Knob puller for stubborn knobs - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

stevehertz · 30th May 2015, 8:16 pm

Bought for use with my guitar repairs I have a Stewmac knob puller that I use to lift and remove any push on knobs that are stubborn. I realised that it could also be used on vintage wireless sets to pull knobs. And so long as the grub screw is loosened, it can also be used on screw on types too. Anyway, take a look at the photo and you can see the configuration of the unit. It won't be deployable in every situation due to accessibility and that sort of thing, but in use it does pull nice and straight and even, so breakage of the knob is minimised. In the photo, the lower part of the metal plate that 'pulls' the knob has a pot shaft width slot in it, so you just slide it under the knob then tighten the wing nut to bring the clear plastic outer body down on to the surface of the set/guitar. If you were handy and had the time, you could make one yourself I guess.

I was going to use it on a newly acquired Pye Fenman 2, but the darned knobs were right down on the surface of the set, so I couldn't position the 'lifter' under the knob! Anyway, I pulled them off straight with my hand and all was ok apart from the the innards of one that I can repair with superglue - I doubt that would have happened with the puller that pulls gradually and perfectly straight.

Stewmac is an American supplier of luthiers tools, you'll find them on the internet, but of course it's not cheap importing stuff from the US. If you do a search for 'knob puller' on auction sites, you can get a much cruder knob puller for as little as £9, but it relies on you pulling straight. Also, with all of these units, being primarily designed for use with electric guitars, the width of knobs that they will accept is limited. Anyway, there you go, you pay your money and you make your choice - or you design and build one to suit your needs!

FrankB · 31st May 2015, 2:30 am

I think one could fairly easily make one of those out of a battery terminal puller and some bits of metal bar. Thanks for posting the info..
Another project for the new workshop when I finally get it done.

vidjoman · 31st May 2015, 8:43 am

Good idea - I like it. However don't think it'll work with a glass scale behind the knob but should be fine with most wooden cabinets. Might crack a plastic cabinet.

stevehertz · 31st May 2015, 8:49 am

Good points - user beware. The main body is actually plexiglass and it has a protection strip along the bottom edge to help spread pressure out on uneven surfaces - it's a cork ring on mine.

line sync · 31st May 2015, 1:59 pm

That is a fantastic idea steve , you`ve got me thinking about making one.

Robin

SurreyNick · 31st May 2015, 9:22 pm

A very simple DIY knob puller I came across on the internet. I needed one last year to get really stubborn knobs off an old Etronic radio. It was dead easy to make with just a hacksaw and worked like a charm. It's currently buried somewhere in the garage but I think this picture, which I worked off to make mine, explains all. BTW I used plumbing pipe.
Nick

stevehertz · 31st May 2015, 9:57 pm

Great job Nick, it looks very close to the Stewmac one in many ways. You don't actually need the main body to be see through once the lifter is located under the knob.

Bazz4CQJ · 7th Jun 2015, 8:34 pm

Draper make a car trim removal tool http://www.tooled-up.com/product/dra...FcXLtAodNmsATg, which needs a little bit of filing on its leading edge, but then works wonderfully. Used it today to remove the knobs on the hob in the kitchen...and they are not willing subjects!

B

stevehertz · 8th Jun 2015, 8:28 am

Good call and will work in most situations, but as mentioned some knobs will break if not pulled up 100% perpendicular without any rocking movement. An example being the Pye Fenman knobs. I may get one of those Draper tools to add to my arsenal though.

30th May 2015, 8:16 pm	#1
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,832	Knob puller for stubborn knobs Bought for use with my guitar repairs I have a Stewmac knob puller that I use to lift and remove any push on knobs that are stubborn. I realised that it could also be used on vintage wireless sets to pull knobs. And so long as the grub screw is loosened, it can also be used on screw on types too. Anyway, take a look at the photo and you can see the configuration of the unit. It won't be deployable in every situation due to accessibility and that sort of thing, but in use it does pull nice and straight and even, so breakage of the knob is minimised. In the photo, the lower part of the metal plate that 'pulls' the knob has a pot shaft width slot in it, so you just slide it under the knob then tighten the wing nut to bring the clear plastic outer body down on to the surface of the set/guitar. If you were handy and had the time, you could make one yourself I guess. I was going to use it on a newly acquired Pye Fenman 2, but the darned knobs were right down on the surface of the set, so I couldn't position the 'lifter' under the knob! Anyway, I pulled them off straight with my hand and all was ok apart from the the innards of one that I can repair with superglue - I doubt that would have happened with the puller that pulls gradually and perfectly straight. Stewmac is an American supplier of luthiers tools, you'll find them on the internet, but of course it's not cheap importing stuff from the US. If you do a search for 'knob puller' on auction sites, you can get a much cruder knob puller for as little as £9, but it relies on you pulling straight. Also, with all of these units, being primarily designed for use with electric guitars, the width of knobs that they will accept is limited. Anyway, there you go, you pay your money and you make your choice - or you design and build one to suit your needs! Attached Thumbnails __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

31st May 2015, 2:30 am	#2
FrankB Heptode Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Olympia, Washington, USA. Posts: 664	Re: Knob puller for stubborn knobs I think one could fairly easily make one of those out of a battery terminal puller and some bits of metal bar. Thanks for posting the info.. Another project for the new workshop when I finally get it done.

31st May 2015, 8:43 am	#3
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,326	Re: Knob puller for stubborn knobs Good idea - I like it. However don't think it'll work with a glass scale behind the knob but should be fine with most wooden cabinets. Might crack a plastic cabinet.

31st May 2015, 8:49 am	#4
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,832	Re: Knob puller for stubborn knobs Good points - user beware. The main body is actually plexiglass and it has a protection strip along the bottom edge to help spread pressure out on uneven surfaces - it's a cork ring on mine. __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

31st May 2015, 1:59 pm	#5
line sync Heptode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kinver, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 634	Re: Knob puller for stubborn knobs That is a fantastic idea steve , you`ve got me thinking about making one. Robin

31st May 2015, 9:22 pm	#6
SurreyNick Heptode Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Wigton, Cumbria, UK. Posts: 728	Re: Knob puller for stubborn knobs A very simple DIY knob puller I came across on the internet. I needed one last year to get really stubborn knobs off an old Etronic radio. It was dead easy to make with just a hacksaw and worked like a charm. It's currently buried somewhere in the garage but I think this picture, which I worked off to make mine, explains all. BTW I used plumbing pipe. Nick Attached Thumbnails

31st May 2015, 9:57 pm	#7
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,832	Re: Knob puller for stubborn knobs Great job Nick, it looks very close to the Stewmac one in many ways. You don't actually need the main body to be see through once the lifter is located under the knob. __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

7th Jun 2015, 8:34 pm	#8
Bazz4CQJ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 4,935	Re: Knob puller for stubborn knobs Draper make a car trim removal tool http://www.tooled-up.com/product/dra...FcXLtAodNmsATg, which needs a little bit of filing on its leading edge, but then works wonderfully. Used it today to remove the knobs on the hob in the kitchen...and they are not willing subjects! B

8th Jun 2015, 8:28 am	#9
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,832	Re: Knob puller for stubborn knobs Good call and will work in most situations, but as mentioned some knobs will break if not pulled up 100% perpendicular without any rocking movement. An example being the Pye Fenman knobs. I may get one of those Draper tools to add to my arsenal though. __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..