Best way to remove Athearn fans from blue box shell

[Todd McWilliam]

What is the best way to remove fans on blue box shells, so I can put cannon fans on? 

[Bdewoody]

I have done this a few times. Here is the way I have done it.  Start by drilling a hole in the center of the fan with a 1/4" drill bit.  From there I used a variable speed dremel tool with a metal cutter to carefully enlarge the hole to near the edge of the fan from therfe I roll up some 400 grit wet or dry sandpaper and continue to open the hole until the cannon fan fits. 

[Forty Niner]

Try what I do Bob, I just mount the shell in the vise on the workbench, shove a full clip in my old Army .45 and get a little "target practice".

When the neighbors get upset I tell them it's the darn flys again!! Funny, they used to bother me all the time by always wanting to visit and such, They don't come around much anymore, don't understand why...............;-)

Mark

[Hamltnblue]

 I think a 45 is just a little overkill. A ball hammer would work but you have to be good. 

As noted earlier a dremel would probably be the best bet. 

[nfmisso]

Another related method: drill a ¼" or so pilot hole in the center of the fan, then enlarge with a tapered reamer - fast but easy to control.

[graphitehemi]

Drill out the center of the fan as close as you can with a drill bit. Take a dowel and cut a slit in the end of it (about 3/4" deep). Cut a long, narrow (about 1") piece of sandpaper, and fold it in half grit side out. Slide it in the slit and chuck the dowel in your drill. Use lower grit sandpaper to ream the hole faster, then switch to finner grit to finish it off. By letting the sandpaper flap in the hole reduces the chance you might make an odd shaped hole as with a Dremel. BTW: these "Flap Wheels" are available (and more effective) but you can get by with making a simple one.

[Darth Santa Fe]

I put a tiny hole in the center with a small hand drill. Then I use a cone shaped drill bit in a drill press to open it the rest of the way. If there's any left around the sides, I use a small file and sandpaper to smooth it out.

[jwhitten]

>>  Best way to remove Athearn fans from blue box shell

Deep discount Accurail...

 

John

[Bdewoody]

nfmisso

Another related method: drill a ¼" or so pilot hole in the center of the fan, then enlarge with a tapered reamer - fast but easy to control.

That's the reamer I wanted to buy but at the time I needed it my budget wouldn't allow it's purchase. I managed to get the holes drilled by the method I described.