A tool with a pointed tip used to mark the exact center of something or to create a starter hole before drilling.
From 'center' plus 'punch' (a tool or action that strikes). This machinist's tool has been essential since precision manufacturing became important in the 1800s.
A centerpunch looks simple—just a metal rod with a sharp point—but it's a genius fix for a real problem: drill bits want to wander, so you punch a tiny guide hole first.
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