Thread: Stropping with Loose Pin

I have a question for all of you. Does anyone have a blade with a somewhat loose pivot pin?

My pivot is loose only when the blade and scales are in a straight line like a Japanese straight. The only issue that I am noticing is that when I strop, my scales shift and turn inward. This causes me to stop stropping to straighten out my blade and scales and then continue stropping.

any advice on how to get a quick work around would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks....

Well, my first piece of advice would be to figure out why your scales are not doing their job and fix it. Probably by re-pinning them with a spacer washer inside (or without the spacer if they've already been rescaled with one). You might get away with simply tightening the pin a little more.


Barring that, I'd suggest you try to work on holding the razor by the tang while stropping. I found it a little awkward at first, but it's what a lot of the old barbing manuals suggested, or so I've been told, and it eliminates the issue.

I just can't do it, no matter how I hold that tang if the scales are floppy loose I just can't strop the razor correctly...In fact it bugs me so much that I tighten scales on razors that come to me for honing for no charge...

My test for scales is in the NC webcast, actually I just hold the razor loosely upside down in in my hand, if the blade opens, they are to loose...

You can actually tighten a loose pivot pin with a kitchen table spoon if ya have too, just DO NOT let the SWMBO catch you doing it....

no need to re pin- just tighten those bad boys. you should be able to find a how-to in the wiki. It's really not hard...or just send em to Glen

Originally Posted by gssixgun

You can actually tighten a loose pivot pin with a kitchen table spoon if ya have too, just DO NOT let the SWMBO catch you doing it....

Just out of curiosity, have you actually tried this? I've heard several people talk about it, and been told there's a youtube video one it, but the only person I've spoken to who tried ended up with a pivot pin that was badly bent. (so much so that he had no choice but to re-pin)

lol! Almost every razor I own is loose in the pivot pin! So I learned to strop with floppy scales from the get-go....

I have nothing to add except sure, you can tighten the pin. But if you are lazy like me you can learn to strop with wobbly scales.

James.

I hate loose pivot pins and peen them as much as possible. Occasionally this does not work.
You may want to try a stop with less draw. Loose pivoti is no poblem with the linen strop but it is with the latigo strop. That's why I am on the lookout for an affordable horse hide strop.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I just can't do it, no matter how I hold that tang if the scales are floppy loose I just can't strop the razor correctly...In fact it bugs me so much that I tighten scales on razors that come to me for honing for no charge...

My test for scales is in the NC webcast, actually I just hold the razor loosely upside down in in my hand, if the blade opens, they are to loose...

You can actually tighten a loose pivot pin with a kitchen table spoon if ya have too, just DO NOT let the SWMBO catch you doing it....

Exactly my position also. I don't use a spoon, however. I've found the metal base on the handle of a wood chisel works well.

Originally Posted by VeeDubb65

Just out of curiosity, have you actually tried this? I've heard several people talk about it, and been told there's a youtube video one it, but the only person I've spoken to who tried ended up with a pivot pin that was badly bent. (so much so that he had no choice but to re-pin)

Yes I have,,,and yes it does work.. if you use two spoons one on the counter upside down and one to tap with, it works even better...(if I haven't tried it personally I will always put a note in the post) this also potentially gets you in double trouble with the SWMBO

Nothing tightens one with a bent pin if the pin is doing this > inside the razor sometimes they get so bad they act like a spring... This is normally caused by too long a pin to start, whether now or 100 years ago...

As a side note to restoration buffs if the peen is getting overly large, (first sign of to long a pin) you can file it off some and re-peen and save the work or you can just start over...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

As a side note to restoration buffs if the peen is getting overly large, (first sign of to long a pin) you can file it off some and re-peen and save the work or you can just start over...

thanks for this little nugget of wisdom glen.

OFF TO THE WIKI WITH YOU!!!