Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15
Like Tree3Likes

Thread: Razor Peening Tips for Beginners

  1. #1
    Senior Member blabbermouth LegalBeagle's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Alexandria, VA
    Posts
    2,661
    Thanked: 1948

    Default Razor Peening Tips for Beginners

    I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this thread. If I'm in the wrong forum, I hope the Mods will help sort it out.

    Last night I had a great conversation with one of the true masters on this forum, Glen (GSSixGun), about what new guys should have to help keep their razors in top shape. Despite the frequent discussions on the site, our conversation was not about hones and stones.

    Glen was advising me about how to care for the razor in other senses. In particular, he stressed the importance of being able to tighten up a razor and suggested that he would encourage me to pick up a small chasing hammer and a jewler's block so that I have a good surface to repeen scales when they are loose. Based on this recommendation, I surfed the net and found what I thought was a good solution for under $16 shipped to my door (I have no affiliation whatsoever with this vendor):

    http://www.widgetsupply.com/page/WS/...er-anvil/BDF15
    http://www.widgetsupply.com/product/WC08.html


    Even more important than his guidance on the tools to acquire, though, was Glen's excellent way of describing how hard to peen a razor. He told me to take my hammer when I get it and tap my thumb just around the cuticle. If it hurts, I know I'm using too much force. This really brought it into perspective for me.

    This is what makes this forum so valuable. It's guys like Glen, and the countless others, who so generously give their time and share their experiences. Thanks SRP!
    Last edited by gssixgun; 01-02-2013 at 03:43 AM.
    Haroldg48 likes this.

  2. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to LegalBeagle For This Useful Post:

    gssixgun (09-29-2010), JeffE (09-29-2010), mjhammer (03-15-2012), Nphocus (04-21-2011)

  3. #2
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    2,697
    Thanked: 830
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default +1 on Gunner's help

    I'd read his guide on peening pressure and thought it was a brilliantly clear illustration.

    His help honing & stoning - heck most anything he posts on or helps with. One of the greats on this forum.

  4. #3
    aka shooter74743 ScottGoodman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    SE Oklahoma/NE Texas
    Posts
    7,285
    Thanked: 1936
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    Ya, Glen is alright.....I guess...

    Good post though, I concur!
    Southeastern Oklahoma/Northeastern Texas helper. Please don't hesitate to contact me.
    Thank you and God Bless, Scott

  5. #4
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Idaho Redoubt
    Posts
    26,948
    Thanked: 13221
    Blog Entries
    1

    Thumbs up

    I moved this over to the Workshop and linked it in the Sticky...

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

    This set that Bill found is a great price, and whether you ever get into Restoration or not it gives you a inexpensive and accurate way to keep your razors tight...

    Thanks for linking it all Bill
    Last edited by gssixgun; 09-29-2010 at 02:41 PM.

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to gssixgun For This Useful Post:

    Lynn (09-29-2010)

  7. #5
    Scutarius Fbones24's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Freeport, NY
    Posts
    1,337
    Thanked: 1454

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by LegalBeagle View Post
    I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this thread. If I'm in the wrong forum, I hope the Mods will help sort it out.

    Last night I had a great conversation with one of the true masters on this forum, Glen (GSSixGun), about what new guys should have to help keep their razors in top shape. Despite the frequent discussions on the site, our conversation was not about hones and stones.

    Glen was advising me about how to care for the razor in other senses. In particular, he stressed the importance of being able to tighten up a razor and suggested that he would encourage me to pick up a small chasing hammer and a jewler's block so that I have a good surface to repeen scales when they are loose. Based on this recommendation, I surfed the net and found what I thought was a good solution for under $16 shipped to my door (I have no affiliation whatsoever with this vendor):

    http://www.widgetsupply.com/page/WS/...er-anvil/BDF15
    http://www.widgetsupply.com/page/WS/...il/XUP1-8339CH

    Even more important than his guidance on the tools to acquire, though, was Glen's excellent way of describing how hard to peen a razor. He told me to take my hammer when I get it and tap my thumb just around the cuticle. If it hurts, I know I'm using too much force. This really brought it into perspective for me.

    This is what makes this forum so valuable. It's guys like Glen, and the countless others, who so generously give their time and share their experiences. Thanks SRP!
    Just a quick question. What size chasing hammer would be ideal. I don't think the link to the hammer worked, but would a 6oz hammer be the ideal weight?

  8. #6
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Idaho Redoubt
    Posts
    26,948
    Thanked: 13221
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Fixed the link

    The hammer I always recommend is 2-4 ounces the one Bill found is 3 oz

    I have used a 6 oz but it is a touch heavy for this work...

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to gssixgun For This Useful Post:

    DMA (12-13-2015)

  10. #7
      Lynn's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    St. Louis, Missouri, United States
    Posts
    8,454
    Thanked: 4941
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default

    I like the 4 oz the best for getting my pins started, but really like the half round to get a bigger mushroom...........

    Have fun,

    Lynn

  11. #8
    Blood & MWF soap make great lather JeffE's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    558
    Thanked: 97

    Default

    Don't mean to hijack the discussion here, but can I ask some questions?

    First, don't I really need an anvil with some little dimples in it (I think it's called a "dapping" block) so that the round pins stay round when they are being tightened? I currently use a block of smooth, really hard stone (not a hone!), and I notice that the round pin heads get flattened and crushed a bit as they are being pounded. Would a dapping block or anvil help that, or does Glen prefer a flat surface?

    Second, I don't understand how using a little round hammer to hit the round surface of a pin head isn't going to leave flat spots wherever the hammer contacts the pin. I dont need to tighten scales that often, but it seems like, when I do it, the nice round pin heads just get dented or flattened. I've tried putting a curved spoon on top of the pin when I'm hitting it so that the hammer isn't hitting the pin directly but instead is hitting the spoon which then pushes on the pin, but even this seems like a bad way to go about it. Shouldn't there be some kind of little, metal dowel or rod that has a concave dimple at one end and a hitting surface at the other end so that you can tighten pins AND keep their shape? If anyone knows where to buy one of these, I would be first in line.

    Thanks!

  12. #9
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Idaho Redoubt
    Posts
    26,948
    Thanked: 13221
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Jeff if you actually watch the Video that Alex did it will explain a lot to you...

    Polished Flat surface + Polished Ballpeen surface = polished pins

    You have to realize that the razor nor the pins are struck flat we are constantly moving the razor and the hammer so that on both sides it is a glancing blow...

    A small 1/8 inch divot (not a Dapping Block) helps when you first start doing this but, you will soon move to just a polished surface for the best results...

    The cupped surface can be also done using what is called a "Nail Set" I do NOT recommend them, as they bring and entirely new element to the game, and that can result in cracked scales....

  13. The Following User Says Thank You to gssixgun For This Useful Post:

    JeffE (09-29-2010)

  14. #10
    Senior Member heirkb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    553
    Thanked: 243

    Default

    Two questions from me, too:

    1. What is a half round? Lynn mentions it in his post.

    2. Where can I find the video that Alex posted on peening?

    Edit: Found the videos.
    Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4uwwk16CLY

    Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vihhWXSbPQY


    Another Edit: I wanted to add that JoeD taught me to buff pins (with some polishing compound; I use black emery) after peening them to remove any hammer marks and make them smooth. I don't know if you guys have tried this, but it works well.
    Last edited by heirkb; 09-29-2010 at 11:46 PM.
    true01 likes this.

  • The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to heirkb For This Useful Post:

    donv (09-10-2012), Nphocus (04-21-2011), ScottGoodman (10-02-2010)

  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •