Thread: Sleeving or filling an oversized pivot hole

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Known as "roll pins" seen here . I use them in armature bars in tattoo machines. I can't believe how big this thread got.

I know; it stretched out. At first I didn't want to show you guys how to do it. My brief tutorial on the subject should be sufficient instruction for those who wish to get nearer to perfection. It is the only true, and exact way.

But that is not why I am responding. Roll Pins! Yes. I could not remember the name of those. Was it Livi? Somewhere I saw a roll pin being used as a honing guide. It was a big one and probably expanded. Gotta go to Ace.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I have used your posts quoted with my posts to point out the fix...

Your Torrey is an exception to my rule really just because the hole is SO irregular, that is one that I would probably use an epoxy on, even though I am not that partial to it's use.. Without having it in my hands I have to use just what I see in your pics..

Also that line where you say snugly??? I never said the sleeve should ever fit tight, many of them do not, in fact in the thread I did about how to fix these, if you look very close at that pic you will see that the tube DOES NOT fit snugly into the old hole...
The object of this is to make things better, with a simple easy fix, which is why I seriously don't understand the huge flap about this thread...I mean seriously some of you are actually debating whether to take 5 minutes and add a spacer to take up excess slop, that actually amazes me...

BTW your scales will not "Fall apart" but depending on the tolerance you build with, you can start to have problems as soon as the pins start to loosen up, which all pins loosen up...



Edit: Phatman was posting as I was, but his idea above might also be a viable option for your Torrey....Great idea BTW Russ !!

Thanks again for more advice.

After measuring the hole, it's 5/32 across and 3/32 top-to-bottom. I figure they'll be a little play regardless, but by "snug" I meant that I'd like to minimize that play as much as possible without it being "tight". Metalliferous also sells brass rod in square, rectangular and hexagonal shapes, and that might work, too. I'm only a 15 minute train from them so I can go mess around in the shop and see what fits before buying.

Phatman's tip seems like a good fix and so do all of the others, really. Like Alex said, it seems we're all finding different solutions to the same problem so no one's really right or wrong - just different. But I probably wouldn't have thought of most of these on my own - certainly wouldn't have come up with Jimmy's idea since I've never taken a tattoo machine apart.

Originally Posted by BingoBango

certainly wouldn't have come up with Jimmy's idea since I've never taken a tattoo machine apart.

Just to clarify, a roll pin is not my idea. burns420 mentioned it and I linked to a page on them. Actually I think the seam, which is open, might interfere with the smooth operation of the pivot. In addition to that they are hardened spring steel and would require grinding to fit parallel with the sides of the tang. Not easy to cut those little buggers. I am not a restorer and I don't do rescales. On oversize pivots on old Sheffields and what have you I am in Kevint's camp. Tightening the pin with the old ball peen has always sufficed for me.

Special thanks to everyone's suggestions and input. I finally found some 1/16" ID X 1/8" OD brass tubing at a local hobby shop (only about 4 miles from my house) that I had no idea they were even here. They must have opened up in the last several months. HOORAAAH! I think I'm going to just do the brass sleeve and leave it alone. I even thought about putting the sleeve then solder it in but I think that will leave me with a serious issue with blade alignment once I put it in the scale. I tend to want to be too exact and too much of a perfectionist but sometimes need to learn to accept what is.

Once again, thanks to everyone's replies. BTW, I'm going to post another thread for a resource I found for some really great items to use for restoring razors.