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

Originally Posted by Leighton

So, when it wasn't working before you had maybe an inch or half an inch sticking out of the top of the vice? And now you have only 1/16" sticking out unsupported? If so... doh! why didn't I think to ask that from the start.

when I started in the vice i had about an inch sticking out. it seemed to just flake off some of the brass but no real peening. I then put it down farther and made sure the end of it was pressed up against a metal rod so it had something to support it. It was out .2 inches then. I ended up bending that one.

my problem was i wasn't sure how to hold/secure the rod when doing the initial peen. i tried it a bunch of different ways, including just holding it in my hand.

I have a 4 oz peening hammer. i am thinking that some of you might be using 12 or 16 oz peening hammers. a heavier hammer is going to be a lot easier to peen with, i have to hit it pretty hard to get it to peen since it is so light.

Now I am putting it into a hole I drilled in my small anvil from tandy leather. the hole is 1/16" and about an inch deep. I try to have 1/8 an inch sticking out to peen, that way there isn't any room for the rod to bend.

I actually have a 2 ounce hammer, and have considered cutting a chunk off to lighten it even further.
It is amazing how little mushrooming that you actually need to keep the scales tight and secure.