Let's talk head spinners

R

Randy3000

Joined
Jun 3, 2017
Messages
811
So i needed a head spinner to dome some pin heads for bone handles. So i ordered one from jantz knowing they didnt work well. Well, it didnt work at all! This is with 1/16 and 3/32 pins. I think i need to remove some of the meat around the wall so it doesnt get caught on the raised portions of the bone.

So i thought about i would ask if anyone else modified their head spinner and if it worked. So, have you? Tell me about it.

I then also made one out of a worn out dremel bit. I drilled a 1/8 hole in an inch thick piece of wood, stuck the bit in there, stuck my center punch in the other end and gave it a whack, then with the bit in a partially drilled hole used as a holder i drilled it with a 3/32 bit to carve out a little bit. Here is the result.
WXt8noA.jpg


I then tried this spinner i made and it actually worked! The head isnt pretty, but the pin wont snag you as you run your finger across it.

BnugkKY.jpg




I think if i cut a slot in it with a dremel it may cut a little better. I am just using some cutting lube and a lot of pressure with the drill press. I can probably sand the head by hand and get it to looking decent.

So, modify the jantz spinner or keep going with mine?

EDIT
I sanded it with 800 grit for about 5 minutes and it looks like this.
DPbPyyI.jpg


I should be able to get those black specks out in a few more minutes. I am so glad i bought an optivisor, you just cant see those specks without magnification.
 
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I made another one in the same way, making sure i had an even amount of meat around the 3/32 hole, then drilled it out larger with 5/32 bit and made sure the point looked centered in the spinner. I used it on the other side of the pin and it is better. I may need to go to 3/16 or maybe even 7/33 to get the right radius where it will contact the middle of the pin.

lHYllRB.jpg


I am amazed that there is no wobble with either spinner, i thought it would be hard to get it all centered but it doesnt seem that difficult.

EDIT
I noticed that the spinner would push the pin down and a little would stick out the other side. So i did what i have seen others do and put one spinner in a wood block and chuck the other spinner. Then i trapped the pin on both ends and spun for a while. It pulled up tight on both ends and each head is clean. One minute of sanding should make each head pretty. Both spinners are drilled with a 7/32 bit.
 
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Pin spinners are for production work, restorations, and specialized work.
Peening your pins is much easier and safer. Cup burrs and cup punches are handy for shaping heads when necessary.
 
Mr. Bill is correct as usual. As far as size, I like the burr to be 1 size larger than the pin stock. For example, 3/32" pin = 1/8" burr. If the pin is properly peened it doesn't take much time with the burr.
 
I have searched many times about how to dome pin heads and this thread is the very first time i have heard of cup burrs, and so thanks for the suggestion. It looks ideal.
 
Nick wheeler has a good series of youtube vids on doming pins. Helped me a lot
 
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