At the Bench: Save Your Thumb

center punch with cork

Save Your Thumb

Repurpose a cork for ergonomic comfort

By Helen I. Driggs I use a slim center punch with a blunted and rounded tip to create densely stamped surface decoration on metal. The technique is similar to stippling with a pen and ink, but unlike working on paper, the repetitive action of gripping the thin steel punch and repeatedly whacking it with a hammer can take a toll on my thumb joint. A simple wine cork modification came to my rescue, saved my thumb, and can be used for any other punch or tool with a narrow shaft. [[slideshow id=426]]