Snap Button Upgrade instructions

In later versions of the portable rig, I added Snap Buttons to prevent leg sections from inadvertently sliding out
during set-up or break-down. 
 This happened rarely and usually because of incorrect screw tightening or set-up procedures.
This was covered in the set-up manual. Follow the link to see it in the manual.

This is instructions on how to retrofit your rig with snap buttons if you need.

The button will prevent the leg from slipping out in the event that the screws/leg have worked themselves a bit loose.
Note that the leg can not slip out once set up and in use.

You will need to do this on all the leg sections on both ends, and on the short leg stubs on the top header.
 ======================================================================

Please read the entire instructions 1st before starting. If you have any questions, please call me 1st.
If you mess up, it is really had to undue/fix it.

1st we need to locate the holes for the snap button so that they line up properly when the 2 leg sections are slid together.
 This needs to be done fairly accurately.
Here is where they go.

Here is how to locate the hole locations and how to drill the hole precisely.

1st locate and mark the hole location 2" from the end and make fine a line,
From the end of tube on the end of leg that has the set screw. This is a 1 3/4" tube and center is at 7/8"
         (Note, the old light duty rigs, the tube size is different)

Then then find the center of tube and mark that.
To find center, measure from both sides and make a fine line, if you are off a little, then you will have 2 lines and center is between those 2 lines.

On the OTHER end of the leg, with the narrow inner insert tube, measure 2" from the end of the bigger outer tube. then find the
center of that tube.  This insert tube is 1 1/2" and center is 3/4"      (older light duty rigs have smaller tubes)

Now prepare to drill.

If you were to try to drill with the final size drill bit of 7/16" right away, the drill bit would wander before it starts to drill, meaning the
hole will not be where you really want it.

So 1st, use a CENTER punch and hammer to put a small dimple hole precisely where you need it.

This allows you to get a very accurate location.
Now, again, if you try to drill right away with the 7/16" drill bit, it would most likely still wander because the end of that
Large drill bit has a broad point. So 1st you will need to drill a small pilot hole with a small drill bit. about 1/8" bit will do.
This small drill bit should stay centered in the dimple made my center punch.
ONLY drill one side of the tube, Do not try to drill out the OTHER side, Button only goes on one side.

This will now make a small hole that the larger drill bit will stay centered in.
You may even want to follow that up with another slightly larger drill bit like a 1/4" to make an even
larger pilot hole for the final drill bit of 7/16"

Now drill through with the final drill bit of 7/16"
You only drill the hole on ONE side of the tube, not all the way through.

NOTE, it this sample photo, I did not really drill a pilot hole because this rig leg actually already had the hole
on the other side and I didn't want to mess up a perfectly nice leg by drilling a real hole just for a photo.

Now take a small file and file clean the inside of the tube where the hole is, to remove burs left by the drill bit coming through.
Also take a round file and smooth the outside edge of the hole so that it is not sharp.
Another way to de-burr and smooth the outside of the hole is to take a very large drill bit, like a 3/4" and
VERY LIGHTLY touch it to the hole so that it just takes a TINY amount of the edge of the hole.
Such a small amount that you can barely even see it.

If you are really careful at all this, there will be no damage to the nice paint job on your rig.

Seal the Raw exposed steel.
Use the clear semi-gloss paint and lightly spray the hole so that it has a coating so that it will not rust.
Be careful to NOT get any of the paint on the Set screw or in the set screw hole, else the screw will be un-usable
glued tight by the paint.

 
This paint very closely approximates the shine and texture of your powder coat paint on the rig.

Now insert the snap pin.

NOW test fit 2 legs together.

Note, on this sample photo, the holes are on the opposite side of the set screw. In earlier versions of the rig,
The set screws were closer to the end and the snap buttons would have been right on the set screw location.
If this is the case, the increase or decrease the distance measurements to maybe 3"  account for the location of set screw.

Don't forget to also put this snap Button hole on the short leg stubs on the top header .