Protecting scales while pinning

I've just started putting all the scales I've made onto blades and wanted to see what you guys do to protect the scales during the pinning process. I use a small metal template that came with my pin set but it's somewhat awkward and a bit too thick for this but it does work. I've scratched a couple by tapping them with the hammer and even when done lightly can leave a mark. It's definitely a peace off when you take a few hours to make a perfect (to me) set of scales and then put a nice lol scrape in them.

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Originally Posted by burns420

I've just started putting all the scales I've made onto blades and wanted to see what you guys do to protect the scales during the pinning process. I use a small metal template that came with my pin set but it's somewhat awkward and a bit too thick for this but it does work. I've scratched a couple by tapping them with the hammer and even when done lightly can leave a mark. It's definitely a peace off when you take a few hours to make a perfect (to me) set of scales and then put a nice lol scrape in them.

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I just tap lightly and carefully -- as Glen says, tap your own fingernail with the hammer and if it hurts then you're hitting too hard. :)

If you're really concerned then maybe you could use a layer of electrical tape on the scales with a hole cut out for the washer/pin. I'm new to this myself but using a metal template doesn't sound much better as I'd imagine the template could just as easily scratch the scales itself.

Here is a tutorial Glen (sixgun) posted in the SRP Wiki restore area. As commiecat said, lightly and politely when tapping the pin. :)

Work on your peening technique first. There should be no real reason to protect anything. I surely never have used anything to protect the scales. One needs to learn and only hit the rod when tapping. It seems you must sometimes be tapping sideways or miss your target when tapping, resulting in hitting the scale.

That's what I do like a peen hammer with a small head. It's easier to target your rod. But concentrate on learning to only target the peening part and don't slam dunk either. Go easy but firm and confident.

The real trick to that and I believe I said it way back then, is to barely raise the hammer off the pin, I would guess mine moves 1 inch, nice, tight, light, taps...

LOL that sounds like shooting instructions... Nice tight double taps to the target :)

never had to protect the scales. Just do light frequent taps, do not lift the hammer high, this way you will always nail the pin and not the washer or scales.

Thanks. I know to hit them very gently and don't have a problem hitting the rod, I don't mean that I'm actually hitting the scales and gouging or denting them, it's just occasionally the immediate area around the pin or washer will get scratched/scuffed very lightly from the washer movement or where it rests on the surface. I don't mean from hitting it with the hammer. And I have been using a small peening hammer just tapping it and so far haven't missed the rod, hopefully that won't change.

Another thing is that the face on your peening hammer should be polished & look like chrome.