Thread: First pin installed!!! (questions too!)

Ha!!! This is so simple and basic, I know, but I read the posts and stickies here, bought some nickle/silver rod and some washers, and FIXED A FREAKING RAZOR BY MYSELF, BABY! Sorry, can't help myself. It was only a pin that broke off and fell out, but when I thought about the cost of sending it to be fixed and waiting for it to come back, then I started looking into the steps for fixing it here, and then one thing leads to another, and you know what happens next.

Anyway, here's a few stupid questions, since you've come this far:

Where do you find the little washers in nickle silver? I have nickle silver rod, but I could only find stainless steel washers at Micro Fasteners.

Next, the flattened surface of my pin has kind of a rough, hammered look. It's kind of circular, but it doesn't look like the perfect little round dome like on other razors I have. So how do you get that perfect, smooth, round button look for your pins?

Next, I want to replace some pins on some other razors I have, but how the heck do I cut or snip off the old pins? I don't want to file them because I'm worried about scratching the scales. Is there some kind of cutter or other tool to snip the old pins off?

Why do some people use brass rather than nickle silver? Is it just for color, or is one metal better than the other.

Anyway, I'm pretty psyched for such a small thing, but this has definitely been fun!

Originally Posted by JeffE

Ha!!! This is so simple and basic, I know, but I read the posts and stickies here, bought some nickle/silver rod and some washers, and FIXED A FREAKING RAZOR BY MYSELF, BABY! Sorry, can't help myself. It was only a pin that broke off and fell out, but when I thought about the cost of sending it to be fixed and waiting for it to come back, then I started looking into the steps for fixing it here, and then one thing leads to another, and you know what happens next.

Anyway, here's a few stupid questions, since you've come this far:

Where do you find the little washers in nickle silver? I have nickle silver rod, but I could only find stainless steel washers at Micro Fasteners.

Next, the flattened surface of my pin has kind of a rough, hammered look. It's kind of circular, but it doesn't look like the perfect little round dome like on other razors I have. So how do you get that perfect, smooth, round button look for your pins?

Next, I want to replace some pins on some other razors I have, but how the heck do I cut or snip off the old pins? I don't want to file them because I'm worried about scratching the scales. Is there some kind of cutter or other tool to snip the old pins off?

Why do some people use brass rather than nickle silver? Is it just for color, or is one metal better than the other.

Anyway, I'm pretty psyched for such a small thing, but this has definitely been fun!

I think most people use the stainless washers. Not sure if you'd easily find nickel ones but one of the gurus can clarify. After they're polished you can't tell that the rod is nickel and the washer is steel -- the nickel is nice and malleable for peening.

Look up "flush cutters" for removing pins. As the name suggests, they're flush on one side so if you can wedge it underneath the washer you can just snip. I've never used them, though. Another option is a drill press, or check out Undream's restoration video in which he carefully uses a Dremel to remove the peened head and then punches out the pin.

I file mine, personally. I go very slow and if I'm at all worried about the scales then I'll put a layer of electrical tape across so I don't accidentally file the scale. HTH!

EDIT -- here's the thread on flush cutters:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...al-method.html

EDIT2: as for metal preference, of the stock I've used (which is maybe 3 rods total?) I found the nickel to be easier to peen, and while they're both pretty easy with patience, the final mushrooming of the nickel always comes out better for me. Could be total coincidence. But mostly I think it's just for looks -- and personally, I think that the different metals (nickel rod w/ brass washer or vice versa) look really sharp particularly on dark scales. Even more so if you use multiple washers per pin for a bullseye look.

Thanks, man! I appreciate the help there.

Also, you're in Gainesville? I used to go out with a girl from there, and we'd go to breakfast at a place called Skeeters. Is it still around? Best breakfast I ever had in my life -- and more calories and fat than I eat now in a week, but who cares, right?

Originally Posted by JeffE

Thanks, man! I appreciate the help there.

Also, you're in Gainesville? I used to go out with a girl from there, and we'd go to breakfast at a place called Skeeters. Is it still around? Best breakfast I ever had in my life -- and more calories and fat than I eat now in a week, but who cares, right?

Heh, Skeeter's has been closed a while. I think it burned down. Don't worry, though -- if you ever come back we've got some pretty good restaurants for a college town.

Glad the peening worked out for you. I think most of the guys use the buffers on their pins. I don't have a buffer yet so I use my 2000-grit sandpaper. The metal is soft enough that it smooths out pretty quickly. Again, I do it carefully and use a piece of tape to protect the scales just in case.