Adventures in Restoration

So I'm unpinning an early 1800's Frenchie with a pin vice because I need to save the collars. Would have been nice to save the scales but they're just too far gone. I've got a nice centered hole that's getting deeper and deeper, but the collars not getting loose. Not wanting wo widen the hole and risk damage to the collar, I decided to give the pin a good thump with a drift. As I had hoped the pin sheared and the blade and collars were freed. I removed the drift a little too quickly and the collar sailed through the air and into a toy box! I carefully removed the larger toys on top and realized that the box was filled with Match Box and Thomas the Train cars! The train cars have magnets on either side so the search was very meticulous. 40 minutes later I found my 200 year old collar, unharmed, ON THE FLOOR NEXT TO THE TOY BOX!!!
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MWARF ! That never, ever happened to me :angel:

No, the real salt of it is, the razor with which such a story did happen is...
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I know the feeling bro, you are not alone in these difficult times :p

Sorry no pics ��, but i did the same with my rescale. Except my callor feel onto hi pile carpet, & it was brass, so no magnet saving it.
I believe the wife found it last week though. Vacuuming.

I have never lost a collar/washer.
What are you guys doing?
Just going all willy nilly and banging these things out?


Just kidding.... I have lost SO MANY it's not funny!
SWMBO gets a kick out of me on the floor with my face inches from the ground searching through everything.

Reminds me of what my dad used to say about rebuilding carburetors. You mine as well do it on the floor because your going to end up there anyways!

It is amazing (and annoying) how far hardware can bounce from where it was dropped. You were working near a box full of toys, including trains with magnets. Keeping things interesting, huh?

I just removed the blades from a couple of razors (one razor having bullseyes) because I couldn't drill them out.
Until I watched a SR related video, I hadn't really thought of using one of those pin vices. Now that you mentioned using one to save bullseye washers, I definitely need to get one. Are you using a 1/16" drill bit?? Do you use anything to score/punch the pin so the bit doesn't slip??

Yes it's 1/16. I usually file the pin flat and center the bit as best I can. Then I twist it back and forth about 1/8 of a turn to get it started where I want it. If it's a little off I file a bit and try again. After its started I hold the scales down with the base of my left palm and apply pressure to the top of the pin vice with my left index finger while twisting with my right hand. Some pressure helps to get it done a little faster. I find this method gives me the most control.

Thank you sir