Pin preparation

[GaryJ]

I'm at the point of cutting down my pins holding in the barrel and pipes to the correct size.  I've used nails for the pins and maybe I'm getting too picky here but I don't have an example to look at.  My question is, what do you do to the ends of the pins?  Round them off? Flatten them?  Concave?  And, once they are in, how do you get them out?  Do you use another pin or a special tool to tap them out?  Thanks for the help, Gary.

[Acer Saccharum]

I use 5/64 stock for pins, round the ends, or slightly chamfer them. knock them in and out with a flat end punch (1/16")

Worst case scenario is when you hit the punch and it skids off the pin and goes into the wood. Try not to do that. Maybe a cup point on the punch would service very well. This only happens when the pins are too tight. I try to make the fit in the stock a easy friction fit, then force is not needed to move the pins, pins don't get mushroomed or bent.

[Longknife]

Gary, Cut them about 1/4 short, file or gring the tips flat and file a or grind a slight bevel, around the tip, so as to not gouge and splinter the wood. Leaver the tip flat, I somertimes lightly buff the tip on a wire wheel to make sure there are no burrs.  Use cold blue to darken the tips, and install. They can be installed and removed with a pin punch...Ed

[Longknife]

ACER BEAT ME TOIT!!!!!!!!!!

[billd]

Tom,   Can you find any 5/64th rod in brass?  I had some and can't find it anymore. I use brass to build the gun so I can file over it with wood rasps and sand paper, then replace them with steel for the final assembly.
Thnaks,
Bill

[Lucky R A]

Round the ends ever so slightly, insert pins from the left. leave them slightly short, remove from the right with a pin punch made from the same size material as the pins.  The hole will allign the punch with the pin, they should be just tight enough to stay put, but push out with hand pressure.   

[Dennis Glazener]

I use 1/16" piano wire cut about 1/4" short. Then I put them in an electric drill and touch lightly on a fine stone, just enough to chamfer the ends a little. When I put them end (after finishing) I fill the holes with beeswax to hold them in and keep them from rusting. Also keeps the shine from showing.
Dennis