Thread: Total newbie restoration questions???

Hi Gents.
So, I tried search, read the stickies, etc., but can't seem to find answers to two questions - please help a newb to razor restoration.

Question1: I bought the 1/16th brass rod, I have washers on the way. When I go to install the rod and peen the end, how do I get the other side to stay put and either not be too short, or too long? Do you pre-peen one of the ends? I can't seem to visualize how you would do this.

Question 2: When you are putting CA on scales, I'm assuming that they go all over the scales (inside and out). How do you do that and hold the scale at the same time? Use a latex glove (I would assume though that you'd either get glued to the scale or leave unsightly finger marks?). Again, I'm having problems visualizing this.

Very sorry if this has been covered elsewhere (it probably has), but I couldn't find the answer to these.

Thanks in advance!

Mark

Thanks for actually searching and reading the stickies first! Lots of guys don't do that. Anyway...

Originally Posted by Milton Man

Question1: I bought the 1/16th brass rod, I have washers on the way. When I go to install the rod and peen the end, how do I get the other side to stay put and either not be too short, or too long? Do you pre-peen one of the ends? I can't seem to visualize how you would do this.
Pre-peening one end works for me. Usually I'll actually put the rod through the scales how it will be pinned, then tighten a vice on the rod below the scales so the scales sit on the vice (with protection under them). Then I can peen the top a little with the washer on already just so that the washer will stay on without falling off when flipped. Then I'll cut the other side to length and do that side a little- then peen as normal. I doubt that's all crystal clear, but it works for me. Technically you could also just peen one end of rod and then put it through the scales, that would work.

Question 2: When you are putting CA on scales, I'm assuming that they go all over the scales (inside and out). How do you do that and hold the scale at the same time? Use a latex glove (I would assume though that you'd either get glued to the scale or leave unsightly finger marks?). Again, I'm having problems visualizing this.
I do one side at a time. Usually the bottom first since it doesn't need to be beautiful. To do this I use a little setup that a lot of guys use I think. It is basically small pieces of wood setup as a stand (T shape). I'll put double sided duct tape on top of each T and put the scale on that. Make sure the T doesn't stick out from either side of the scale. You really have to mess around with that to see what works best for you. But yeah, if you hold it with gloves, it'll stick.

The brass rod is used as a rivet. I am sure there are at least as many methods as there are people re-handling razors. Have extra brass rod on hand to allow for a learning curve. The way I do it is to cut a piece of rod about 3/16" longer than the width of the razor (at the location of the hole to be pinned). Put the piece of rod in a vice with a washer on the rod and 1/16" of rod above the washer(please forgive the crude sketch):

With the pin held securely in the vice and the washer resting on the vice jaws, tap on the brass rod with a small hammer upsetting (mushrooming) the brass to form a head on the pin that is tight against and in the washer. Then remove the pin/washer assembly from the vice. Pass the other end of the pin through the hole in the razor. Place a washer over the end as it protrudes from the razor. Hold the razor with the head of the pin you just formed on an anvil ( a sturdy steel surface, even a flat pin punch held in the vice). With your little hammer, tap straight down on the pin upsetting the brass until it is headed against the washer. Becareful not to make it too tight or you may crack the scales or, in the case of the pivot, it may not open/close properly.

This is a recent discussion regarding CA application: http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...-question.html

I hope this helps you.

Brad

Checkout the graphic in the “How do you pin scales?” thread link:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...tml&showpost#9

Checkout scale making in this thread:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...ml&showpost#15

The links are direct to the post with info you are looking for, but it's best if you read the whole thread… my apologies if you have already read them.

Hope this helps my friend

I've got a 1lb anvil that I drilled a 3/32nd hole through towards the back of the flat. I then drilled a 1/16th hole in the jaws of a pair of small flat pliers. This enables me to hold the rod and peen it. Then I put the washer on the pin, insert through the scales and place the other washer over the pin. I cut to about 1/16th, smooth the end with a bur cap then peen. Nothing to it.

Thanks a bunch guys - very appreciated, and very useful info that I'll be sure to put to good use when I receive my order for washers.

Thanks again - you all are incredibly helpful to us noobs (first with learning to shave, then with learning to hone, and now learning to restore!).

Mark

Hi,

I did 1 restore and just started my 2nd.

Your question #1 was answered better than I can so I'll leave that alone.

#2 - to hold the scales while finishing I used 3 inch pices of brass rod and a piece of styrofoam to hold them. I did one side at a time.

Here is a link to my restore. One of the pics shows the scales drying.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/galle...storation.html

This worked great for me. Best of luck.

Thanks JetHed - how did you get the scales to hold up on the brass rod?

Mark

Hi,

Bill Ellis's 'Straight Razor CD' has some good info and videos on replacing pins and also CA work (plus a lot more! - It's well worth buying....

Straight Razor Book

Cheers and Good luck with the restorations!

Thanks all for the help - to follow up on my own question, I constructed a little stand out of a piece of wood in which I drilled four 1/16 holes to accept 3" of brass rod. To support the scales at the top and to have the rod not crest the scales, I put some electrical tape and just built that up to act as a stop. Worked great - flipped the scales over this morning to do the backside with CA and the rods weren't even glued in place!

Thanks again guys - very much appreciated.

Mark