Thread: Broken Scale aka how did I screw up?

I have had this issue and from what I can tell, the scale has a clean break and was not previously cracked. Flush cutters will smash the pin to some degree, making the top with a sharp, oval. When you tap on it the sharp edge is smashed in and this just peens it tight ! You might try lightly dremeling with a fine drum or gently filing to the level of the scale before hammer and punching. Then the pin will be round with a flat top and better to tap on without being peened in the process. Also, I find a dab of WD40 around the pin on both sides helps loosen it. Let it soak! If you scratch the bakelite , it is easily sanded and polished. Guys talk of the tablespoon while peening, but for unpinning it works nicely as well and keeps breakage to a minimum! If it feels stubborn, it is! For those it is beneficial to do both sides and try tapping back and forth. One side will go better than the other! A lot of this has been mentioned and is great advise!