Thread: Have you ever?

Have you ever been trying to save some scales and the collars, drilling deep on either side, only to go all the way through? I have done it several times, but did not think to take a picture!
Obviously this pin was bigger than 1/16. It is still tight!

Lets hear about some strange workshop happenings!

I certainly have!

Very annoying when the 'flared-out' ends of the pin still grip the scales like a limpet! I usually get a very small burr in the dremel, put it in the hole, and under-cut the sides of the pin on one side ( being careful not to generate enough heat to melt the scales) so I can move one scale away, then cut the pin again below the flair to pop it out the other side.

Like you Tom, my latest restoration had over-sized pins - not immediately obvious, though as it was fitted with home-made bullseye washers. Once the washers came off it was apparent that not only was the pin oversized (about half as thick again as a 1/16th inch dia. rod) but it was fitted into t-shaped ferrules - like some sort of knife-pinnings you see. Now I am faced with whacking great holes in the scales! I have sleeved a normal rod to fit, but it will take a series of stacked washers over the end to get a bottom one wide enough to disguise the sleeves. As if that wasn't bad enough, the black wedge had to be changed to white, but when the wedge pins came out the scales were still firmly together - turns out it didn't have a wedge at all, but some sort of black epoxy stuff had been used (should have figured that out by the slumping at the corners).

After cutting through the epoxy with a small bandsaw and removing the rest with a scraper, the insides of the scales hadn't even been flattened - they both curved away from true at the very ends, so they had to be re-worked in order to fit a conventional wedge. I reckon I could have made a new pair quicker!

Seems like it never rains but it pours....!

Regards,
Neil

Boy that sounds like a dream, Neil! Or a nightmare! Did you catch the dealer's name on that tang? A junk blade, but I had not seen that before!

I did Tom - a 'toilet saloon' was the same thing as a 'toilet club' - run by a barber, patrons who paid a regular subscription got reduced rates in return. There were an inordinate amount of them around in the late 1800s to around 1930 or so. There is a record of a letter sent to a newspaper by a Mr Ludwig of Beaufort Toilet Club in 1888 complaining that he was not to be confused with another Mr Ludwig who was a suspect in the 'Jack the Ripper' murders.

Here's an ad from Ireland:



A photo of a Toilet Club in Mumbles in Wales:



And an ad from New Zealand beseeching people to join the toilet club:



I find it a bit of fascinating history, now lost together with its not very 'pc' sounding name!

Regards,
Neil

[QUOTE=Neil Miller;1002379]

I find it a bit of fascinating history, now lost together with its not very 'pc' sounding name!

Regards,
Neil[/QUOTE
Indeed Interesting, Neil! Thanks for that bit of history. I was reminded about meeting in the restroom in High school and pitching pennies/ smoking cigarettes!