Thread: Some tricks to popping pins out...

I like to work the pins out on my drill press. I can align the table such that the parts of the scale right above and below the pin sit on the table while there is a hole under the pin. This splints the scales on both the tang and the table of the drill press, which gives great support to both scales, while still allowing me to push out the pin. Aside from the splinting effect, I also like using the drill press because of the amount of control it gives me with the pressure I apply to the pin; I can apply constant pressure (no tapping), and I am able to modulate the pressure very easily.

After de-peening one side, my first attack is typically to shut the drill press off and give a gentle push with the drill bit (drill off). Most of the time, this will push the pin through the top scale. If that is the case, I remove that side of the scales and the blade itself. I can then re-cut either side of the pin and push through either way. Depending on which way I'm pushing, I may put the blade back to use it as a splint again.

If I am unable to free the scale on the first side, I will almost always have pushed the pin through far enough that I can flip the razor over and use cutters to snip off the opposite peen. I can then push back in the opposite direction to see if that way will work. Usually, one way or the other will work, and it's just a matter of re-cutting for the second scale to come off.

It's not fool proof, and it doesn't always work, but I find it pretty reliable.