Thread: Robeson Shuredge

I score an "X" on the pin with a small file to ensure that the drill(a simple power drill) stays centered, I think I picked it up from someone on this forum, possibly Brad but I don't remember.

Originally Posted by Baxxer

I score an "X" on the pin with a small file to ensure that the drill(a simple power drill) stays centered, I think I picked it up from someone on this forum, possibly Brad but I don't remember.

That is similar to centre punching, take a small punch or even a nail and put it on the centre of the pin and hit it so that it makes a dent, then use that to center the drill bit onto the pin.
Admittedly I have not done this to a razor pin, but I imagine it would be less likely to damage the scale than waving a file around near it.

I use something like this:

you don't have to get fancy with a drill press. Just do like the others suggested and give yourself a mark to hold the tip of the drill bit in place.

I started work on my Duck#6 and thought I'd practice removing the pins like they were washerless (and save the washers at the same time). I wore out a little dent in the center of the pin with a dremel and burr tool, using the Dremel Drill press. I then tried drilling it out. Dang, the plastic started to melt. Fortunately the scales are useless to me (they are the ugly fake bamboo, obviously not original to the blade). Tried to back the pin with some metal to act as a heat sink, still no luck....

Thanks for the tips. I have a few other razors sitting around to play with, I'll try this x or center punch method. However, I still want a drill press anyway.

Be careful going cheap. Pins are very small (usually 1/16"), any slop in the bit or the motor (is this called rollout?) can be frustrating.
While I really like my Dremel with Drill press for many uses, for the purposes of drilling out pins it is near useless.

Runout not rollout.

Twisted oak the hand drill would solve the melting problem, but how difficult is it to drill out by hand?

I've used a cordless drill, as I am also without a drill press. It's a little touch and go, but as long as you are careful it works just fine. I hadn't heard of etching an X on the pin, I'm going to have to try that on my next one.

Etching wont help for a flush washerless pin.

File the head flat first. This takes the work hardening out of the pin. Scribe and center punch. Drill with bit same size as pin.1/16 usually. When you get close to the scale pray you are dead center and go a little below or stop and use 3/32 bit by hand to get the last of the mushroom. Pin vise is best but you maybe able to hold the bigger bit with vise grips or something.