Thread: A simple but time-saving pin peening tip

Edit: Glen covers this in his illustrated how-to, which I only found after it was too late. Oops.

To save a lot of time (and avoid driving others insane with hours of repetitive tapping), file the end of the pin flat, and leave no more than 1/32" sticking up, before you start peening. Wire cutters leave a pointed end when they cut. Peening this without filing first will take 4X as long as filing. I know this seems stupid and obvious...but nobody ever accused me of being smart.

Here's my re-pinning procedure from start to finish:

-- Cut a small piece of 1/16" brass rod.

-- File one end flat. Leave the other end pointy.

-- Hold the pin with needlenose pliers. Place the pointy end on an anvil, tap the flat end with a balpeen hammer until it mushrooms enough to hold a washer (doesn't take long).

-- Slide a washer onto the pin, assemble the pivot so the pointy end is facing up, put another washer on top.

-- Trim the pin with wire cutters, file flat, keep filing until there's no more than 1/32" excess length.

-- Holding the bottom against the anvil, start peening the top.

-- Flip the work over periodically as you peen it tight, so both sides are mushroomed about the same.