Quote Originally Posted by edk442 View Post
I haven't seen he CD and have never made a pin so excuse my simple questions. In the above description, is the indentation being used to hold the pin while you form the mushroom the other end or is the indentation being used to produce the shape of the mushroom end (kinda like a cake mold)? if it's the second option what is being being used to hold the pin? if you held the pin with your fingers, surely both ends on the pin would mushroom? and is there any importance in using the round end of a ball peen hammer? couldn't you use a small hammer or a spoon or something?
I have, yet, to do a pinning job, but I believe the indentation in the anvil helps to secure the bottom side, keeping it vertical as possible, while he is flattening the top side. The brass is cut to extend 1/16" on either side, thus, the reason for the indentation to be 1/16" deep. - also, helping to round the bottom side as he flattens the top. Bill holds the punch, (3/32" nail set), which has a dimple on the end, and the scales with his left hand as he taps with the ball peen hammer. He then reverses and does the other side. The dimpled nail set just helps to round the finished product. Why the ball peen hammer, instead of a flat? - I am guessing for better control of his tapping motion? Maybe some of our machinests can answer that one.