Thread: Pivot washers?

Watching the video on peening, he uses washers against the blade inside the scales. Is this common? What to use for these washers?

Thanks. I did a search and could not find this....

Jeff.

Jeff,

Quite a number of the razors I own have washers (genrally brass or bronze) in the pivot area. It reduces the 'stiction' when you open and close the razor, and also can hold some useful lubricant. The synthetic washers may even help seal the pivot area against ingress of water.

I use the thinnest nylon washers from Microfasteners : Micro Fasteners - Hobbyists Source - Locknuts - Washers - Machine Screws - Fasteners - Rivets - Wood Screws

You can reduce the thickess of stock brass washers by rubbing them on a suitable abrasive surface, as some do.

I believe some also make their own from thin brass sheet.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by jeffegg2

Watching the video on peening, he uses washers against the blade inside the scales. Is this common? What to use for these washers?

Thanks. I did a search and could not find this....

Jeff.

Historically it wasn't common but certainly some quality razors had thin brass/bronze washers. You can use the wide #0 from microfasteners.
They are a little chunky but they do give a very sweet pivot action thru the full range of movement.

I routinely use pivot washers which I have made out of the wide #0 ones that I have flattened a bit with an FBH and an anvil, however, I have also used the nylon washers available at microfasteners.
I recently got a pack of 100 off the bay specifically made for the job.
Hope this helps

start here

http://straightrazorplace.com/worksh...swers-here.htm


then find this

How to Make Blade Spacers

and this

Vintage style Thrust/Bearing Internal Washers

I've used the smaller nylon ones from microfasteners a few times but they eventually break or tear from use. The brass or SS ones are still the best in terms of long wear and tear. There's also phosphor (bronze alloy) which are excellent, Nylatron and Teflon which don't do a bad job but are still inferior for longtime and trouble free use. My preference still goes to brass, ss or bronze inside washers.

Originally Posted by Maximilian

I've used the smaller nylon ones from microfasteners a few times but they eventually break or tear from use. The brass or SS ones are still the best in terms of long wear and tear. There's also phosphor (bronze alloy) which are excellent, Nylatron and Teflon which don't do a bad job but are still inferior for longtime and trouble free use. My preference still goes to brass, ss or bronze inside washers.

+1 Nothing makes me believe this more than when you pop a 200+ year old razor and the Brass bushings are still there and working

I was actually wondering about this. All the older (1800s) razors I've handled / taken apart have not had bushings, just the tang against the scales. Was it common to manufacture them like this, or were bushings standard and they just got lost over time?