How to stake those Metro turrets??

[BBN-Boys]

Hey gang,

What's the secret to staking or mounting those Metro turrets???

I've had great success in staking the standard Keystone turrets with the Hoffman staking tool in many of my builds. The biggest problem with using the Keystone turrets is when using 2 or more components (resistor, cap, diode) in the same turret. The Keystone turret hole is just to small. Reaming the Keystone turret makes them too weak and fragile.

I've been finding the Metro turrets to be great, except I can't get them to stay in the board. I've been using a 1/8" drill bit and the Hoffman staking tool in a drill press (not spinning off course). When staked, it takes a little push with your thumb to push it back out. I've also tried applying glue when mounting them, but the glue tends to give way when heat from the soldering iron is applied.

Is there a secret staking tool...maybe?? I was thinking that the Hoffman staking tool angle tip may be too blunt for the Metro turrets. Would a sharper angle staking tool work better??

Thanks!

[VelvetGeorge]

I did them the same way at first. 1/8" bit then flared out.
Now they are pressed into the board. I have found Torx type bits that fit perfectly for pressing them in. The optimal hole size is 3mm.

Installed this way, they won't budge.

George

[BBN-Boys]

Hey George. thanks!

So using a metric 3mm drill bit and a torx bit works best.

Can you elaborate more on the torx bit....???
What type of torx bit....T8, T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30, T35, T40??

Thanks again!

[VelvetGeorge]

T10 is the size I found to work best. They might be alittle tight at first.

George

[BBN-Boys]

Thanks again George!! I'll give the T10 & 3mm drill bit a try.

Does anyone have a good source (internet or mail order) for 3mm drill bits??? I'm located in Honolulu so my sources here are very limited.

Thanks.

[VelvetGeorge]

I get a lot of tools and stuff from Mcmaster Car:

http://www.mcmaster.com

Get the high performance bits. I'm able to drill a stack of (10) boards at a time with them.

George

[Andy]

I bought 10 bits for $3.50 total from a guy in England on eBay. 3mm is the key, they press in nice.. I just chuck a punch in my drill press which seems to work great.

-Andy

[BBN-Boys]

George,
When using the torx T10 for staking Metro turrets, do you use the T10 from the top of the turrets or the bottom of the turret???

When using the Hoffman staking tool, the pointy part stakes from the bottom of the turrets. Just wondering if the T10 is used the same way.

Sorry if my question sounds stupid.

Thanks

[VelvetGeorge]

The torx bit goes into the bottom of the turret and presses it into the board from the bottom. There's no actual staking, it's a press fit. It takes about 15lbs. of torque to press in and the turrets stay right in place.

George

[Andy]

Like I said I use my drill press for the same thing. I put about a 2" long piece of 1/4" abs pipe in the clamp directly under the drill. This allows the turret to stake really tight, with a center punch chucked in the press. I am curious what advantage the torx pattern might give? I am thinking of still pressing 'em in with the drill press but maybe chuck the end of a T10?

-Andy

[BBN-Boys]

Your guys are GREAT!!
Thanks for the help and advise.

[VelvetGeorge]

Andy, that's basically how I do it too.

I put the torx bit in my drill chuck and have a backing plate that the board sits on. The plate has locating pins that go in the mounting holes on the board. And holes drilled only where turrets go.

George

[AmpegSVT]

Just pinch them ever so slightly with a pair of wire snippers just above the eyelet looking end and they fit snugly in an 1/8" hole.

[frenchie]

I did them the same way at first. 1/8" bit then flared out.
Now they are pressed into the board. I have found Torx type bits that fit perfectly for pressing them in. The optimal hole size is 3mm.

Installed this way, they won't budge.

George

are you really sure about the 3 millimeters hole ????? i 've obliged to find a american inch sized bit on turretboards.com to make properly sized holes on the fiberboard ...i used a european 3mm bit once but before stacking the split turret the turret was loose in the hole ...after i made another board drilling with american standardised bit the split turret fitted like a hand in a glove then i could at last start to hammer it .... well perhaps the thickness of the board material counts too ...red fiber is very thin so the skirt of the turret may have more lenght to reach the borders of the hole ....but on other materials i really don't see how i could do with my american bit

[VelvetGeorge]

3mm is correct for the Metro eyelet type turrets. For split turrets use 2.6mm for a press fit and 2.8mm for a traditional staked fit.

VG