Thread: Which product for pinning

First things first, I tried to click a link in the subforums - Welcome to the Workshop How do I/ Where do I/.... sticky on "Brass & Nickel Silver Rods for Pins" and the link is broken, so would an admin please fix this, I suspect it has alot of useful answers [emoji2].

Ok so onto my questions. As the thread suggest I'm curious as to what product's I should use for pinning. The two most common options I see are brass and nickel -silver rods w/ matching washers or brass washers on the N/S rod and in of the above setups the spacer between tang and scale always being brass.

So Is the primary purpose of these options aesthetic, i.e. vintage old brass / modern nickel-silver, or is there more to it than this? What about Corrosion long term, stiffness, reaction with other products like certain exotic wood scales, does one peen/ mushrom better than the other and so on. I suspect there's more to it but thats all I can think of at the moment, hence my question.

Also any other related advisement you wish to add that someone new might find useful is certainly welcome. It will be fun feeling out these baby taps I see in videos .

I already have an dremel, anvil and flush cutter, my half dome chasing hammer is on order. Although I don't have a particular need at the moment per sae I do want to go ahead and get some stock on hand for when I do need it, instead of having to wait for a shipment.

Basically, 200+ years of manufacturing say these two metals are the best.

They are corrosion resistant, malleable and easily purchased.

Some have used silver but it is expensive. Aluminum is soft. Copper will corrode.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...steners-2.html
post 13 has the updated links
I have been using wire for pinning that my friend sent me that he got from a jewelry and lapidary supply shop in Calgary. It is likely that there there may be one near you. You can also look at some of the hardware store for rod, apparently in the city big hardware stores carry these types of things. There is also hobby shops that carry remote control vehicle bits and bobs that carry 1/16 rod.

Brass and Nickel/Silver are the typical materials chosen because of their strength versus malleability are the right choice.

I've seen people use finish nails to pin with and usually they crack the scales from banging on the steel so hard.

Aluminum has a nasty habit of breaking in half across its diameter when in tension, so that is why you rarely see it.

Copper would work, but it has that habit of turning blue.

Bronze will work and is actually a pretty good pinning material, but it's not considered aesthetically pleasing.

Silver and platinum will work, but it's a bit pricey.

Titanium rod tends to crack in half.

I get brass rod and sheet brass from a local hobby shop; nickel silver stock can be ordered from Amazon.com, etc. I make my own flat washers from stock using a jeweler's disc cutting punch, I get domed and bullseye washers from fellow member ajkenne.

Originally Posted by sqzbxr

I get brass rod and sheet brass from a local hobby shop; nickel silver stock can be ordered from Amazon.com, etc. I make my own flat washers from stock using a jeweler's disc cutting punch, I get domed and bullseye washers from fellow member ajkenne.

I sell restoration items on eBay via this link ajkenne4xm3 on eBay Hope this is helpful.

I was told to go to micro fast era to get my supplies. What are the correct sizes in the metric scale for the washers for a 1/16 brass rod,

FWB0 - #0 - Flat Washers - Brass - Micro Fasteners
FWBW0 - #0 wide - Flat Washers - Brass - Micro Fasteners
FWSS0 - #0 Narrow Washer S/S I.D. .062xO.D..125x Thk .017 - Micro Fasteners
FWS00 - #0 Flat Washers - Stainless - Micro Fasteners

THANK YOU!!! I have been using 4 mm slip washers. They work ok but it's not right. I have to tighten the top pin every five times I stroup it.

I purchased stainless steel rods, and am having real difficulty getting the rod to mushroom. Going to have to get brass rods. I thought that stainless steel was malleable. Apparently I was wrong...