What are you using to press in turrets?

[markmalin]

Hey all,


I've been using my drillpress and a punch tool from CE Dist to mount turrets in G10 fiberboard.  I'm curious what other people do.  It's hard on my drill and pretty fiddly...not to mention I keep bending the turrets.  Trying to source a simpler way to do this.


Thanks!
Mark

[bmccowan]

I use the tools from right here on Doug's site, and a drill press. Works great.

[markmalin]

I use the tools from right here on Doug's site, and a drill press. Works great.

Man, I don't know how I missed that one.  I just looked it up - looks better than the one I'm using.

[2deaf]

For years I used a 4mm socket, a quarter-inch center punch that I had ground down somewhat, and a hammer.  Now I use a 4mm socket, a staking tool from AES, and a drill press.

[SILVERGUN]

When you brought up this question I remembered this thread; just had to find it:
https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=18227.0

[Ritchie200]

I converted one of these.  I just drilled out the top ram to hold the turret in place and ground the flare angle on bottom post.  Not much throat so you have to do one side of the board and turn it around.  Ram is tighter than most tabletop drill presses so its very accurate.  Mount it on your bench.  Super quick and for $14, cant beat that with a stick.

Jim

https://www.harborfreight.com/watch-case-press-with-nylon-dies-91621.html

[markmalin]

I converted one of these.  I just drilled out the top ram to hold the turret in place and ground the flare angle on bottom post.  Not much throat so you have to do one side of the board and turn it around.  Ram is tighter than most tabletop drill presses so its very accurate.  Mount it on your bench.  Super quick and for $14, cant beat that with a stick.

Jim

https://www.harborfreight.com/watch-case-press-with-nylon-dies-91621.html

Thanks, Jim!  Dang, I saw that and was wondering if it would work.  I ended up ordering a drill holder press -- the type you mount your hand drill to and use like a mini drill press.  I have a couple spare drill chucks so thought I'd rig them up to hold the tools.  Not sure if it's going to work, but if it doesn't, the watch thing looks perfect!

[SILVERGUN]

I converted one of these.  I just drilled out the top ram to hold the turret in place and ground the flare angle on bottom post.  Not much throat so you have to do one side of the board and turn it around.  Ram is tighter than most tabletop drill presses so its very accurate.  Mount it on your bench.  Super quick and for $14, cant beat that with a stick.

Jim

https://www.harborfreight.com/watch-case-press-with-nylon-dies-91621.html

Whoooooa, that little thing is sweet!
Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?...or better yet, just send me yours since we all know you don't actually use it.
Unless, of course, your other hobby is working on watches 

[SILVERGUN]

Mark,
My internet browser thought we might be interested in this one also:
https://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html

[markmalin]

Mark,
My internet browser thought we might be interested in this one also:
https://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html

So....years ago I bought a scope, drill press, a whole bunch of board building templates and some other stuff from a retired amp builder.  He also had this very press which he had set up to do boards and I balked at the price - he wanted 50 bucks for it.  I keep thinking I should have bought it...though for the life of me I can't figure out how he would have set this thing up to do turrets!  It's just flat...did he drill out the punch part?  Hopefully the thing I bought will work


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NCRDLI5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


My thought is -- I will mount one spare drill chuck on the base, then either take one of my beat up drills or remove the chuck and permanently mount it to the top.  Then put the staking tool in one and the other part of it in the other...and hope I can apply enough pressure w/out breaking the silly thing.  We shall see - one way or another I have to stop using my drill press because it's really doing a number on the bearings...

[tubenit]

I have a very nice drill press that I use for my woodworking.  However, I use a hammer and staking tools for adding turrets to layout boards.  Typically my boards are 24-28 rows across and they take maybe around 30 minutes or less to do. I'm happy how they turn out. 

With respect, Tubenit

[markmalin]

I have a very nice drill press that I use for my woodworking.  However, I use a hammer and staking tools for adding turrets to layout boards.  Typically my boards are 24-28 rows across and they take maybe around 30 minutes or less to do. I'm happy how they turn out. 

With respect, Tubenit

Looks good!

[Tony Bones]

I have a very nice drill press that I use for my woodworking.  However, I use a hammer and staking tools for adding turrets to layout boards.  Typically my boards are 24-28 rows across and they take maybe around 30 minutes or less to do. I'm happy how they turn out. 

With respect, Tubenit

The hammer doesn't damage the top of the turret? A tool that fits over the turret so that the hammer blow acts on the  shoulder instead of the top might be useful. My first thought was a piece of round bar stock with a hole drilled in the center (something like what Doug used to sell to put in a drill press) but that would require a lathe to make.

