Thread: How to unpin a razor using hand tools while preserving the scales?

On the few I have unpinned I have gone and carefully used a Dremmel with a cut off wheel and slowly ground the end of the pin off ensuring that I do not get anywhere near the scales, as far as replacement scales use the link to Classic Shaving on the forum pages they are relatively in expensive and have several choices the last time I looked.

A Dremel with a round, longish (Don't know the proper nomenclature) grinding bit. Sort of looks like a piece of 3/16" dowel mounted on a shaft--and a lot of care and patience. Or, if you don't have a Dremel, a small file will serve the same purpose. Just grind/file the end of the pin down to the washer and carefully push/tap it out with a 1/6" pin drift or an old 1/6" in drill bit.

Using the method I described above, I can unpin virtually any razor in 30 seconds. It's easy, it's fast, and it doesn't break scales.

On the very rare occasion when I cannot get a bite with the flush cutter because the washer is too flush with the scales, I use a milling bit in a drill press. I drill down just enough to release the washer and then use a punch to remove the pin.

Thanks everyone for the responses and great advice! I have a dumb question, where do you find the vendors? I have gone to the vendors corner, but don't see actual sites for the vendors. Thanks

I'm with Utopian... I got a 14$ set at Home Depot, of a small, strong flushcutter and matching tiny pliers... They're absolutely perfect. Use the flush cutter to snip off one end, and the tiny pliers to grab and remove the other side. It slides right out

I don't worry about pin/collar damage, just scale preservation... I generally re-pin, washer and etc, with Microfastener washers, and 1/16 bras rod.

So far no scratches or damage from flushcutters.

Cheers,
Jeremy

Hi,

+1 on Pauls' observation about broken side cutters.

I had an old French razor I wanted to re-scale, so I got out the side cutters and CRACK, the end of the cutters broke off and hit me in the face. Luckily I was wearing safety specs

It transpired that the pin was made of mild steel

Since then, it has been files only for pin removal !

Have fun !

regards

Russ

Although the Wiki is a good resource, when it comes to this section of SRP
"The Workshop" you will find this sticky at the top all the time...

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html

In there Max and I keep the best and most relevent Threads that pertain to what we do... Restoration... In the threads you will find many questions asked and answered which is what you don't find in the Wiki...

There are basically three ways to take out pins File, Drill, or Cut, some people use combinations of these...In that thread you will find all of these...

One little thing you might want to realize, I don't care how many times you have done it, or what system you use, you will without a doubt BREAK SCALES

The Murphy's Law of restore takes effect often, as the likelihood of cracking a set of scales increases exponentially with the value and rarity of said scales..