Got an old camera tripod with oriental writing on the leather case. The parts on the tripod are loose. It has top & side circular metal plates (approx. 1") with two pin holes in them.  To tighten, I need some  tool that woud fit in the dual holes.  Attached is a photo.  Anyone have an idea what I need and where I could find one? Could I make a tool myself? Thanks

If you are at all handy, you should be able to fashion a tool to tighten those. Otherwise, a watchmaker's tool for opening a watch case should suffice.
https://www.google.com/search?q=watch+case+opener&client=firefox-a&hs=qy2&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=S6jCU8LEJual8gHA_YC4Ag&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAw&biw=1280&bih=582

Available at Walmart for $6- $8.

I have a few old pin tools, but if in need, could drill two holes in a piece of quarter inch plate, say 2.5 inches wide, and six inches long.   push in two pins,  and you got it.   If in dire need, find two drill bits that fit the holes, driven ends,  brace across them with a screwdriver, and turn.    Many old instruments, and some machine tools use fasteners like these.  I have never seen a watch back remover, I must look closer. 

If you decide to make a tool, rather than trying to get the distance between pins exact, make a tool with two legs, like a set of dividers, and pins the size of the holes in each leg.  You can then open/close the legs until the pins go into the holes.  This is a fairly common design, see http://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/63940712 for examples and inspiration.  I'm sitting here trying to think of an existing inexpensive tool with legs like that that are likely to be soft enough to drill for pins, but nothing's springing to mind.  Not surprising, as "spring" isn't a common behavior in my mind anymore; "stumble" is far more common.

Looking back up at the MSC listing - I didn't look to see if they have pin spanners with small enough pins for your application.  They might well, which would mean money spent instead of time (everyone's tradeoff on this varies; anymore, I'm often aware of how limited my lifetime time budget is).

Another possibility is to see if you can find snap-ring pliers with interchangeable tips that will open to that size.  They often come with right-angled tips as part of the selection, and might do the job if you don't need to tighten those parts to high torques.

If you need to adjust this thing all time, make a proper pin spanner.
Take the time and make it nice.

If you only need to tighten it once, find a couple of loose brad nails that fit the pin holes tightly.
  Slip a butter knife blade between them and spin.
You will probably have to hold the pins steady with your third hand.................
But I've done it, and so can you.
      yours Scott

You might be able to use a pair of snap ring pliers that have the pin shaped points on them.

Maybe epoxy a nut on it ?

XXXXXX

Quote from: EVILDR235 on July 13, 2014, 05:04:31 PM
Maybe epoxy a nut on it ?

XXXXXX

But then he would be walking around with a tripod glued on. The nut could hurt himself. Better to use a straight jacket or thorazine on nuts, I say.

So where is JH Williams in all this? I want to know?
Williams were the pin spanner specialists for a generation. Nobody made more pin spanners than Williams.
Where did they go? How come I don't have a collection of these spanner wrenches?
      yours Scott

Slipped your mind?

Do you want a spanner collection?

Chilly

>How come I don't have a collection of these spanner wrenches?

For the same reason the rest of us don't.
Williams charged you your firstborn and his next three generations to come for a set...;P

Quote from: scottg on July 16, 2014, 02:40:23 AM

So where is JH Williams in all this? I want to know?

Williams were the pin spanner specialists for a generation. Nobody made more pin spanners than Williams.

Where did they go? How come I don't have a collection of these spanner wrenches?
     
yours Scott

scottg,

I've wondered the same thing... they gotta be out there somewhere.

I see the Williams adjustable hook spanners(1) reasonably often, and I have bought a few.

But the fixed and adjustable pin spanners are nowhere to be found.  And, I could really use them, especially in the smaller pin sizes.

So, you guys that are hoarding all the Williams pins spanners need to spread the wealth amongst your needy "tool brethren".


(1) Note--  I have found all of my adjustable hook spanners at a local flea market that frequently has surplus tools from Fort Hood Army Base.  This (i.e. military bases) may be a clue as to where all the other spanners are.  I don't know this for fact, I'm just speculating.  Of course, I could be wrong:)

>So, you guys that are hoarding all the Williams pins spanners ....

Taking the 5th...



(In fact, only the top one below is Williams, the rest are Armstrong)