Turret eyelets cracking when mounting.

[RockinRocket]

When staking and mounting turrets, using a staker the eyelet part that bends to the board seems to crack. It dose not crack inside the turret but im worried that it could have problems over time. Is this normal or is my technique off? I already had to figure out how to use washers so the turrets wont bend! Thanks for the help!

[NickC]

I stake them using a drill press, and staking jig (staking tool and matching anvil) from Watts (link below). Haven't had splitting problems.

Search Under "Turret Tools"
http://www.turretboards.com/

[xtian]

I have had some turrets split where they flare out, some not. The ones that split did not seem any weaker than others.

[RockinRocket]

Thats good to know. Unfortunately I dont have a drill press and Im stuck doing it old school.

[10thTx]

I have had them split if I used turrets that were too tall on board material too short.

With respect, 10thtx

[LeftyStrat]

I have a set of these, I bought for the wife and kids to do crafty stuff:

http://www.harborfreight.com/25-piece-d ... 93539.html

One of the ball sizes (I'll check when I get home) does a better job at staking eyelets than anything I've ever used. No more splits.

Unfortunately buying the whole set for that one function is probably cost-prohibitive.

[LeftyStrat]

I have a set of these, I bought for the wife and kids to do crafty stuff:

http://www.harborfreight.com/25-piece-d ... 93539.html

One of the ball sizes (I'll check when I get home) does a better job at staking eyelets than anything I've ever used. No more splits.

Unfortunately buying the whole set for that one function is probably cost-prohibitive.

Oops, you're talking turrets. I haven't tried it on turrets.

[Ken Moon]

The board on the right in this pic is a pre-made Keystone board - the board I made (on the left) used Keystone 1509-3 turrets and the Keystone TL-8 staking tool in a drill press. Both boards are .093 thickness G10/FR4. I used the anvil that turretboards.com (Watts tube audio) used to sell, but I see they have some different anvils now.

It's important to use exactly the right diameter drill for a tight fit - I think these turrets use a #32 drill.

As you can see from the pic, the Keystone staking tool doesn't press the bottom edges of the turrets down against the board as tightly as they are in Keystone's pre-made board, but I've never had one loosen up, even though I've used the turrets to bend the leads of some thick-lead components (you're really not supposed to do that).

If your turret is cracking, maybe you could try a little less pressure when flaring it out, or if using Keystone turrets, get their matching staking tool, which can be used with just a hammer if you don't have a drill press.

[img761]http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t346 ... urrets.jpg[/img]