Abstract: A safety power tool is described which is useful as a hardware insertion press. It includes a punch aligned slideably between an anvil and a short stroke power ram adapted to move the punch toward the anvil through a relatively short distance and a spacer movable to an opening between the ram and the punch to contact the ram at one end and the punch at the other end for transmitting the short stroke motion of the ram to the punch. A long stroke retraction actuator is connected to the punch for withdrawing the punch from the anvil when the spacer is moved laterally to an inoperative position to provide a relatively large clearance space between the punch and the anvil but with the spacer out of the way, the ram is rendered ineffective to apply pressure to the punch thereby preventing injuries.