PU Tops

[kobblers]

How many of you on here find that PU top pieces have pins that are too long?

 

We now nip off about a third of the pin as a matter of course as we found that trying to hammer them in at their full length sometimes left a slight gap where they wouldn't sit right.

 

 

Rick.

[keithm]

How many of you on here find that PU top pieces have pins that are too long?

 

We now nip off about a third of the pin as a matter of course as we found that trying to hammer them in at their full length sometimes left a slight gap where they wouldn't sit right.

 

 

Rick.

Surely an empty tube would not pose a problem? I have in the past, seen PU pins that have a slight lipped colar on them so that they dont sit flat though

[kobblers]

To be honest Keith I don't know why there's a problem. We've only experienced trouble in the past couple of years.

I don't know if the pins have got longer but even with an empty tube we've found that they sometimes don't go in like they should and there's only so many times you can hammer them before the cap becomes deformed

 

I know what you mean about slight lipped collars. We've had a lot of the beige PUs in the past that have this and they're a bugger

 

Rick.

[kobblers]

To be honest Keith I don't know why there's a problem. We've only experienced trouble in the past couple of years.

I don't know if the pins have got longer but even with an empty tube we've found that they sometimes don't go in like they should and there's only so many times you can hammer them before the cap becomes deformed

 

I know what you mean about slight lipped collars. We've had a lot of the beige PUs in the past that have this and they're a bugger

 

Rick.

 

I'm not sure if it would be cost viable for the manufacturers to create new tooling to make the pins slightly shorter but I'm sure they'd save in the long run as they'd be saving on the cost of the metal.

 

I spoke to a Phillips' rep at one of the exhibitions once and told him about some of the problems we had and he seemed to think that reducing the length of the pin wouldn't affect how it grips. He also said if enough people were concerned about it then they may look into reducing the pin length.

 

It's killing my arthritis having to keep nipping pins, even with a sharp pair of nippers

 

Rick.

[grahamparker]

Grind them using your scouring bands Rick,thats what we do.

 

Also use a dorma 7/64 stubby drill to make sure tube is fully clear of all plastics and old pins.

[chrisorros]

I found that alot of the tubes have a much longer steel rod in the tube, as the heels are getting much higher. I work in essex so.....enough said. Geussing this may shorten the tube space. Or more likely the lazy ass before you hasn't removed the old pin.

[keithm]

I found that alot of the tubes have a much longer steel rod in the tube, as the heels are getting much higher. I work in essex so.....enough said. Geussing this may shorten the tube space. Or more likely the lazy ass before you hasn't removed the old pin.

Good point Chris, but a drill would be helpful

[theshoeman9]

Ive had this problem & usually sand the tip off. Even if the tube is clear you can still get the problem. My theory is that when inserting the 120 pin tip (which is the norm nowadays) it is slightly too big & as you hammer it down the metal shaves up the side until it won't go all the way in ? if you understand that ? & then what's really annoying is when you try to pull it out to insert a new tip the pin snaps & it needs drilling out. Usually while the customer is waiting !!!

[Paul_]

I supply the Super Tap pu tops (or Dowel lifts if you are American). I'm not sure but I think the pins on these may be a little shorter. I will measure one tomorrow and get back to you.

[completelocks]

Ive had this problem & usually sand the tip off. Even if the tube is clear you can still get the problem. My theory is that when inserting the 120 pin tip (which is the norm nowadays) it is slightly too big & as you hammer it down the metal shaves up the side until it won't go all the way in ? if you understand that ? & then what's really annoying is when you try to pull it out to insert a new tip the pin snaps & it needs drilling out. Usually while the customer is waiting !!!

 

 

I believe this is the problem too, you can actually see it happening sometimes if you look. I run them over the grinder to make them thinner, if they get too thin I just hammer them a little flat, then they are a nice tight fit.