Rotary Hole Punch Rusted

[frontboot]

I bought an old WM Johnson rotary hole punch recently. A few of the tubes are broken and rusted too snugly in place for me to remove them. I have had the rotary part more or less soaking in PB Blaster for a couple of days, but to no avail. Any suggestions?

[chuck123wapati]

apply some heat with a soldering torch to the tubes only then shoot em again with the pb blaster. the heat will expand the tubes and break the rust. you may need to do it a couple of times.

[frontboot]

I have managed to break them off flush. I have a broken screw extractor, but I want to make sure that the rust in the threads has broken loose/absorbed penetrating oil before I apply force. I'm afraid of stripping out the center of the tubes before they break loose

[bruce johnson]

As much as I’m a fan of PB Blaster, I’ve found a 50:50 mix of acetone and Automatic transmission fluid works when PB Blaster doesn’t. Saw the comparison chart a few months ago and it was higher than my tried and true PBB. 

[frontboot]

I’ve seen that suggested on other forums but  not for leather tools specifically. Thanks for the info!

[AlZilla]

An overnighter in Evaporust might help.

[fredk]

I used to use diesel fuel diluted with paraffin oil. Used hot, and the part heated up with a blow lamp and dipped into the mix and left to soak. Repeated as necessary. Being careful never to get to the paraffin oil flash point

[frontboot]

My cheap vintage eBay hole punchers are about to cost me as much as a good new set. I tried using my screw extractor today after having soaked the whole thing over the weekend in ATF/acetone. After some aggressive words and actions, one of the tubes popped out revealing the fact the tubes and cylinder are not threaded- the tubes have tapered ends that fit into corresponding holes in the cylinder.  Anyone know where I could buy replacements? I have already tried Weaver/Bruce Johnson/Springfield/eBay/Amazon/Buckle Guy/Frog Jelly.

[Littlef]

On 8/24/2023 at 4:25 PM, bruce johnson said:

As much as I’m a fan of PB Blaster, I’ve found a 50:50 mix of acetone and Automatic transmission fluid works when PB Blaster doesn’t. Saw the comparison chart a few months ago and it was higher than my tried and true PBB. 

+1 ATF fluid and acetone is my go to for frozen parts.    I normally soak it for a day or two.  Then, I tap the parts with a small ball peen hammer.  Then, I hit it with heat.  Then, I take a can of compressed air, turn it upside down, and freeze it with the freon from the can.  (expansion and contraction.)   Then, I try to turn it.  If it doesn't turn, it goes back in the bath, and I try it again the next day. 

[frontboot]

15 minutes ago, Littlef said:

+1 ATF fluid and acetone is my go to for frozen parts.    I normally soak it for a day or two.  Then, I tap the parts with a small ball peen hammer.  Then, I hit it with heat.  Then, I take a can of compressed air, turn it upside down, and freeze it with the freon from the can.  (expansion and contraction.)   Then, I try to turn it.  If it doesn't turn, it goes back in the bath, and I try it again the next day. 

I managed to get them unstuck, but now I'm trying to figure out where to buy replacement tubes that aren't threaded. This is what I get for trying to go cheap.