Thread: great repinning (well, I think so)!

I am fairly new at restoration/repair and I have tried a few repinnings, with results that worked but didn't look 100 percent original. Just tried something new... I punched out the old pivot pin from a Boker, sucessfully rescuing the washers, and then used a length of 1/16 inch diameter silver solder (a nickel silver alloy) as a replacement pin. The silver solder came in a coil (see attached photo) but is easily straightened with needlenose pliers. got the silver solder form the local welders supply store. I cut it with needlenose, peened one end by holding it in a vise and tapping on the end, then tapped it through one washer, put that through the scales and blade, tapped on the other washer, cut the excess almost flush with needlenose, peened it with much light tapping, protected the scales with electrical tape, and touched up the pin up to remove sharp spots with 400 grit emery cloth. Total time maybe 15 minutes. I am very pleased with the results (see pics below)

I'm skeptical about how the solder will hold up opposed to brass or nickel pins, but it sure looks nice. Congrats and I hope it works out well for you.

thats a brazing spool not a soldering spool so it will be tougher and stand up a little better than copper solder. craft stores sell silver, brass, and steel wire in different diameters if you want to try to make your own pin next time.

Well, I don't know how it compares to nickel, but I am quite certain (from the effort it takes to straighten it and to peen it) that its much harder than brass, I am hoping it will last. "Silver solder" is a broad term that also includes some soft stuff that feels like regular solder that you melt with a match... This is not the same... this has a melting point close to that of brass and it feels much stiffer than brass rod.

Originally Posted by UtahRootBeer

thats a brazing spool not a soldering spool so it will be tougher and stand up a little better than copper solder. craft stores sell silver, brass, and steel wire in different diameters if you want to try to make your own pin next time.

Thanks. I hadn't had any luck finding brass rod that small of a diameter up here in Canada, but I didn't try craft stores (duh!). I might try brass but this seemed to work well. Also haven't found any small washers but maybe craft store!

Ah, okay. I was thinking the stuff that bends in your hands if you unspool it. Sounds like a solid idea to me. Just another sign of how clever we are all

hobby stores are good to you will find all that stuff at like a model train store or a radio controlled airplane store