My second thought was a piece of rectangular stock with a hole drilled through the side. You'd place it over the turret sort of like a box wrench and strike it with the hammer instead of the turret itself. Should be simple to make.

My third thought was a small 1/4" drive socket. That's a ghetto solution to be sure, but it might be useful.

Just thinking out loud. I made some tooling for my drill press that works well.

[sluckey]

He's not striking the turret. He's striking the staking tool.

[2deaf]

My third thought was a small 1/4" drive socket. That's a ghetto solution to be sure, but it might be useful.

Ya know...  When I first read that "ghetto solution" thing I took offense to it because I was born in the South Side of Chicago (I'm right proud of that, BTW).  But a lot of the time I seem to be having a culture clash with a lot of folks and I interpret what they say differently than what they meant.  So I asked around and everybody said that "ghetto solution" meant the same thing that I thought it meant.

Maybe you ain't from around here in which case you should be made aware that "ghetto solution" is a racial slur here in America.

I use a 4mm 1/4" drive socket.

[mresistor]

I use a homemade staking tool and a drill press.  like what Doug sells only I made it ..  this is where I got the idea  and they used to have the instructions on how to make your own turret swage tool..  both sides  https://www.tubedepot.com/products/diy-turret-setter-kit

[Tony Bones]

My third thought was a small 1/4" drive socket. That's a ghetto solution to be sure, but it might be useful.

Ya know...  When I first read that "ghetto solution" thing I took offense to it because I was born in the South Side of Chicago (I'm right proud of that, BTW).  But a lot of the time I seem to be having a culture clash with a lot of folks and I interpret what they say differently than what they meant.  So I asked around and everybody said that "ghetto solution" meant the same thing that I thought it meant.

Maybe you ain't from around here in which case you should be made aware that "ghetto solution" is a racial slur here in America.

I use a 4mm 1/4" drive socket.

Hey, so sorry if I offended.

I am in America, have been my entire long life. I, and many people I have known, have used the term to mean a solution that is made from found materials but performs the job. The way I used it (and have heard it) the reference to the word "ghetto" is meant to convey the state of having profoundly little money. Being forced to get by any way you can. There isn't necessarily anything racist about it. The color of peoples skin didn't even enter my mind. Might be that most of the people living in ghettos are black, but how does that mean I shouldn't ever use the word? There are plenty of poor white people in America too. Trust me.

I'll try to be more sensitive about this, but I'm not completely sure that you're not being too sensitive.

[sluckey]

My third thought was a small 1/4" drive socket. That's a ghetto solution to be sure, but it might be useful.

Ya know...  When I first read that "ghetto solution" thing I took offense to it because I was born in the South Side of Chicago (I'm right proud of that, BTW).  But a lot of the time I seem to be having a culture clash with a lot of folks and I interpret what they say differently than what they meant.  So I asked around and everybody said that "ghetto solution" meant the same thing that I thought it meant.

Maybe you ain't from around here in which case you should be made aware that "ghetto solution" is a racial slur here in America.

I use a 4mm 1/4" drive socket.

Wow! All of a sudden you're sensitive? Who'd a thunk that!

[EL34]

I converted one of these.  I just drilled out the top ram to hold the turret in place and ground the flare angle on bottom post.  Not much throat so you have to do one side of the board and turn it around.  Ram is tighter than most tabletop drill presses so its very accurate.  Mount it on your bench.  Super quick and for $14, cant beat that with a stick.

Jim

https://www.harborfreight.com/watch-case-press-with-nylon-dies-91621.html

That harbor freight thing looks cool
Hard to tell how large it is
It's made to press on watch cases, so I can't image it is all that big
It does not take much pressure to swage a turret, so that tool may be the ticket?

[EL34]

Here's an old video of my press

I have since created a way better tool set on my lathe that the one in the video

[2deaf]

Wow! All of a sudden you're sensitive? Who'd a thunk that!

Everybody's sensitive.  I'm touchy.

[shooter]

born in the South Side of Chicago

I worked on the So. Side, lived in south Gary IN.  Wife wanted to go downtown, all the way there, nag,nag.  On the way home I swung into Cabrini Greene (sp?) and asked the locals if they might help my 1st wife to understand we wasn't so bad off  ( I thanked and paid the guys for there advise:)

[Ritchie200]

I converted one of these.  I just drilled out the top ram to hold the turret in place and ground the flare angle on bottom post.  Not much throat so you have to do one side of the board and turn it around.  Ram is tighter than most tabletop drill presses so its very accurate.  Mount it on your bench.  Super quick and for $14, cant beat that with a stick.

