Need a tool...

[Dargo]

Okay, go ahead and say "told you so" if you want, but I have a cheap #$@@ Horrible Fright tool that broke and is now causing me big problems. I needed to drive a small roll pin out of something and the only punches I had were a cheap @#$#! set from HF. The manual said to "drive the roll pin out with a 3/32 straight punch. So, that's what I did. However, on the 3rd tap the @#$@! cheap punch shattered leaving a part of it broken off in the hole; wedged extremely tight. The roll pin came out but now I have part of the junk took stuck, and stuck tight.

Further research showed me that the cheap junk punches are not accurate on their sizing and the 3/32" punch from Horrible Freight actually measured just over 7/64". That is besides the fact it was made from pot metal. No wonder it got wedged in the hole so tight! Now I can't find a place that sells quality punches so I can drive the broken junk piece out from the back side. I found that Rural King, Lowes and Home Depot sells the same cheap @#$@ junk Chinese pot metal punches that aren't even sized correctly besides being made from pot metal. The broken piece is in a very expensive part and I do NOT want to cause any damage to it.

Any ideas? I'm told that even though the cheap punch was made from junk pot metal that that metal was hardened to the point that a drill bit won't likely be able to drill it out from the back side. Even though it's trash metal and shatters easily, apparently I'm told I'll have a hard time drilling it. Does anyone know of a good quality name brand of punches I can buy? Right now I'm stuck....literally.

 

[firemanpat2910]

Snap on. best quality. Get a good punch and DRIVE the old junk out dont "tap" it you will mushroom the head and swell it up. Punches are expensive from snap on but they are worth it>

 

[RobS]

Napa auto. Easier to track down than the Snap on man, otherwise I'd agree with Pat.

 

[DanD78]

McMaster-Carr or Grainger. You can order on line and have what you need the next day. Starret punches are good quality if you can find them at an industrial supply house.

Dan

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Snap-on, without a doubt. I have had them for 22 years as forklifts have loads of roll pins and I have not found a punch that holds up like a Snap-on. To get the pin started, you should use a starter punch. They are tapered and much stronger, then you use the straight punch. Also make sure to hold it as straight to the pin as humanly possible.

BTW, the cheap pay twice.

 

[Bird]

I have no doubt that the Snap-On punches are good, just as the Matco punches are. When I was working on air tools, there are lots of roll pins, so naturally I had a set of Matco punches since that's what my brother was selling. But in spite of frequent use, I never had a complaint with one.

 

[Farmerford]

McMaster Carr if you can wait until tomorrow. They carry Starrett. If not, use an abrasive cut-off wheel to cut the smooth shank from a 3/32 drill bit for a make-do punch, after you dress the shank lightly on a grinder to take a few 1,000ths off the diameter. And wear safety glasses.

 

[EddieWalker]

If you need it right now, mine are from Sears. While I don't recommend Craftsman tools to any more, they have held up and I don't have any complaints on my punches or chisels.

In a pinch, I've had good luck with using nails for small things. Just grind the tip flat and don't hit it very hard. The draw back to using a nail is they bend. Sometimes I've had to use quite a few nails, but most of the time, I've had good luck with them.

I don't know what a roll pin is, so I might be totally off base here. My use of nails is mostly for cotter pins and things like that. After buying the full set of punches from Sears, I quit using nails.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[Dargo]

Wah, wah! I can't find a Snap On guy or a Matco seller. My dad has a bunch of Matco stuff, but it's all too big. It was what he used as a millwright and as a master mechanic on mining equipment. Dad gum it! I'd kick the dog I'm so aggravated but he'd most likely take my leg off.

I just tried one from Sears. It started to move it, but then turned into a pretzel. It is definitely better than the darn pot metal Chinese stuff, but not heavy duty grade like I apparently need. I feel like being a kid and rolling on the ground kicking my feet! At least I've not torn up anything but cheap tools. I'm gonna count to 100 now...

Okay. I've decided to stop for now before I do break something expensive and wait to proceed after I get a quality punch set. Anyplace online sell Snap On or Matco punches? Oh, BTW, the item with a broken punch in it is a high dollar Garand. I figure since I've not even put a single scratch on it, I'm better off stopping until I can locate the right (high quality) tool. Thanks for the suggestions. I just need to find where I can get my hands on a set.

*edit*
Isn't there such a tool made for driving in roll pins? I can picture a punch with a pointed center but with some sort of ring towards the outside as to keep the pin from doing the mushroom thing.

 

[Bird]

I don't know what a roll pin is

Eddie, you might know them better as spring pins or split pins as pictured here or here. And yes, I, too, have used nails when I didn't have a punch the right size.