BENT SPLITPINS REMOVAL ?

[BabaYaga]

How do you keep track of the number of cycles? Much safer to renew each time. Mind you I don't always practice what I preach.

If Selden, a respected sparsmaker, advises that split pins may be safely reused up to 10 times, I struggle a bit to see how it could be much safer to renew each time.
But each to their own!
People may look differently on this depending on how often they unstep their mast. I do so every autumn.

 

[penberth3]

Like the coal man's leaving the empty sacks by the front door.

Always one sack more than the number delivered, allegedly.

 

[penberth3]

If Selden, a respected sparsmaker, advises that split pins may be safely reused up to 10 times, I struggle a bit to see how it could be much safer to renew each time.
But each to their own!
People may look differently on this depending on how often they unstep their mast. I do so every autumn.

Selden can't possibly know the quality of your pins or the amount of bending and hammering they've had. I'd ignore that piece of advice.

 

[capnsensible]

I notice that riggers often leave the old split pins on the deck.

It's a great way to annoy your racing competitors. Chuck one on their deck especially if they are overtaking.

 

[BabaYaga]

Selden can't possibly know the quality of your pins or the amount of bending and hammering they've had. I'd ignore that piece of advice.

You are free to ignore any advice you choose, but perhaps read first and discard afterwards?
Of course they do not give carte blanche for reusing any split pins with unknown history that may have been mistreated. As a supplier of rigging hardware they are likely refering to their own branded pins and those of similar quality. And used according to their instructions.
The advice is taken from their booklet Hints and advice, available online, page 20.

 

[[70521]]

If Selden, a respected sparsmaker, advises that split pins may be safely reused up to 10 times, I struggle a bit to see how it could be much safer to renew each time.
But each to their own!
People may look differently on this depending on how often they unstep their mast. I do so every autumn.

I wonder where they get their split pins from? For me they are a one use item and frequently checked.

 

[penberth3]

You are free to ignore any advice you choose, but perhaps read first and discard afterwards?
Of course they do not give carte blanche for reusing any split pins with unknown history that may have been mistreated. As a supplier of rigging hardware they are likely refering to their own branded pins and those of similar quality. And used according to their instructions.
The advice is taken from their booklet Hints and advice, available online, page 20.

Your post re: Selden's advice didn't say that.

 

[B27]

I've re-used split pins for various things.

I've only ever known them break when you bend them to remove or refit them.
If they are getting bent at other times, they will probably fail whether they are new or not.

For standing rigging, I generally bend them a long way, so the ends don't stick out.
That tends to mean once they've been removed, they are not in a good state to re-use.

 

[PabloPicasso]

Agree - as long as the pin ends are not liable to catch anything.

Where possible - I prefer to swap out pins to split rings .... some people hate them - some people like them ...

Split rings can catch and be bent open straight in a manner that allows them to fail and fall out.

This cannot happen to split pins
Yes, split pins are a nuisance, but then, so is your rig falling down.

Use the right tools for the right job!!!

 

[Poignard]

The risk of a split pin snagging anything can be greatly reduced by not using overly long ones:

vs

 

[penberth3]

Just got mast down with club hoist.

But a devil of a job removing bent over splitpins.

What tool/method makes it easy ?

Back to the original post. I normally use vise-grips for difficult split pins.

Straighten the legs of the pin as much as possible. Grip the legs and tap the adjusting screw to start the pin moving. Gently - I'm not keen on hammering hand tools! When the head of the pin is far enough out, grip it and pull. If it's tight, you can gently tap the moving jaw of the vise-grips, where it curves to the handle rivet.

It can be easier to cut the head off and pull the legs out one at a time, there's more to grip. If there's room, cut the head off and use a hammer and pin punch. If everything's rusty, cut head and legs off and punch out the remains on the bench.

 

[Halo]

Mole grips or vise grips if you prefer the term work well for me. Use them or pliers to get the pin legs roughly straight and twist and pull from the round end

 

[michael_w]

Use monel seizing wire on rigging screws, Quick and neat, no need to tape up either, just tuck the pigtail out of the way,

 

[Ian_Edwards]

I like to use new split pins every time, and have box of assorted split pins on board.
However, the new pins are always too long, and I find them difficult to cut, on deck and often in hurry.
None of my pliers or wire cutters will cut them, and I finish up using a Dremel and a small grinding wheel.
Any better options for shortening split pins?

 

[penberth3]

I like to use new split pins every time, and have box of assorted split pins on board.
However, the new pins are always too long, and I find them difficult to cut, on deck and often in hurry.
None of my pliers or wire cutters will cut them, and I finish up using a Dremel and a small grinding wheel.
Any better options for shortening split pins?

Buying the right size pins is the obvious answer. Or, if you have a lot that are too long, cut them on the bench at home, your Dremel or junior hacksaw. It helps to have one leg longer than the other, easier to open. Hardly worth the effort for small sizes.

 

[B27]

I'm surprised so many are having such difficulty.
A decent pair of pliers of the right size is all I've ever needed for split pins.
Generally, if an old split pin is too mangled to easily come out, it soon breaks if bent back and forth with pliers.
Get rid of one arm, straighten enough of the other to push the pin back a bit, break that off and pull it out.

 

[Poignard]

I'm surprised so many are having such difficulty.
[...]

And I'm surprised you think 'so many' have.

Only one person, the OP, has said he has had difficulty removing split pins.

Everyone else has a favourite method, which they have described.

 

[Neeves]

Like the coal man's leaving the empty sacks by the front door.

They never left the empty sacks in Scotland, they had value.

Jonathan

 

[rogerthebodger]

Getting back to split pins I have used an some rigging these kind of safety pins easy to remove and refit made in stainless steel

 

[penberth3]

They never left the empty sacks in Scotland, they had value.

Jonathan

You misunderstand. At the end of the delivery the sacks were left for the customer to count. Customer paid. Empty sacks back on the lorry.