Optical Center Punch

I have a number of items going for sale in the fall craft shows and one of them is this optical center punch. I had never heard of them until someone  on  LJ's said they were out of stock of them at Lee Valley so I looked into what they were.
This consists of a clear plastic tube with cross hairs on it and and a hardened center punch of exactly the same diameter. Then there is a round  holder to keep them at a right angle to the surface. The tool is used to put a center point exactly in the center of center lines that you lay out on a part. First you put in the clear plastic tube with the cross hairs and align it with the center lines you have drawn. Then, very carefully, you withdraw the plastic tube and insert the center punch and give it a tap. I laid out the center on the plastic tube in the Mill with a scriber point and an indicator to find exact center
 I was skeptical at first that you could not see the crosshairs down deep in the tube but they seem to be amplified against the surface and it works very well,
The container is made of mesquite and it is black flocked inside. It has 2 brass pins sticking out of the slide that make a bayonet lock for the top. It is finished with clear lacquer. I made 3 sets at the time.

Cheers, Jim