aluminum pins

[balaban9331]

thinking about trying to repin one of my str8's and was wondering if anyone has used regular aluminum rivets that you can pick up just about anywhere.my idea is to cut them down to size and pean as necessary.anyone see any problems with this?has anyone tried?

[leighton]

My concern would be aluminum is harder than brass and thus would take longer/be harder to mushroom.

[minstrel]

My concern would be aluminum is harder than brass

Where did you get that idea? Aluminum is a soft metal. Unless you harden it, and only certain types of aluminum alloys can be hardened.

I've used aluminum for pinning straight razors and it works just fine.

[GsSixgun]

Isn't there some metal problem with the aluminum and the steel and the water and the soap??? Seems to me I read something about the steel and aluminum not touching...?????? and I am asking not telling..

[balaban9331]

if you use aluminum rivets on steel projects which i've done,i haven't had any problems with that even though the aluminum is touching the steel.now would it be different with a razor that is in contact with water?i don't know.

[minstrel]

Isn't there some metal problem with the aluminum and the steel and the water and the soap??? Seems to me I read something about the steel and aluminum not touching...?????? and I am asking not telling..

You're thinking of galvanic corrosion? It can happen with any two disparate metals, and requires salt water. Unless you plan on shaving using salt water, it shouldn't be a problem. :biggrin:

[leighton]

Where did you get that idea? Aluminum is a soft metal. Unless you harden it, and only certain types of aluminum alloys can be hardened.

I've used aluminum for pinning straight razors and it works just fine.

I was unaware the OP was referring to pure aluminum.

To the OP:

A better solution to your problem is just buying brass rods and #00 (or is it #0?) washers. 1/16" thick rods. Or, if you want a shiny metal appearance, you can get nickel silver rods. Both of these are widely used and work for razors.

[balaban9331]

where would you find these rods and such small washers?

[leighton]

where would you find these rods and such small washers?

I actually forget where to get Nickel Silver rods. Glen has a couple websites for the N/S rods. SS washers can be bought from microfasteners.com. Brass washers too for that matter.

For rods and washers, you can buy both from mcmaster.com

OR I hear you can get some from Ace Hardware.

[minstrel]

I was unaware the OP was referring to pure aluminum.


I have never worked with pure aluminum. The alloys I have worked with have all been softer than brass. I don't know what aluminum alloys you have worked with... Airplane alloys? :confused:

As for silver steel and brass rods - I would get those from knife making supply stores, as they are used a lot for pinning scales to full tang knives.

[leighton]

I have never worked with pure aluminum. The alloys I have worked with have all been softer than brass. I don't know what aluminum alloys you have worked with... Airplane alloys? :confused:

As for silver steel and brass rods - I would get those from knife making supply stores, as they are used a lot for pinning scales to full tang knives.

Brass comes in softer alloys as well. Either case, I'm not going to get into some pissing contest on the internet over something so stupid. I concede the point.

[GsSixgun]

Hmmmmmmm Interesting thread now..

Minstrel: I would love to see all your restores using aluminum pins BTW...

I am going to go back to a very simple adage here and you all can make up your own mind then OK???

For over 200+ years two types of pins have been used for razors, Nickel Silver and Brass.... I know these two materials work the best because I have restored 100's of razors that still have them working just fine before I pop them and replace them with nickel silver or brass pins...

I have honed 1000's of razors that have these two materials as pins that they are still working just fine...

Out of all these razors both Vintage and Custom I have never seen an Aluminum pin.... So IMHO aluminum pins would not be a good choice but hey YMMV


For info:
Texas Knife Supply has both types of rod and any hardware store that has a KOSS metals display will have the brass rods...
The washers are #0 and #0W in brass and #0 in SS from Microfasteners.com