Author Topic: What tool for pot nut?  (Read 4148 times)

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Offline veedub565Topic starter

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What tool for pot nut?
« on: October 09, 2020, 03:26:01 pm »
Hi, what tool do I need to undo this potentiometer nut (pic attached)

I tried long nose pliers and they don't really fit too well, plus its very tight.
 

Offline tooki

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2020, 03:28:50 pm »
It’ll likely be a custom tool from the pot manufacturer. But it’s just a pipe with two areas milled off, should you happen to have access to a shop.
 

Offline Tomorokoshi

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2020, 03:30:35 pm »
Normally I would use a "circlip" tool. If you do, be careful about the torque, although the tips are usually hardened. There are couple different styles out there.
 
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Offline mikeselectricstuff

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2020, 03:59:26 pm »
OK - was looking on phone. Shouldn't be hard to make a tool out of a flat plate for this ( pc slot cover?)
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Offline veedub565Topic starter

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2020, 03:59:46 pm »
Thanks, no access to a machine shop so I'll give circlips a try.
 

Online themadhippy

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #7 on: October 09, 2020, 04:32:42 pm »
you may be able to boged a tool out of fork
 

Offline mikeselectricstuff

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #8 on: October 09, 2020, 04:38:33 pm »
Thanks, no access to a machine shop so I'll give circlips a try.
I was thinking more along the lines of a hacksaw and a file..
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Offline ebastler

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #9 on: October 09, 2020, 05:19:59 pm »
I would try with a screwdriver and a small (!) hammer, to be honest: Set screwdriver into one of the slots, angled such that it wants to push the nut counterclockwise, then lightly tap the driver's handle with the hammer. Try alternating between the two slots a couple of times if it does not come loose right away.

Yes, that's botching it, but only mildly so...  ::)
 

Offline helius

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #10 on: October 09, 2020, 05:29:17 pm »
A tool for a pot nut would obviously be a roach clip...
 
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Offline bob91343

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #11 on: October 09, 2020, 05:39:32 pm »
I have encountered this many times.  I do recall at a camera repair class that the instructor suggested a Crescent 777 pliers with tips modified to have a gap when closed.

One way is to find a pair of pliers that has tips closely matching the width of the slots.  Another is to use a small screwdriver that you lay into one of the slots and tap with a light hammer in a direction so as to turn it counterclockwise.

One of these schemes has always worked for me.
 

Offline tooki

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #12 on: October 09, 2020, 05:53:49 pm »
FYI, these things are also used on many panel-mount safety banana sockets. Depending on the diameter, one of their tools might work. I’d check out some banana manufacturers.
 

Offline Benta

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #13 on: October 09, 2020, 06:02:32 pm »
The search term is "round slotted nut" or "slotted round nut". Tools are available but hard to find.

The best homebrew solution is a piece of steel tube with the same diameter as the nut, with the end filed/milled/ground down so that two tangs fitting the nut remain.

« Last Edit: October 09, 2020, 06:06:05 pm by Benta »
 
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Offline Cerebus

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #14 on: October 09, 2020, 07:22:52 pm »
The classic quick workaround for this for this is to make yourself a tool out of a short length of steel pipe that's roughly the right diameter. Just file down the end straight across (i.e. on a chord) the whole width of the pipe on both sides to leave a couple of 'nibs' sticking up that are the right size to fit into the slots on the nut. Crossdrill a hole in the other end of the pipe that's the right size to slip a screwdriver through to use as a lever. Takes 10-15 minutes if you've got a sharp file and a suitable bit of scrap pipe handy. If you can find a box wrench roughly the right size you could file it out of that.

The finished tool would look something like the tool top right here:

Anybody got a syringe I can use to squeeze the magic smoke back into this?
 
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Offline ChristofferB

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #15 on: October 09, 2020, 07:29:06 pm »
I usually jam each jaw tip of some needle nose pliers in each slot and get it to turn that way.

70% success rate
30% chance it slips and pinches a fingie
120% chance the nut will be unsalvageable, ugly or both.
--Christoffer //IG:Chromatogiraffery
Check out my scientific instruments diy (GC, HPLC, NMR, etc) Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ8l6SdZuRuoSdze1dIpzAQ
 

Offline veedub565Topic starter

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #16 on: October 10, 2020, 06:21:16 pm »
Many thanks for all the replies, I didn't even know what to search for to begin with but plenty to go at now :)

 
 

Offline MadTux

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #17 on: October 11, 2020, 08:04:03 pm »
My version of that tool ;-)
With a outside tube, the tool won't slip out of the slot in the nut.
 

Offline bob91343

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #18 on: October 11, 2020, 09:33:01 pm »
The difficult part is finding a metal tube of the appropriate dimensions.
 

Offline MadTux

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #19 on: October 11, 2020, 09:47:04 pm »
A lathe and a big metal scrap bin is very helpful in these cases ;-)
 

Online Fraser

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #20 on: October 11, 2020, 10:07:27 pm »
That looks like the front of an R&S CMS5x

I bought lens spanner’s for just this sort of challenge..... and for lens disassembly  :)

They are relatively inexpensive and very useful to have in the tool box. I have all of the types shown in the attached pictures. I paid around £6 each for mine.

Fraser
« Last Edit: October 11, 2020, 10:10:07 pm by Fraser »
If I have helped you please consider a donation : https://gofund.me/c86b0a2c
 
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Online notsob

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #21 on: October 11, 2020, 10:28:14 pm »
 

Online amyk

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #22 on: October 11, 2020, 11:55:19 pm »
I would use a pin spanner of the right size. A punch and a hammer may work too.
 

Offline Benta

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #23 on: October 12, 2020, 04:18:33 pm »
Judging by the OP's photo, the nut sits too deep for a pin spanner.
 

Offline tkamiya

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Re: What tool for pot nut?
« Reply #24 on: October 12, 2020, 09:41:44 pm »
Two flat-head screw drivers and a vice grip.  Crude and prone to slip, so controlling force and being gentle is very important.
 


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