Jim

https://www.harborfreight.com/watch-case-press-with-nylon-dies-91621.html

That harbor freight thing looks cool
Hard to tell how large it is
It's made to press on watch cases, so I can't image it is all that big
It does not take much pressure to swage a turret, so that tool may be the ticket?

Doug,

I've got everything stacked at one end of the basement as I'm trying to finish my man cave/radio shack/recording studio.  I'll try to fish it out and give you some measurements.  They are always in stock at my local Harbor Fraught.  So if you have one down the road you can take a peak before you buy it.  Plenty of easy force with this.  I also used my lathe to make the conversion.  Might be a tad difficult to do in a vise on a drill press.  If you take your time tho, you can do it.

SG, I would give it to you because you are correct, I have not used it in years.  HOWEVER, I don't give stuff to people who SHANK me!  Especially since I am all about the love!

Jim

[SILVERGUN]

A great man once said:
"Wow! All of a sudden you're sensitive? Who'd a thunk that!"

[2deaf]

A great man once said:
"Wow! All of a sudden you're sensitive? Who'd a thunk that!"

Confucius?

[SILVERGUN]

A great man once said:
"Wow! All of a sudden you're sensitive? Who'd a thunk that!"

Confucius?

I said great, not wise

[2deaf]

I said great, not wise

Andre the Giant?

[Ritchie200]

Willabe!!!  SG is being mean and picking on me!  I think it would be appropriate to ban him.  2 or 4 weeks or years would be well deserved.  Once again I did nothing to deserve this treatment!

Jim.

[shooter]

Jim, I have a friend in PA, for a couple hundred pretty sure his spokes will explode past 40mph 

[Willabe]

Willabe!!!  SG is being mean and picking on me!  I think it would be appropriate to ban him.  2 or 4 weeks or years would be well deserved.  Once again I did nothing to deserve this treatment!

No, I have a better idea! 

Both of you have to take me to a Cubs/St. Lou. game at Wrigley Field, you guy's buy the tickets and food. Your lucky, I don't drink anymore.    

[SILVERGUN]

Jim, I have a friend in PA, for a couple hundred pretty sure his spokes will explode past 40mph 

Et tu, Brute?

Willabe!!!  SG is being mean and picking on me!  I think it would be appropriate to ban him.  2 or 4 weeks or years would be well deserved.  Once again I did nothing to deserve this treatment!

No, I have a better idea! 

Both of you have to take me to a Cubs/St. Lou. game at Wrigley Field, you guy's buy the tickets and food. Your lucky, I don't drink anymore.    

I'd rather apologize publicly here and now than suffer that fate...

Willabe, I am sorry that you had to be woken up for this.
Long before ze (Ritchie200) single handedly turned this thread into an all out dumpster fire of pure hatred, our most special of snowflake actually did present the best suggestion for the OP.
I will try harder in the future to just ignore zirs obvious lack of credibility and allow zir a safe space to explore zirs fluidity.
https://www.mypronouns.org/ze-hir

Nice to see you,
SG

[Willabe]

Willabe, I am sorry that you had to be woken up for this.

T-Birds said it, "Why Get Up?"

[Willabe]

I'd rather apologize publicly here and now than suffer that fate...

 

Hmmm, when you say "suffer that fate", you must mean having to hang out with Jim, NOT being at a Cubs game? 

[Ritchie200]

I would take you up on that if it were to be a good game.  However.... since we are now looking at the pathetic little bears in our rear view mirror, what’s the point?  YOUR manager has turned a timeless friendly rivalry into a take your life into your hands if you wear cardinal gear at wrigley. Such a shame.  However! If you ever venture down here in the land of respect (like you said you were...) I will treat you to some of the best Italian food in th Midwest and a game at the friendly confines of. Busch Stadium. A place where you are more than welcome to wear your cubbie gear. A place where we give standing ovations to former great players even when they hit a home run against us! A far cry from Philly where they throw snowballs at Santa - hey, not my words!


A public apology from SG......  Hold on......  Let me take this moment in...... with a screen shot.


Dumpster fire Jim


What?
Whaddid I say?
 

[Willabe]

I will treat you to some of the best Italian food in the Midwest and a game at the friendly confines of. Busch Stadium.

Oh joy, red sauce (or do you call it gravy) and pasta. Thank you no. Everywhere you turn another Italian restaurant, red sauce and pasta, red sauce and pasta, red sauce..........   

Not sure I wanna go into Busch Stadium. Too much red everywhere. 

Now blue, that's such a nice color. 

[Willabe]

However.... since we are now looking at the pathetic little bears in our rear view mirror, what’s the point?

Hmmm, let's see, Cubs are winning right now, 10-4 against Mill. and St. Lou is losing to Houston.     

Everybody, a 1, a 2, a 3......  Take me out to the ball game, .......