Thread: Loose Pivot Pin Repair??

Hello, my not that old DOVO Palisander has developed a quite loose and floppy pivot pin. I like this razor and enjoy usinmg it as part of the regular rotation, hence "semi-retirement" or putting it up altogether are not oprions. The blade is so loose I fel uncomfortable using it. How can the pivot pin be tightened up some using simple tools (like a hammer and small drift perhaps)? Thanks for any advice.

You can use a tablespoon on a hammer head to peen the pin,be carefull,go slow.

Hi, Phoenix51.
Loose hinge pins are a common thing on razors. Close the bade between the scales, lay one of the pin heads on a flat smooth rigid surface (little anvil, big anvil, railroad track etc.) and apply - carefully - some LIGHT hits with a pinning hammer on the opposite pin head until the blade moves consistently again.
Be careful... I also advice to lock the blade between scales with a rubber band before performing any adjustement.

AGAIN... TAKE IT EASY... do not blow up anything... dozens of light "ping-pings" are correct... one or two "whams!" are wrong.

It's not rocket science.

All righty...seems I have both the tools and technology on hand. Off to the chunk of railroad tie with 2 oz. ball peen hammer and teeny, tiny Snap-On drift in hand. Now I know why I prefer screw-type pivots like Hart Steel, Tim Zowada, and Robert Williams use.

I believe Dovo uses the new "nail head" pins where only one side is peened. Peen that side.

Bob

Originally Posted by Phoenix51

All righty...seems I have both the tools and technology on hand. Off to the chunk of railroad tie with 2 oz. ball peen hammer and teeny, tiny Snap-On drift in hand. Now I know why I prefer screw-type pivots like Hart Steel, Tim Zowada, and Robert Williams use.

I didn't know that. See, learn something new every day. I thought they were all the same!

Originally Posted by BobH

I believe Dovo uses the new "nail head" pins where only one side is peened. Peen that side.

Bob

So I wasn't imagining that. I thought I needed new glasses.
Thanks Bob.

Originally Posted by BobH

I believe Dovo uses the new "nail head" pins where only one side is peened. Peen that side.

Bob

Bob is quite correct - they look like miniature tacks. It is not unusual for the assembler to not force the cup-setting tool down hard enough (you use or make a tool to force down the cup washer, usually a 3/32nd hole drilled in a bit of horn or similar), leaving a lot of pin between the scales. This unwanted length of pin buckles and twists, but seldom gets tighter - unless you really whack it and risk breaking the scales.

I have taken apart and re-done so many Dovos assembled poorly like this that it is no joke.

If you have used a fair number of hits and the blade refuses to get tighter, this may be the cause.
Regards,
Neil

It is new in as far as they are not the vintage double cup washers, is all.

And FWIW of all the 'new' razors using this type of pin (TI, Revisor, the NOS and vintage makes that Revisor regrind and re-scale included, Dovo) that I have 're-pinned' (and that's an awful lot of re-pinned razors, I can assure you), Dovo is the worst culprit I Personally have come across..

The real old fashioned three pin razors are just as inclined to not have washers (eg Gotta, Bengall) at the plug pinning at all. Some (eg some Erns, nearly all ivory scaled razors, real tortoiseshell razors, etc) dont have washers at all, full stop.

Never seen a bent pin caused by cutting the pin too long in the thousands of those I have serviced, either. They had skills that other cutlers did not have when it came to pinning expensive materials like real, one-piece MOP and ivory in the 1800s and early 1900s. Thats what I consider to be old or vintage - no doubt YMMV.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by JimmyWetshaver

Good point re pins but it isnt just Dovos and it isnt just new. Some older models, for some reason it seems more common in 3 pin razors (ie: Erustas), use these style pins as well. I use them to perfectly match when doing restores.

Yes, it is not just Dovo that use this type of pin, other current manufacturers do too. I believe it is a time shaving short cut in the manufacturing processes, nothing more and not an improvement IMHO.

I have a few vintage 3 pin razors and none have these new type pins. The same holds true for my vintage 2 pin razors. I can only assume, admittedly I should not, that vintage razors with these new type pins were assembled from left over original blades and original scales or re assembled after cleaning with these new type pins. I would really like to know when these new type pins came into common use. I am doubtful they were in use in the 1960s-70s. Anybody know this information?

Bob