Thread: What size pin?

Hey guys I'm wondering what the usual size you would cut you 1/16" copper rod into aerveral pieces creating your pins for your scales? So I guess is what is the normal length of pins going through scales/handles? Thanks again

Chase

I guess I end up using 3/8" to 1/2" each with waste, but I just string everything up on a 1' piece and cut it off where I need to. I think cutting the pieces first would waste it. BTW, I buy 1/16" braising rod for pinning.

+1 precutting your pins would make for more waste. I just do one pin as a time off of a 12" rod. The only waste is what I file off the ends before peining.


-Xander

Originally Posted by Horner

Hey guys I'm wondering what the usual size you would cut you 1/16" copper rod into aerveral pieces creating your pins for your scales? So I guess is what is the normal length of pins going through scales/handles? Thanks again

Chase

1/16 Brass rod not Copper first off

I cut at about 3/4" and pre-make them with one end peened myself...

Originally Posted by fast14riot

+1 precutting your pins would make for more waste. I just do one pin as a time off of a 12" rod. The only waste is what I file off the ends before peining.

Totally agree. Every razor is different: the blades will be different widths, the scales will be different thicknesses, and your spacer/wedges will differ as well. If you tried cutting rods to a standard size and then cut them again for each individual pin, you will inevitably waste material. My own highly scientific approach is to cut each pin so that it sticks out a little bit on each side of the scales. As I said... highly scientific!

There are some great videos out there on making scales and pins that talk about this very thing. If you can't find them, PM me and I'll try to remember where I saw them.

Good luck

Totally off the wall, I found some brass finishing nails that are 1/16th inch diameter and one inch long. The heads, I just reduce in height with a belt grinder to finish them after using them as a normal pin cutting them off as usual. I like to cut off about a 32nd to a 16th of an inch above the washer and file off and peen till I am happy with the result.
~Richard

I tend to cut to size from a longer piece - just using it up as I go along. After inserting the bar and washers on both sides I find that my slightly convex cutter leaves exactly the right amount sticking up that, after filing flat, results in an even peen on both sides. Next time around, the piece cut off is filed flat, peened on that end and off you go again. Result - no waste which is a bonus in the UK because Nickel silver rod in 1/16 is hard to come by.