Thread: Flush Cutter - Pin removal method !!!

Red and I decided it would be a good thing to adjust the name of this thread, and get it into the Workshop Welcome sticky too...

Under pinning/unpinning

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html



Thanks again for doing it !!!

I had to try this method, so I went to Lowes to get some flush cutters. Unfortunately, my local store didn't have any. I decided I would make my own, so I bought a pair of Kobalt Diagonal Pliers (nippers). Then I realized there was a Harbor Freight nearby, so I stopped in there. I picked up the same flush cutters that red96ta uses, which a quite inexpensive. I still wanted to try to make my own, so I found a pair of Harbor Freight 6 inch diagonal cutters for $3, and a pair of end nippers for $2. (I decided not to mess up the Kobalt cutters for my experiment. )

When I got home, I spent a few minutes on my belt grinder, grinding the faces of the cutters flush. I used a ten inch wheel, but I think it would be just as easy on a smaller wheel or flat platen. Anyway, it didn't take too long to grind them down. I was careful not to overheat the edges, although who knows if Harbor Freight even hardens them. When I was finished, I tried them out on a few old razors with brass pins and washers. Each set of home-made cutters cut the pins of flush and clean. So, if you can't find any flush cutters in your area, you can make your own without too much trouble. I'll post pictures below. (The rubber bands are just holding the cutters shut to show that the faces are relatively flush with each other.)

Those look perfect, Chris!
(much sturdier than the jeweler's tools)
Very good photo as well.

I've been using flush cutters for a few years. Only rarely do I encounter a razor that resists and I've got other tricks for them, but flush cutters are the way to go.

I us Lindstrom semi-flush cutters, grind them lightly to make them completely flush and then I polish them. If you polish the face of those flush cutters, they won't even leave a scratch on ivory or any other highly polished surface. Polished tools are a must for use on polished surfaces if you want to be sure you can't mar them.

Bleh, wish there was a Harbor Freight near me...

I might go check out a Lowes and Ollie's (they have a few tools as well) to see what I can find.

Excellent thread, glad to see this idea was added to the forum sticky

I just wasted a horn scale due to not having it. Here is a photo showing 2 different models:

I use Plato flush cutters. I've found they work really well.