Thread: What are you working on?

Bummer Richard, I just broke a set of horn scales in a razor I was to hone for someone else. Hate seeing it but, all we can do is move on.

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

Bummer Richard, I just broke a set of horn scales in a razor I was to hone for someone else. Hate seeing it but, all we can do is move on.

Frustrating when it is our stuff and recovery is when we get around to it.
Having it go wrong on someone else's has to be a lot more stress. It has happened to me also.
So you have the right of it! "Keep on Truckin' "

~Richard

Twice now I've broken Bakelite scales at the pivot when pinning or unpinning. I always feel bad about ruining things that are older than I am! But these materials are really brittle.

I'm pretty apprehensive about pinning my first bone scales -- they've been soaking in neatsfoot oil for a few days, maybe that'll help. I'll probably try it this week.

Richard, glad to hear you're back in the saddle on that one! That's what matters, much more than finishing it (although finishing it is of course more satisfying).

Originally Posted by jmabuse

Twice now I've broken Bakelite scales at the pivot when pinning or unpinning. I always feel bad about ruining things that are older than I am! But these materials are really brittle.
I'm pretty apprehensive about pinning my first bone scales -- they've been soaking in neatsfoot oil for a few days, maybe that'll help. I'll probably try it this week. ...snip...

Have plenty of good bright light on the work area!
If the material is about 2.5mm thick (0.1 inch)thick or less it will flex. I used German Silver ( white brass) pins and they are freaky as to being too hard/soft/bending,work hardening.. Regular brass pins get my vote!
By taper, I mean just a few thousandths larger diameter at the outside surface.

Best drill bits are split point! , pin holes seem to go better with a # 51 or #52 split point drill bit. ( Great for drilling out pins too! starts easy!)

Taper the hole from the outside, a few earlier posts about that...it allows the pin to expand. Taper the hole from both sides in the wedge leaving only a bit of the diameter in the center of it. ( Makes adjustments easier.)

Mock up the whole thing with #00 bolts& nuts. Then start with pinning almost to final on the pivot with the blade still slightly loose. Then pin the wedge end and adjust it as you go for blade centering and fit. Then if all is still cool, final the pivot and then the wedge. Do your last stroke on the pivot with the blade open...carefully, checking tension by slowly swinging the blade closed and open.on the blade. That is when the pressure on the scales is highest due to the spring of properly bowed scales. And, I have known newbys' to do it totally correctly so I don't even try to warn them!

Whew, nothing new there but some things that have worked for me in the past.

YMMV!
~Richard

Originally Posted by Geezer

Frustrating when it is our stuff and recovery is when we get around to it.
Having it go wrong on someone else's has to be a lot more stress. It has happened to me also.
So you have the right of it! "Keep on Truckin' "

~Richard

Stress didn't really put into words what I felt I about ruined my undies and all but ran away from my work bench. I was so mad, come to find out a bent pivot pin was the culprit. I apologized profusely and luckily this man is a true gent. He accepted my offer to make him new scales, hone it as originally intended and ship it back.
Still hate seeing original scales break.

Good details on pinning Richard. Some times we forget the details.

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

Bummer Richard, I just broke a set of horn scales in a razor I was to hone for someone else. Hate seeing it but, all we can do is move on.

How bad...!!
I might be able to fix it...maybe.

Originally Posted by outback

How bad...!!
I might be able to fix it...maybe.

The doctor is in....

Scale tea anyone?

Originally Posted by xiaotuzi

The doctor is in....

.....