One that’s too large may also deform it, and won’t ultimately enter the pin’s hole to seat the pin-end correctly. A punch that’s too small for the pin will tend to deform and also expand the pin end. Likewise, with use, they often get a tad deformed around their edges, and that’s easy enough to true up with a stone.Ĭhoose and use the right punch. This is especially true when using one as a capture punch, such that it has to extend fully through the hole set. They’re not all perfect, and at times, these little imperfections are annoying if not damaging. I often chuck up a small punch and polish the outside using emery cloth. The shorter ones are a little easier to operate but the longer ones are necessary for some installations, simply because they give clearance beyond rifle parts you don’t want to accidentally mis-hit with a hammer, or have the larger diameter handle portion in contact with a rifle receiver. You’ll notice that there are punches of varying lengths used in the work shown. Use the roll pin progress to drive the capture punch out. Get in the habit of using a capture or “slave” punch, which is simply another, correctly-sized punch, to line up associated holes prior to roll pin installation. A roll pin should never protrude above the surface to ensure no snagging potential. So, with the pin ends at equal depths, should leave each end a tad below flush with the part surface. Most roll pins are a little shorter than the full span of the hole. It doesn’t take undue effort to drive a roll pin, but true hits count. That also reduces any corrosive “sticktion” potentials between the aluminum and steel, making the pin come out easier too. I can also tell you that a drop of oil helps and will never diminish the hold of a roll pin. Steel pins going into aluminum holes make life way harder on the holes than the pins. For a basic build, you’ll need #s 1, 2, 3, and 4. Of course, there are specialty tools, and those are roll pin punches. They are beveled on their ends but that’s not nearly enough to get one started gracefully, and that is the trick- gracefully or not-getting one started. It squeezes down as it enters the hole and this tension keeps it in place. It’s oversized to the hole it fits into by about the gap width of the split. Tip: drive the pin as far as you can using the starter punch, without contacting the part itself with the punch end.Ī roll pin is a hollow pin with a split down its body. Seating roll pins is a difficult and scratch-and-ding producing job without such a punch pair. The nib fits into the hollow in a roll-pin and helps “grip” the pin so it can be seated to flush, plus, without unnecessary marring. After the pin starts and is fully on its way, then switch punches to the one with the little nib on its end and send it on home. It’s sized to fit the outside of a pin pin goes inside the punch. The starter punch has as its sole function and favor getting the oversized pin started into the hole. They are roll pin punches, one to start and one to finish. Alternately, you might be ready to tackle a full-on build project, and that requiring a little larger tool collection. I’m not trying to talk anyone into banging on their guns, but there certainly may be times when a part replacement is in order, and something really simple, like replacing a bolt catch with something from the aftermarket, requires little more than a small collection of tools and a little insight into the process. (Normally I’d have covered the area with masking tape to help ensure against accidental marring, but I left it off for better photo clarity.ĪR-15 parts assemblies-ranging from the gas tube to magazine catch, bolt stop, bolt components, forward assist, sight parts, and more-are secured using roll pins. Protrusion should be equal on both sides, which means it ends up just a little below the surface. Switch to a nibbed-end punch and drive it on home. Drive it as far as you can with this tool. Start the (oiled) roll pin using a starter punch. While a staple for many AR-15s, roll pins are not hard to work with, but a misstep could be catastrophic enough to permanently damage your AR-15. Here’s how to perform the essential construction operations associated with roll pins-the professional way.
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