QuestionI have a metal puncher.. the kind with the different sized circles and you hammer in the rod to cut the circle.
Well, I cut a perfect circle from a larger disc and the thing is STUCK. I tried wd-40 and using a bench clamp to grip and pull it out. I can't get the thing out. Any suggestions? And what can I do to prevent this in the future? Should I grease it with something?
Also, I read somewhere about soldering weights to help keep your project together for easier soldering then a third hand can offer. Do you know where I can find these? Or do you know of any other tools to help keep your project together as you solder? I'm an amateur metal worker and I often used odd objects like books or thick pieces of metal to hold my projects together.. very unstable and difficult. There has to be an easier way?!
AnswerMelissa, was the punch rod too large for the hole? Generally these are a close fit but do not get stuck. All I can suggest is to hammer the rod out from the back side using some strong wooden rod or similar on the punch and hammer on that with the hole plate supported well. A light coat off oil may help in the future but only a light wipe is needed and the surface should not be wet with oil.
Supporting items for soldering depends on the sort of soldering you are doing and the sizes and positions of pieces to be soldered. If you are using low temperature solders as used for stained glass work or electrical work...the sort a soldering iron will melt, then you know the objects must be held firmly to allow the iron to heat the metal and nothing move before the solder hardens. With silver solders and gold solders, the temperature is much hotter and a torch is needed. My work is almost all with high temperature solders and is actually a form of brazing. I hold most work in place with spring loaded soldering tweezers, generally held by hand. A third hand will help but I don't use one often after years of doing it by hand.
You honestly will find the third hand is about the best "commercial" item for holding parts to be soldered. After that, it is up to your inventive thoughts to find a way. A fine stainless steel wire used to bind the parts will work well(use stainless binding wire,not the steel sort since it rusts to easily). Any "soldering weights" are something new to me and I believe such would be limited in usefulness, all depending on what you need to solder.
The stainless steel binding wire, locking soldering tweezers and sometimes small tweezer-like clamps with sliding locks on the sides will help. My coworker uses a third hand and also has places on his bench pin to slip the end of a soldering tweezer to hold a part, using heavy "u" shaped staples to slip in the end of the tweezer. Some jewelers will use a soft charcoal block or soldering pad and push items into the surface to hold for soldering.
There are likely as many ways to hold items to solder as there are projects to complete and not very many are for sale.
Best wishes with you soldering. You will find a way to get it done and I am confident in that.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas
