Thread: When Pins Cannot Be Tightened

Originally Posted by WW243

I could be wrong but before I ever set hammer to pin I tried to think what was I actually doing. This is what I came up with: I was shortening the pin thereby increasing the diameter. This increased the friction, pretty easy to visualize, just never had anyone tell me if it is right or not.

Actually or ideally, no. You should be peening the pin which means that the metal is being mushroomed at the ends only. This does shorten the pin, and there may be some "fattening" too, but this is what you are trying to avoid. The enhanced friction is provided by the mushroom head pressing onto the scales onto the tang.

tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap check tap tap tap tap ...

Try no to hit hard enough to "swell" the pin. Bent pins are a bit of a chore to get out, but are very easy to do when the hole in the blade becomes enlarged with moisture over the decades/centuries. Bushing is good!