Thread: tighting up some scales

I've seen a few folks drill a shallow divot into an anvil or hammer with a 1/16" bit instead of buying a dapping block. I figure you'll probably only use that size anyway.

There's a sticky at the top of the Workshop Forum. I'd get it for you, but my dad always made me grab the big dictionary when I didn't know a word - the routine of walking over, grabbing the 20 lb. book, finding the word and reading it made the definition stick in my head. So, click on "The Workshop" and find some answers - you won't forget 'em that way.

Originally Posted by Stubear

I tightened up one of mine on an anvil, but I used the back of a teaspoon instead of the hammer.

I bascially just held the teaspoon over the rivet and let it fall under its own weight. A dozen or so taps had my razor tight again..!

+1 on the spoon.
Right shape, right weight.... years ago some folk would make
a ring from a silver coin. Drive a nail through the middle then
tap tap tap with a spoon while holding it with the same nail.
Quite a racket but the point is that a spoon can double
as a jewellers hammer and some things just take tapping.

This seller http://shop.ebay.com/am3146/m.html

Appears to have anvils and hammers. The hammer's don't have a weight listed, but I think I'm going to shoot them a message to ask and to ask about combined shipping. Anvil is 10, hammer is 5.

an old jewelers trick to make sure you hit the pin is to place your thumb right next to the pin with just enough clearance to miss your thumb. It will ensure that you hit the pin more often than not. If you hit your thumb it shouldn't hurt. If it does you are hitting too hard. Try it it really helps.

I did mine last night, test strop and shaved this morning.

Following Glens advice (Lynn I knew the trick of placement already thanks for the tip though)

I have a couple of smaller anvils I also have the advantage of having pounding hundreds if not thousands of rivets making and repairing armor over the years, this is different though because I'm not trying to pound the rivet flat and instead of having a peice of metal that doesn't care how hard I hit the rivet I have delicate scales. I'm also used to pounding solid thicker rivets but here is how I did it.

opened the razor and placed it so the blade was not touching the anvil in any fashion insured that the rivet was touching the anvil, selected the smaller of my tool sized ball peen hammers grabbed it on the wood handle at the head and lightly tapped the rivet, hitting the sides of the rivet (just like I do with all rivets).

It worked like a charm, Thanks again Glen and Lynn