Thread: Dumb questions about pins from brass rods, got tips?

Originally Posted by obsessis

I read an old post where someone, greatwhitehuntr, said he drilled a 1/16" hole 1/2" deep into the anvil to use for peening. I got thrown off thinking about the different holes drilled different depths but I am pretty sure I am ready to go now. I have more than enough brass rod to mess a couple up so I think I'll sit down and try to make 10 sets of pins this weekend.

Thanks for all the help!

There ya go, if ya have problems were here...

Drilling holes is what I was referring to in the Wiki article when I was talking about using a Jewelers block....

Which is a piece of solid steel 1 inch thick with a 5/64" hole drilled completely through it... This sits on an anvil and the rod is dropped in the hole it is cutoff and filed then you can tap on the peen with little fear of ever bending the pin.... Yes I have made one, but honestly the vice is faster

That's what was throwing me off. The jeweler's block. I didn't know exactly what it was.

Awesome.

I'm going to stop by Harbor Freight after work to see if they have anything else that I'd need.

I think I have a wrong type of brass rod.

I am trying to make some pins and I am tapping it very lightly up to 100 times and there is barely, if any change in the rod. I start hitting it really hard and there is no change in the rod.

I got this 1/16" brass rod from a hardware store in a little 3 pack. is it possible that this brass hasn't been softened (annealed?)?

Joseph, if you want, I'll give you a piece of brass pinning rod to practice with. That way you'll be able to take that variable out of the process. If you want, send me a pm with a shipping address.

Originally Posted by obsessis

I think I have a wrong type of brass rod.

I am trying to make some pins and I am tapping it very lightly up to 100 times and there is barely, if any change in the rod. I start hitting it really hard and there is no change in the rod.

I got this 1/16" brass rod from a hardware store in a little 3 pack. is it possible that this brass hasn't been softened (annealed?)?

Like I said before. You need the soft alloy for pinning. Brass is a mixture of two different metals and who knows what else they stick in the stuff nowadays. Either case, long story short, different brass alloys are made up of different stuff. Not all alloys are appropriate for pinning.

McMaster-Carr
Thats the stuff I use. As you can see, it goes up to 485, which is considered by them "machineable" brass. While 260 is "formable."

Originally Posted by obsessis

I think I have a wrong type of brass rod.

I am trying to make some pins and I am tapping it very lightly up to 100 times and there is barely, if any change in the rod. I start hitting it really hard and there is no change in the rod.

I got this 1/16" brass rod from a hardware store in a little 3 pack. is it possible that this brass hasn't been softened (annealed?)?

Just for info did the display say "Koss"??????? and perhaps the tag on the pack??? or maybe K&S Engineering

Originally Posted by obsessis

I think I have a wrong type of brass rod.

I am trying to make some pins and I am tapping it very lightly up to 100 times and there is barely, if any change in the rod. I start hitting it really hard and there is no change in the rod.

I got this 1/16" brass rod from a hardware store in a little 3 pack. is it possible that this brass hasn't been softened (annealed?)?

That sounds about right for me. :/
I usually use~2k to 3k taps per side, split into sets of 50 taps.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Just for info did the display say "Koss"??????? and perhaps the tag on the pack??? or maybe K&S Engineering

I am not home right now but I believe so.

I will edit this post tomorrow when I get home with the correct answer but I am pretty sure, yes. I think K&S Engineering.



Thanks for the offer and advice. I've been having issues with this and am pretty sure now that I have the wrong brass rod. It's been a pain trying to mushroom out an end. I think 2k - 3k hits would be the minimum that it would take as long as they were fairly hard. It's weird hearing people say it has to be a very soft tap, one that wouldn't hurt your fingernail, and then having to pound on the brass rod I have.

thanks for all the help.

Originally Posted by BigBubba

That sounds about right for me. :/
I usually use~2k to 3k taps per side, split into sets of 50 taps.

That is insane! How do you have the patience? I take about 20 taps. Ok, I really don't keep count, but I'm done in under 5 minutes.

Well I am stumped mine are the K&S rods too,,, I will get the tag numbers, maybe they have different alloys????? but I have never even paid attention to that....
will post the info soonest...