Thread: When Pins Cannot Be Tightened

Originally Posted by WW243

I'm doomed!

Not so bad. It would behoove you to drill the head off of at least one side and gently wrestle it out. You will see what you have!
I have seen crushed scales which never got tight with bent pins. As one is installed, it might be slightly bent, but works fine.
A hundred years later, the horn has dried out and as trying to tighten, too much tapping will result in the pin folding on over. From there, it is hopeless!
As to pin length, I have a saying 'Always make the top pin too short. If you make it just right, it will be too long!'
We must take into consideration the extreme taper of the tang on most old Sheffields. As you peen to tighten, the scale will need to conform to this taper. This tends to make pins seeming just right too long! Also the taper is reversed as the razor is opened fully. The ends of the scales may bind on the tang. I tighten a lot of them with the razor half or fully open and sometimes add a spacer on either or both sides to even things out. All are different, it seems!

Like I said, I'm doomed.
Now for the good news, yesterday after a long session on the hones, stropping (length end to end about a miles worth, thanks Darl) and using MDC for the first time I got the best shave to date based on fun x efficiency. So the next caretaker in line will have to do the drilling and refining. I'm just a simple caveman who got lucky on the bay. Plus, I thought behooving was more of a blacksmith thing.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Not so bad. It would behoove you to drill the head off of at least one side and gently wrestle it out. You will see what you have!
I have seen crushed scales which never got tight with bent pins. As one is installed, it might be slightly bent, but works fine.
A hundred years later, the horn has dried out and as trying to tighten, too much tapping will result in the pin folding on over. From there, it is hopeless!
As to pin length, I have a saying 'Always make the top pin too short. If you make it just right, it will be too long!'
We must take into consideration the extreme taper of the tang on most old Sheffields. As you peen to tighten, the scale will need to conform to this taper. Also the taper is reversed as the razor is opened fully. I tighten a lot of them with the razor half open and sometimes add a spacer on either side to even thing out. All are different, it seems!

If you have to repin it there are alot of ways to remove the pins. You can drill it out, flush cutters work, but if the scales are brittle they can snap the scales, and what I like to use most times if I can get it into the pivot is a jewelers saw and just cut the pin in half and pull it out. There are alot of videos of how to repin a razor. Just remember to not use alot of pressure cause that can cause a pin to bend. Good luck and take it slow. Broken scales mean more work.