DIY Knob and Insert Puller

[old wrench]

I was looking through the StewMac tools (once again!!!), and noticed the knob and insert puller that they sell -

Schatten Knob and Bushing Puller - StewMac

Remove a stubborn knob without damaging the plastic, or your finish. Pulls bushings, too!

www.stewmac.com

The price is quite stunning - $85 bucks !!!

But, all you need to build one is a some odds and ends, a few pieces of hardware, and a little spare time.


The heart of the tool is simply a small hard plastic jar - clear plastic is preferred so you can see what you are doing.

Cut the top off of the jar and sand it flat, then drill a 5/16" diameter hole in the jar's bottom.

Use a good-sized fender washer on the top of the puller - it spreads out the force exerted on the puller's top and reinforces it.

I used a scrap of 1-1/4" square tubing for the knob puller - if you don't have any square tubing laying around, you could get creative and weld or braze two pieces of angle iron together.

I made the U-shaped cutout in the puller a little over 1/2" wide so it will easily slip past the pots fastening nut which typically (on the large CTS-type pots) take a 1/2" wrench.

For pulling the threaded inserts used for Gibson-type tail pieces you'd use a 5/16" - 24 bolt or the appropriate metric size if you are working on an import guitar.

I added some cushioning to the body of the puller so it won't scratch up a guitar's finish - some rubber tubing with a length-wise slit slips on the edge of the jar and I used some weather-strip adhesive to hold it in place.

That's about it - a simple universal puller for guitar work - and we didn't spend $85 bucks for it either












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[AAT65]

Never seen a knob that didn’t jump right off when addressed with an ESP Multi-spanner…

I bought mine on eBay at least 5 years ago, I think for £5 or something like that… simple and effective. (No, it won’t pull bushings, but for knobs and pots it is an ideal tool.)

 

[Soapbarstrat]

Almost Schatten my pants when I saw that price.

 

[Soapbarstrat]

 

[corliss1]

For getting off stubborn knobs, I have two of these in the toolbox:



Use the non-pointy end, obviously, one can opener on each side of the knob, and a gently pressing motion will pop them off. That way it's even pressure around plastic that is old, and potentially brittle. I've also ground down the end to be extra thin to get into tight spots.

 

[Ted Keane]

$8.59 on Ebay.Or 2 heavy picks.One on each side underneath and wiggle.Buy the tool.Don't use metal things.

 

[old wrench]

View attachment 1205274View attachment 1205275View attachment 1205276

Nice job !!!

It takes very little time to whip one up !!! - fast work !!!

Good idea using the jars top - I'm sure it adds some strength.

You can file a slight bevel into the leading edge of the U-shape so it slides under the closer fitting knobs easier, too


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[old wrench]

Free -



Use some odds ends from your shop and a little bit of spare time


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[guitarbuilder]

Nice and clean looking.

 

[stormin1155]

$8.59 on Ebay.Or 2 heavy picks.One on each side underneath and wiggle.Buy the tool.Don't use metal things.View attachment 1205293

This is what I use. Works every time!

 

[old wrench]

I've always used whatever was handy for prying knobs off, and would rig something up to function as a puller if I needed to remove an insert.

But it'll be nice to have a dedicated tool that works efficiently, and without the chance of marring the guitar's finish


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