Another thread about pin spinners.

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:22 pm

Thank you Tom.
I appreciate you taking the time to take the pictures. Could you explain how you use the tools? I think it would be helpful. I have spinners I have made and ones I bought from Jantz, but I still cannot get results like the heads on pins from the Camillus factory. I am still learning and hope to find out how to improve my technique.

Thank you,
Dale

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:29 pm

Hi Tom, I too would love to hear more about the process and where I could get a couple spinners. when you start spinning a pin do you flatten the top of the pin, is it pointed? Inquiring minds need to know

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:51 pm

Kaleb,
I talked to Tom last night & that was one of the questions I asked him; "Does it help to have the end tapered?"
He said that it did help.

Three things I learned from Tom last night about spinning pins;
1-“Taper the ends”
It worked better for me.

2-“Slow down your drill press.”
Mine worked much better on the slowest speed.

3- “Go slowly.”
So I took my time & worked the pin slowly. The result was better than I normally get.

I am sure Tom will be back and explain the process, but I wanted to let you, and everyone else following this thread, know what Tom shared with me about spinning pins.

Incidentally, the block on pics #6, #7, & #9 was made at the Camillus factory for backing the pins while they spun the other side on the knife.

Dale

Diligence · Post by **Diligence** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:12 pm

I'm really looking forward to hearing more of Tom's description. In the mean time though, Dale, how much pin did you leave sticking out? one diameter's worth?

Jaye

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:28 pm

Actually Jay I was spinning the heads on a couple of pins to attach the handle material to the liner. In that instance I prefer to spin a nice head on a pin, then insert it through the handle & liner and peen the backside down and file it off flush. You can’t leave much pin sticking out inside the liner as it will rub on the tang when the blade opens & closes.

Your question is probably better answered by Tom.
Tom did caution me about cutting them too close as the spinner will rub the handle material and leave a circle around the pin. This is not an uncommon thing. I have seen it on production knives actually.

Dale

CAMCO · Post by **CAMCO** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:34 pm

The spinner is mounted in the drill chuck. The block is placed under the knife on the drill press table.
I use the pins that are pointed on both ends and are trimmed to leave just enough material to make a head on the pin. The pin should extend the same amount on both sides of the knife (pile and mark sides). Steady the knife on the block and slowly engage the spinner. Just do a little at a time and keep checking to see how the head is forming. Be careful to not go too deep and mark the handle (it will leave a ring if you do).
This way of spinning pins was usually done on knives that were being repaired at the Camillus factory. Production knives had the pins spun on a machine. I recall all three pins being done in one operation on the government stainless knives like the model #S1760 (MIL-K knife).

Dale-I will be sending you info on the TL-29 electrician's knife and I will also send you one of the spinners that we used at Camillus. Thank you for posting the photos.

Tom Williams

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:07 pm

Wow! Thank you Tom, I can hardly wait!!

I will post some pics of it here in this thead when I get it.

Dale

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:00 am

Ok, thanks Tom! I've never tried spinning with pointed ends on the pins, I'll have to try that when my spinner gets here. Can't wait!

Diligence · Post by **Diligence** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:16 pm

Tom - most excellent - thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Speaking of the Tl-29, do you recall if the screwdriver blade was heat treated? If so, was it to the same Rc as the main blade?

Jaye

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:15 pm

Here is the Camillus pin spinner that Tom sent me.

It works great!
Thank you Tom!

I will post more later when I get time.
The length of the spinner is ¾ inch.

Dale

Diligence · Post by **Diligence** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 2:51 am

That is not at all how I imagined it would look....I'm going to have to try to make one like that.

Jaye

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 9:36 pm

I got my spinner from CAMCO in the mail a couple days ago (thanks Tom) and WOW! It works great! I used it on a remington rehab I was doing and it spins nice big uniform heads with ease.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:13 pm

Is there a drawing around that I could get to see if I could have some made? That would be great to have!

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:41 am

Hukk wrote:Is there a drawing around that I could get to see if I could have some made? That would be great to have!

Hukk,
I don't have a drawing & I can't get a better scan than one I posted.
But if you are coming to the OKCA show in April, remind me to bring the Camillus spinner & I will show you how to make one for yourself.

I made a couple and a bigger one for larger pins. They work very well. Much better than the ones you can buy from the supply houses.

Dale

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:26 am

Thanks Dale I would love to have one. I think I can get a machinist to make some for me.

I'll be up there and I may join the club so I can be there on Friday night also.

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:03 am

used Tom's spinner on this old Remington, worked like a charm, nice big shiny uniform heads

Diligence · Post by **Diligence** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:58 pm

bump....

Dale - can you post a photo of one of the finished pins? curious to see how it compares to a factory job.

by the way - this was a great topic!

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:24 am

Jaye, these things will spin them as big as you please. I spun one out of curiosity and got ti to about double in size of the pin. they are great spinners

tjlcutler · Post by **tjlcutler** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:14 am

This is Tom I was a cutler at Camillus. and the spinners that you have been talking are grate. One thing you don't want to do is try to spin a stainless pin. It will mess up your spinner.

Camco you are right they did all three pins on the stainless knife. They use to spin all of them one pin at a time. But it was one two three done.

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 3:39 am

welcome to the site tom, love to here from you.

Ringmaster · Post by **Ringmaster** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:31 am

Another welcome to the site, Tom !

It's great, having you with us. Pull up a chair, and tell us some cutler's tales - PLease...

Take Care,
JR

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:16 pm

welcome to the site Tom. Please share some old memories with us.

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:58 pm

Welcome to the forum Tom!

Tom Williams (CAMCO) has been telling me a lot about you. I am glad you got on to AAPK. I am looking forward to your posts. Tom says you just about anything.
I am looking forward to learning from you.

Welcome aboard!

Dale

tjlcutler · Post by **tjlcutler** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:07 am

Thank one and all for the welcome.

I am happy to be on board. I will try to share my knowledge of fixing knives.
I don't know every thing but I have picked up a few things over the years.

Diligence · Post by **Diligence** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:12 am

Tom - great to have you here....I'm so looking forward to hearing some tips and trick from a "real" cutler.

I made myself a pin spinner like the one that Orvet posted - it seems to not work very well. Still struggling with getting that technique down pat.....one of these days.

Anyway - welcome aboard Tom...

Jaye