Pinning without micro-fasteners

Hi all,

I need to make new scales for an Crown & Sword 5/8 razor, buyed 2nd earlier this year.
Because of micro-fasteners are not available in local stores here (and I wouldn't buy elsewhere because of the single repair), I was thinking about alternatives for pinning.
Searched through my fasteners and found a nice brass nail (shaft 2mm, head approx. 4.5mm, length 23mm).

I think the following approach is successful for me and a cheap way for pinning scales.

Step 1: cut the head off one nail (you need a total of two for pinning).
- left a few mm of the shaft, this makes fixture before machining a lot easier.

Attachment 176666

Step 2: make/ search a fixture for machining the cutted off nail.
- I'll use a 2 cent coin for it.
- Drill a hole in the coin / metal sized a little bit wider than the shaft of the nail (0.1 - 0.2mm wider is enough)

Attachment 176667

Step 3: machine the head / make the washer
- Put the head into the fixture
- Use a metal file to flatten the head a little bit
- Use a centerpunch to make the begin for drilling (in the middle)
- Drill a hole (width equal to shaft diameter) through the head. I use a Dremel / multitool for this.
- File the back until it is flatten and smooth

Attachment 176668 Attachment 176669

Step 4: assemble
- Insert the complete nail through the scales and razor.
- Put the created washer on the other end.
- Cut off the nail.
- Use a small hammer to clinch the shaft (nail) and washer together.
- Smooth the connection.

The result (this are not my actual scales ;-)

Attachment 176670

With this approach you have a lot of more freedom choosing your own materials (bross, aluminum, stainless-steel) and sizes. In general the materials I used are available in every home-market.

EVL

Very interesting. Nice share.

I would be careful using a steel shaft. They are hard to drill out when you have to replace them and they are more difficult to peen over without breaking the scales.

Very nicely done :tu

For those of us on this side on the big pond the "Nails" are often found by using "Brass Escutcheon Pins" in your search..

Couple of things I found a few years back when buying them.

Make sure they are pure brass, many are just coated
You might have to anneal them to use them for pinning as many are hardened

Brass rod is brass rod,as Glen says,anneal them.Gotta dance with who you brought:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by criswilson10

I would be careful using a steel shaft. They are hard to drill out when you have to replace them and they are more difficult to peen over without breaking the scales.

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I have removed steel pins with Brass washers from a couple of str8s now and was surprised to see the rusty pins were ever used
great resourcefulness EVL
this is what makes the Workshop post great for everyone to learn from
keep us posted with the final outcome