Tiny Punch For Locking Bolt Pin?

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I have looked all over for a pin punch small enough for that little pin that holds the locking bolt in place. Looks to be about .050".
Tried grinding one down and that just doesn't get it.

Anybody have a source for these tiny punches?

thanks!
 
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I have a set of old Starrett Machinists punches that belonged to my Grandfather that I use. The smallest one measures 1/16" which if I recall is what I have used to remove said pin. I have not removed one in a few years, but since I do not own a smaller one it must have done the job. If for some reason your revolver has a smaller pin (as you say it is .050") I would try turning one down from the .0625" (1/16") to what you need with emery cloth instead of using a grinder which will be all but impossible to get the tool round.

I would buy a punch that is round you can chuck it in a drill press on a SLOW speed and use emery to take off .012". That is how I would do it. Just go slow and gently and you will wind up with a perfectly round and usable punch. You might also want to shorten the length of the punch as to not bent it when using it, OR you could just emery about a half inch of the tip which should be enough to remove your pin.

Hope this helps.

Chief38
 
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What Chief said. My only modification to his technique would be to use a file as backing for the emery cloth to keep the reduced diameter more constant. I used this technique for years before I finally got a lathe.

Buck
 
IMHO, it is a waste of time turning down all those drift punches when all one has to do is purchase the right size Number Drill, cut off the shank with a Dremel Tool, square up the cut, hold it with a set of needle nose pliers and tap away. Always has worked for me. In fact I did just that job not more than three days ago. The correct size No. drill is No. 55 or 0.054" diameter. And that drill is a lot cheaper than a Drift Punch. ...... Big Cholla
 
I've always turned down punches or bought the right size but I like Big Cholla's idea the best. I would drill a .001" smaller hole in a piece of stock and press in the drill shank so I had a handle though.
 
I use allen-wrenches to make punches quite frequently.
Always a handfull of useless rounded off small and smaller sizes in the 'allen wrench' box.
Cut the short angle handle off so you have a straight punch.
I use a belt grinder to nick it on two sides and break it off with a pliers. Smooth up the break.

Then with the belt grinder I turn one end round for maybe 1/2 the length,,perhaps a bit less.,,just taking the flats off to round.
It's easy to see the allen wrench flats disappear as you grind and end up with a round punch.

Takes a couple minutes at most for me to make a punch from one of these in the small sizes.
Keep it from over heating while grinding. No heat treating necessary,,use it in it's original state for the punch. Even the cheap ones hold up well as punches.
I use some set into a sturdier handle,,some not.
Most w/o the extra handle I loose on my cluttered work benches,,but they usually reappear after a time.
 
BC, if you're going to use a drill bit, you might want to consider using a slightly smaller bit for the punch - less possible damage to the hole. The pin and hole are 0.055", or a #54 drill. #55 is 0.052". 3/64" is 0.0469".

I turn mine down so that I can use a dentist's bit to put a concave surface on the tip when the pin involved has rounded ends. Drill rod is so hard that it is difficult for me to do that freehand with a Dremel.

Buck


IMHO, it is a waste of time turning down all those drift punches when all one has to do is purchase the right size Number Drill, cut off the shank with a Dremel Tool, square up the cut, hold it with a set of needle nose pliers and tap away. Always has worked for me. In fact I did just that job not more than three days ago. The correct size No. drill is No. 55 or 0.054" diameter. And that drill is a lot cheaper than a Drift Punch. ...... Big Cholla
 

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