Thread: Another source for pins

I have used these pins myself. Get the 16 gauge 5/8" length (or longer if you want) brass pins. They are 1/16" in diameter. Just trim them to fit (so they are about 1/8th of an inch past the outside washer, I cut mine with a dremel tool) and peen them in the usual manner. I used size 0 washers (actually I used the 0-wide, they are just a little wider than the size 0 washers, but either work fine, it's just aesthetics). Looks great and works great. I highly recommend using the escutcheon pins, it makes things very easy and they look great and are cheap. And way, way easier than messing around with brass rods. I ordered the washers from microfasteners.com. This was my first pinning job on some homemade scales and it turned out awesome and couldn't have been easier. Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by hackjar

I have used these pins myself. Get the 16 gauge 5/8" length (or longer if you want) brass pins. They are 1/16" in diameter. Just trim them to fit (so they are about 1/8th of an inch past the outside washer, I cut mine with a dremel tool) and peen them in the usual manner. I used size 0 washers (actually I used the 0-wide, they are just a little wider than the size 0 washers, but either work fine, it's just aesthetics). Looks great and works great. I highly recommend using the escutcheon pins, it makes things very easy and they look great and are cheap. And way, way easier than messing around with brass rods. I ordered the washers from microfasteners.com. This was my first pinning job on some homemade scales and it turned out awesome and couldn't have been easier. Hope this helps.

Many thanks for the info hakjar… was undecided about them. I’ll order a few and try my first pinning.

BTW can those washers from microfastners also be used as bearings... … between the blade and the scales?

Hi.

Do you know any site that sells both pins and washers?

Lee Valley sells pins. Microfasteners sells washers. By ordering these items from the same store I could save on shipping costs.
Am I missing something?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Leon

Hi.

Do you know any site that sells both pins and washers?

Lee Valley sells pins. Microfasteners sells washers. By ordering these items from the same store I could save on shipping costs.
Am I missing something?

Thanks

The brass pins are simply small brass nails, sometimes called "brads". Dirt cheap at many hardware and hobby/crafts shops. The only advantage I see to them over just using 1/16" brass rod is that they already have a head on one end.

While you're at it, I would get both the regular (1/8" OD) and the wide (3/16" OD) brass washers. The wide ones are good for making domed washers.