Thread: loose pin on ivory scales

I understand there is a method where you use a spoon and an anvil to tighten the pin on a razor. The razor I have that needs tightening has genuine ivory scales. Am I in danger of ruining the scales? Is there a better way?

I had to tighten a razor with ivory scales and was just as worried, but I did it slowly and made sure not to use alot of pressure when hitting the pin. I have never used the spoon method, but you just have to be careful not to hit the scales hard cause they can crack. Good luck.

Originally Posted by dcaven

I understand there is a method where you use a spoon and an anvil to tighten the pin on a razor. The razor I have that needs tightening has genuine ivory scales. Am I in danger of ruining the scales? Is there a better way?

It works... and works well. It's important to use a hard, flat surface underneath, and to keep the scales more-or-less parallel to it and not touching it. I like using a soup spoon, and tap-tap-tapping my way to tightness. Somewhere, someone suggested taking a piece of paper, or cloth -- say, 2" x 2" -- and punching a hole in the center; place the hole over the pin-to-be-tightened, as that "ounce of prevention" against damaging the scales if you miss the pin, or something slips.

Good luck, and smooth shaving!

Be careful and remember 200 little lite taps are better than 50 harder taps and make sure you are resting the opposite side pin on a heavy solid piece of steel and you should feel a nice solid feedback from this while you gently tap away, good luck.

Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Be careful and remember 200 little lite taps are better than 50 harder taps and make sure you are resting the opposite side pin on a heavy solid piece of steel and you should feel a nice solid feedback from this while you gently tap away, good luck.

Wisdom!

If you have one of the Dia-Sharp DMT-series honing plates, you can turn it over and use the bottom as a "backstop".

I think you are better off useing a hammer head in a vice JMO,has a curve to it which will help keeping the scales off the metal surface

Bring it to the Houston meet! I will help you bust em!

Tap it very, very, very, very, very, very , very, very, very, very, very , very, very, very, very, very , very, very, very, very, very lightly, itll eventually tighten up, and dont hit dead center on the pin, be sure and check out the vids on youtube on how to pin a razor. Also is the blade still centered and only loose? May need to tap on a certain side to help align the blade in the scales as well