Trim tool set - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

WaveyDipole · 22nd Jan 2018, 2:54 pm

Does anyone know where to get a decent trimmer tool set from?

I had a couple of these sets (see link below) but I find that those with the finer flat bladed tips don't last long. They seem to twist and break easily as they seem not be be able to deal with the torque of turning a slug that has even the slightest bit of resistance to it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10pc-Trim...53.m1438.l2649

Is there anything more durable available on the market?

I managed to adjust most of the slugs on both the Roberts radios I was working with fairly easily. However, there were a couple that were just a little tighter, although not so tight it seems as for one of them to end up pushed straight down! I had to remove the can and turn it back up from the underside. There was also no damage to the slot in the slug so there was more than enough purchase to engage the tool and turn, although it turned very sluggishly and the tool gave way.

MrBungle · 22nd Jan 2018, 3:07 pm

You can get ceramic ones for professional use but they are rather expensive. I think one set was around £89 ex.

barrymagrec · 22nd Jan 2018, 3:09 pm

This Spectrol trimtool has a metal insert so it is reasonably strong. If the metal affects the result it would at least get you fairly close.
http://uk.farnell.com/vishay/acctrit...ngdom%2Fsearch

Herald1360 · 22nd Jan 2018, 10:47 pm

Ah, the ubiquitous "pot twiddler". Used to be one of the more useful freebies at trade exhibitions.

emeritus · 23rd Jan 2018, 2:25 am

When I was with Plessey, we used to make them from old plastic knitting needles.

Terry_VK5TM · 23rd Jan 2018, 3:50 am

Be careful of the ceramic ones on Ebay and such.

I bought a set and like the plastic ones, any resistance in the slug/trimmer breaks the end off (and they are a bitch to reshape).

ColinTheAmpMan1 · 24th Jan 2018, 6:59 pm

I recently purchased a set of ten trim-tools from Farnell. They are single-ended cream plastic and the plastic bag bears the number 3125083. I haven't damaged one yet, but there again, I tend to go quite cautiously with them. I use them mainly for adjusting trim-pots and capacitors in Tek scopes. Another source of pretty good trim-tools is the inexpensive scope-probes from China. The pack always contains a plastic-bodied screwdriver with a thin 2mm wide metal screwdriver tip. These are perfectly ok for trim-pots, but do tend to affect trimmer capacitors - a bit of trial-and-error is required.
I have also fashioned bigger screwdriver-type trim-tools from nylon rod and glass-fibre reinforced rod with mixed success for tougher jobs.
Colin.

22nd Jan 2018, 2:54 pm	#1
WaveyDipole Nonode Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Leicester, UK Posts: 2,535	Trim tool set Does anyone know where to get a decent trimmer tool set from? I had a couple of these sets (see link below) but I find that those with the finer flat bladed tips don't last long. They seem to twist and break easily as they seem not be be able to deal with the torque of turning a slug that has even the slightest bit of resistance to it. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10pc-Trim...53.m1438.l2649 Is there anything more durable available on the market? I managed to adjust most of the slugs on both the Roberts radios I was working with fairly easily. However, there were a couple that were just a little tighter, although not so tight it seems as for one of them to end up pushed straight down! I had to remove the can and turn it back up from the underside. There was also no damage to the slot in the slug so there was more than enough purchase to engage the tool and turn, although it turned very sluggishly and the tool gave way.

22nd Jan 2018, 3:07 pm	#2
MrBungle Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: Trim tool set You can get ceramic ones for professional use but they are rather expensive. I think one set was around £89 ex.

22nd Jan 2018, 3:09 pm	#3
barrymagrec Octode Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Morden, Surrey, UK. Posts: 1,561	Re: Trim tool set This Spectrol trimtool has a metal insert so it is reasonably strong. If the metal affects the result it would at least get you fairly close. http://uk.farnell.com/vishay/acctrit...ngdom%2Fsearch

22nd Jan 2018, 10:47 pm	#4
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: Trim tool set Ah, the ubiquitous "pot twiddler". Used to be one of the more useful freebies at trade exhibitions. __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

23rd Jan 2018, 2:25 am	#5
emeritus Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 5,349	Re: Trim tool set When I was with Plessey, we used to make them from old plastic knitting needles.

23rd Jan 2018, 3:50 am	#6
Terry_VK5TM Nonode Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tintinara, South Australia, Australia Posts: 2,342	Re: Trim tool set Be careful of the ceramic ones on Ebay and such. I bought a set and like the plastic ones, any resistance in the slug/trimmer breaks the end off (and they are a bitch to reshape). __________________ Terry VK5TM https://www.vk5tm.com/

24th Jan 2018, 6:59 pm	#7
ColinTheAmpMan1 Octode Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Wimbledon, London, UK. Posts: 1,465	Re: Trim tool set I recently purchased a set of ten trim-tools from Farnell. They are single-ended cream plastic and the plastic bag bears the number 3125083. I haven't damaged one yet, but there again, I tend to go quite cautiously with them. I use them mainly for adjusting trim-pots and capacitors in Tek scopes. Another source of pretty good trim-tools is the inexpensive scope-probes from China. The pack always contains a plastic-bodied screwdriver with a thin 2mm wide metal screwdriver tip. These are perfectly ok for trim-pots, but do tend to affect trimmer capacitors - a bit of trial-and-error is required. I have also fashioned bigger screwdriver-type trim-tools from nylon rod and glass-fibre reinforced rod with mixed success for tougher jobs. Colin.