Any machinists willing to work for cheap out there?

[RyanM]

I really need some kind of pin press to do some minor gunsmithing. Trying to tape stuff into a vise didn't really work, not enough force. But I'm thinking a reloading press could be converted into a pin press by making a die that screws in normally, but just has a pin punch of the right diameter, and then just use a piece of wood with a hole drilled in it for the base.

Any machinists willing to make me a die like that for cheap? I don't have that much money. And I could definitely see there being some demand for something like that, if it works.

 

[Jim K]

Do you want only one size punch? If so, try using a scrap seating die and drilling out the priming hole of a case that fits the punch. You can then put the punch and case in the die with the punch sticking out through the priming hole. Of course, that kind of jury rig would not be suitable for production work.

I am not sure just how much pressure you need. If you have pins that will be a drive fit, I am not sure a reloading press will give you enough pressure and you might need a small arbor press.

Jim

 

[rcmodel]

Just go buy a dollar-two-ninety-eight 7/8" x 14 tpi soft iron bolt at the hardware store. It will screw right in your press.

You can drill a hole in the end with an electric drill for whatever size hardened pin you want to use. Probably could drill it big enough to fit a set of pin-punches and have interchangeable sizes pretty easy.

If you adjust the bolt down until the press is just about to toggle over at the top of the stroke, it should take out any gun pin with ease.


rcmodel

 

[RyanM]

I am not sure just how much pressure you need. If you have pins that will be a drive fit, I am not sure a reloading press will give you enough pressure and you might need a small arbor press.

I'm not really sure, either. It's to get the trigger pin out of a Kahr, and then back in again. But a reloading press is really the only major "squeezing" type tool I have.

------------

If you adjust the bolt down until the press is just about to toggle over at the top of the stroke, it should take out any gun pin with ease.

Hm, didn't know that the threads used for dies were common enough to find at a hardware store. The only dies I have are ones that I use to reload, so that sounds like my best bet. But what exactly is "toggle?" I've heard that mentioned on here before, and am not really that familiar with linkage and leverage and everything.

Thanks!

 

[rcmodel]

All your reloading dies are 7/8" x 14TPI.
You can buy a bolt at the hardware store with exactly the same thread.

"Toggle over" means when the press linkage starts to straighten out at the top of the ram stroke. That is where the maximum mechanical advantage comes into play.

With the ram all the way down, you have almost zero leverage on the ram.
With it almost all the way up, it will crush the balls on a brass monkey.


rcmodel

 

[redneckrepairs]

'm not really sure, either. It's to get the trigger pin out of a Kahr, and then back in again.

This isnt that rough and can be done with a set of vice grips and a bit of thought . Now if he was talking the sights on kahrs that is a bit different .

 

[RyanM]

This isnt that rough and can be done with a set of vice grips and a bit of thought . Now if he was talking the sights on kahrs that is a bit different .

Yeah, I tried it with a small vise, two blocks of wood with holes drilled in them, and a cut down pin punch. Couldn't get the pin to budge. I tried slipping a pipe over the vise thing, but all I could find was a soft copper pipe, and it bent. Using a big bolt with a hole drilled partway through, and the same cut down punch sounds like it should work, though.

 

[HomerSimpson]

This will do what you're describing, FWIW: http://www.harborfreight.com

Is it worth $32? You're not going to get much machine work involving threading done for less.

I don't think that's the way I'd remove the pin, but I haven't seen what you're trying to do. Not trying to be a smart arse, but are you certain the trigger pin is not cross-pinned, threaded, or retained by a snap-ring, or some other means?

FWIW, I know a lot of guys that find it impossible to knock out pins on AR gas blocks, then when I support the piece on a good SOLID bench and give it a good SQUARE rap with a large hammer, they always come out. The keys here are solidly supporting the part, and don't be afraid of hitting the pin firmly and squarely.

 

[RyanM]

An arbor press will definitely be a good investment later. This time of year, though, probably wouldn't see it before January.

Anyway, yes, Kahr trigger pins are press fit with a hydraulic press. However, unlike the sights, gunsmiths are usually able to get them out and back in with a plain hand press. So I'm hoping a reloading press will do fine.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

I use a hockey puck as a bench block and simply drill a hole through it for the roll pin to fall into. My girl friend or I hold the firearm properly positioned and the other drives out the pin. Simple as that.