TOOLS Drift Punch Set is a collection of six high-quality drift punches made from hardened steel, ensuring strength and durability. These tools are perfect for driving pins, which is essential when you need precision in your work. They also assist in aligning holes, making your tasks smoother and more efficient. Additionally, the set comes with a convenient storage case, allowing you to keep your punches organised and easily accessible whenever you need them.
Connex 4-Piece Chrome-Vanadium Steel Punch Set
The Connex Punch Set is a versatile tool for precision tasks. With sizes of 3mm, 4mm (two pieces), and 5mm, it caters to various needs, making it a great choice for both professionals and DIY enthusiasts. The chrome-vanadium steel construction ensures durability and strength, providing you with reliable performance for repeated use. This set includes one centre punch and three round punches, giving you the flexibility to tackle different drilling and aligning tasks with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the difference between a punch and a drift?
Punches are used first to drive a hole through the metal being forged, followed by a drift, which smooths and is used to widen the 'hole'.
2. Is a drift punch a starter punch?
Starting punch is similar to a drift punch, but with a wider point and a shorter, heavier body. Use for installing pins and rivets and for starting their removal. These Punches are used as a starting tool prior to using Pin Punches, as they are useful for loosening frozen or tight pins and keys, or knocking out rivet.
3. What does a drift punch look like?
The drive punch has a flat face instead of a point. The width of its face defines this type of punch, for example, 1/8-in or 1/4-in. The sides of a drive punch will taper all the way down to the face, but sometimes you may need to use a punch with a straight shank. This is called the pin or drift punch.
4. What are drift tools?
In metalworking, a drift pin, drift pin punch, simply drift, is the name for a tool used for localizing a hammer blow. A drift is smaller in diameter than the hammer face, thus concentrating the force into a smaller area. A drift is also used where the surrounding surfaces need to be protected from the hammer blow.
During our drift punch research, we found 70 drift punch products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 12,432 customer reviews through our big data system to write the drift punches list. We found that most customers choose drift punches with an average price of £28.33.
The drift punches are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of drift punches, including Mayhew, BRILLIANT TOOLS, S&R, BLACK+DECKER, Facom.

Jennifer Fraser is a licensed contractor specializing in sales, maintenance, and kitchen, bathroom, and home appliances, tools, and utilities. She owns a store in Leeds where you can get any home and tool appliance. Jenny has a degree in literature, but she combines her knowledge and experience with her degree to publish DIY articles on solving home appliances issues to keep up the family enterprise.