My polish up just turned into a full restore

I'm a tad hacked. I have a really nice Cattaraugus SR that was is really good condition. I thought I'd remove the scales(Which were mint), polish her up and then repin.
Well, it all went south from there. I thought I was being so careful.......first off I was drilling out the old pins. I thought it was the best way. All of a sudden the pin heats up and melts a decent area around the pin. :banghead:
Then I was so hacked about the melting that I slipped while holding the razor and drilled a nice hole in the scale. So now they are totally screwed & I have to make a new set. I'm totally gutted as I really wanted this one to be original.
Anyway, how does everyone else remove the old pins? I'm assuming now that drilling isn't the prefered method.

Attachment 71715

Take a look here:
gssIxgun's article on unpinning and repinning

Drilling is not a bad option, but as I don't have a drill press it is not my way. Take a look in that wiki article, there are great tips in there.
Best of luck.

I have done that as well and ended up drilling into the scales I got round it by using stacked washers.

I prefer to use a lot of electrical tape to cover the surrounding area, and a small file. I learned the hard way as well that taking your time is better. I also have a 1/16" punch that I've thinned on a grinder, so the end is less of a taper a more like a steel rod which can penetrate through the entire width of scales and blade.

The couple that I have unpinned I have used a small file and tape also.

Here's another great thread on un-pinning http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...-pins-out.html

Slow down -- I've seen worse scale damage. I am a first-class destroyer of scales. Work that pin out and use oversize washers to re-pin. Call it "almost original".

Lesson learned,why people insist on using power tools is beyond me.
In the clock resto work I do I see more damage caused by Dremels,power sanders,drill presses etc than one can imagine.
god gave you the best tools ever created (your hands)Use a fine file,you want to drill? use a pin vise,is very slow work,couple chips at a time,no chance of ruining the scales,may take hrs,slow down,enjoy the work.

I use a dremel & cutoff wheel 99% of the time. essentially the same thing as filing off the end of the pin, but in 1/10th the time. Ironically enough, my drill press did the same thing as yours when creating my restoration videos :D

Been there, done that. You can use stacked washers and pretty much hide the hole.

If you go the drill press route be sure and file the pin FLAT so the drill bit does not dance around a convex surface..... not that this has ever happened to me.