clock repair tapered / straight pins id

[cduke]

Hello,

Here is a softball question for clock makers?  I am replacing a few parts in an old clock and the flexible tapered and straight pins that secure the parts to the spindles is brittle and has broken in a few instances.  Do you know what kind of metal this is and where it can be supplied?  I have only found steel and brass tapered pins and this metal appears to have some lead in it as it is very pliable.

Thanks for your help in identifying this metal rod material.

[nickelsilver]

In a very old clock it may just be iron, but steel pins are the norm and quite flexible and soft too (they aren't hardened).  You can get assortments from the usual suppliers that cover most needs. Brass is encountered as well, again, just regular old brass.

[oldhippy]

nickelsilver is correct. Some extremely old clocks in not having pins have what I can only say are nails.

[nickelsilver]

nickelsilver is correct. Some extremely old clocks in not having pins have what I can only say are nails.

Haha oldhippy you just reminded me- a lot of old texts call for iron polishers, and one of my mentors used to recommend using large nails filed up to shape as they were the best iron (not steel) one could easily find. I still have a handfull of large ones in my bench.

[Tmuir]

I've seen plenty of clocks just using bent nails where taper pins should be, a sure side of a 'backyard repair'

[oldhippy]

Longcase clocks that haven’t been touched for over 100 years would have more likely been repaired by a blacksmith. You would not expect him to have nice shiny tapered pins.