Thread: How long to peen on new scales?

Hi all,

I have recently been working on restoring an old Wade and Butcher and am in the process of doing my first pinning of new scales. I have been at it for what seems like a long time (3+ hours, with thousands and thousands of taps), and the razor is in, but still pretty loose. How long does it usually take to get the razor tight? The videos I have watched seem to only take a matter of minutes, not hours, I am wondering if I am doing something wrong?

Thanks for any help on the matter.

It takes much less time than 3 hrs but a bit longer than the vids for the first time at it. Common mistake is to leave the pin too long which results in not being able to tighten it up enough and/or a bent pin. Ask me how I know. It takes surprising little of the pin protruding to peen it well.

If you are using anything other than brass or nickel silver rod stock it could also make it difficult/impossible to peen it enough too.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

It takes much less time than 3 hrs but a bit longer than the vids for the first time at it. Common mistake is to leave the pin too long which results in not being able to tighten it up enough and/or a bent pin. Ask me how I know. It takes surprising little of the pin protruding to peen it well.

If you are using anything other than brass or nickel silver rod stock it could also make it difficult/impossible to peen it enough too.

Bob

I have a feeling I left it too long, if that is the case, will I ever be able to get it tight?

Just file it a little shorter. The pretence is that you are forming a mushroom on the tip of the pin. It is the tightening of the edges of the mushroom that tighten the scales. I few strokes with a fine file will make a very big difference. I have a piece of aluminum that I use to gauge long to make my pin. I form one end in a drill chuck, slide the pin in, put the collar on drop the gauge over, trim the pin length, file it flat and peen. My piece of aluminum is not ver thick. I have no idea where it came from.

Knife makers use a smooth flat file to knock the peened end down to a better level and the stroke of the file also anneals the pin end to make it form more easily..
And...yes, I have done the same "too Long" pin routine also untill another member steered me to the correct method.
Good on ya for trying!
~Richard

I like that idea Rez. What is that piece? about 1/32 thick?
Thats how I judge. I eyeball 1/32 of pin stilling out thru washer. And a small file will work great to knock it down some and continue to peen. Just be careful of the scales. I've even been told that a soda can cut up to get a thin piece of metal with a small hole in it to protect the scales while filing the pin head.

Jerry I have no idea how thick it is. I suppose I should measure it. Someone sent it to me and I think it may have been 10pups. It ensures all of my pins are the same length and my peens are then all the same size

Originally Posted by Gasman

I like that idea Rez. What is that piece? about 1/32 thick?
Thats how I judge. I eyeball 1/32 of pin stilling out thru washer. And a small file will work great to knock it down some and continue to peen. Just be careful of the scales. I've even been told that a soda can cut up to get a thin piece of metal with a small hole in it to protect the scales while filing the pin head.

I find this to work great, Jerry.

Just make sure its dull. U know why.

Originally Posted by Gasman

I like that idea Rez. What is that piece? about 1/32 thick?
Thats how I judge. I eyeball 1/32 of pin stilling out thru washer. And a small file will work great to knock it down some and continue to peen. Just be careful of the scales. I've even been told that a soda can cut up to get a thin piece of metal with a small hole in it to protect the scales while filing the pin head.

Just for the record, I found my calipers and my other gauge. One I use for collarless pinning and it is 0.050” and the one for collars, as pictured 0.034”
The 0.034 is kind of thin for collarless pinning.