Breaking and bending tiny pin punches...

[Cantom]

Last night I fought to get that little pin that retains the rear sight pin on a No 4 Mk 1* Long Branch out. I ended up bitching a screwdriver I really liked, my pin punches are all buggered...except of course for the big ones I never use anyway.
I'd love to find a tiny pin punch with replaceable tips...just a handle with many pins to go with it.

Or should I buy a bunch of the 1/16" punches from here?

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/sto...+PIN+PUNCH+SET

I've tried the Princess Auto junkers, they are so soft they bend as soon as you hit them once.

Those little sized pins always seem to be stuck too...one of my least favourite things to deal with.

[Claven2]

I just use a small finishing nail bent into a slight curve. works fine.

And by the way, you have to punch that pin out from the bottom.

[Cantom]

I just use a small finishing nail bent into a slight curve. works fine.

And by the way, you have to punch that pin out from the bottom.

this much I know...it did finally come out. The design does preclude a straight attack, it has to be angled.

Any tips on sourcing good pin punches? I have a set of Lyman punches, they're better than most but once again the small ones are history.

[woodchopper]

I feal your pain, my small punches are all bent or broken. I have an old fireing pin that I use for the odd job.


perhaps the decaping pin from a lee universal deprimer die might work too

[tiriaq]

I have a set of the Brownells. The tips are replacable. I find the threaded caps that secure the tips tend to vibrate loose. Might be better with low strength locker. The tips are serious steel.
In my experience, punches almost seem to be disposable tools. I regrind and reshape them as needed. Watch the temper, but you can spin the punch in an electric drill, up against a belt sander ( I use a 1" strip sander) and grind it to the diameter you need. Cheap punches are an abomination. There is good steel to be had, like firing pins, drill rod, etc. that can be reworked as needed.

[sdh1911]

I have the same set a Tiriag and they work very well. I've been grinding down hardened dowel pins for spares-SDH

[Pete04]

Go to htt://catalog.starrett.com/catalog/catalog/groups.asp?GroupID=223

I've used Starrett tools for 40 some years and have been very satisfied. They ain't cheap and no I don't own the company! lol
Pete

[Ian Robertson]

I use Starrett as well and the only one I seem to bugger up is the 1/16". I may order a box of dowell pins that size and loctite them into a handle.

[Pete04]

Some situations call for heating or cooling. Some call for chemicals ie WD40 etc. Sometimes what you really need is a press of some sort. Choose the right tool as well as the right method. And quit beating up your poor punches.(insert smiley thingy)
Pete

[tiriaq]

Ian, the pins used in the Brownells set are ejector pins used in moulds/dies. They have a little head, so are retained by a cap. Setting any hard steel pin into a handle would work. Making up a set with different lengths would be worthwhile.