Novel solution for problem with punch cylinder head cover

Problem: The head cover for a repositioning cylinder has broken on a turret press in a multi-punching operation. Replacement head covers will take four weeks to arrive and would cost US$21.00 a pair — a lot of money for two pieces of rubber, and a long wait. Without the covers, dents appeared on the punched material, affecting the appearance of the parts, especially after they were painted.

Solution: Not wanting to waste money or time, our tipster went on a mission to find an alternative for the head covers. What he found was rubber crutch ends at a local pharmacy. Some hardware suppliers also carry them. He gave them a try and they worked fine, and the cost was only C$5.00.

Quick tips

A quick way to demagnetize the tip of a screwdriver is to place the blade through the loop of a soldering gun, then turn on the gun and slowly draw out the blade and move it away from the gun.

During a machine overhaul, treat the old bearings like they are new until you’ve had a chance to clean and check them. Some might be suitable for re-use. If you toss them around, you might damage a bearing that could have been salvaged.

Tired of teaching the same old maintenance technique over and over? Get a colleague to videotape you while you do a job and explain the procedure, then let the new guy view the video next time the machine needs work.

Do you ever leave a valve on a compressed air line open just a crack to drain away moisture? It’s probably wasting a lot of money, since as much as 70,000 scf of air could leak out of a 1/32-in. opening each month. Install an automatic drain valve and the reduced leakage will pay for it.

Can’t turn a stuck valve? Try turning it closed. It just might loosen the corrosion enough to unstick the valve.

Worried about water in hydraulic oil? Heat up a few drops on a stove or hot plate. If the fluid sizzles and bubbles, there’s water in it. If not, it’s okay.

There are various sizes of the crutch ends available. They also can be used for the anti-slip rubbers on rolling stepladders.

Thanks for this tip go to George Bell, a millwright in the plant maintenance department of Marconi Communications, St. Thomas, Ont.