Thread: New wooden scales for my Ralf Aust

Hi, All!

I have been watching videos about making scales and decided to change the plastic scales of my Ralf Aust 5/8. I was searching the woods till a found a very nice smelling fallen branch. I was told is of camphor tree. Cut the branch with a saw and from there all the way with paper sanding and following this great video's instructions:

<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250);">


I am happy with the result and the better feel of these wodden scales. I am trying to do a brush wodden handle now. Then perhaps I will be doing another scales from other kind of wood.

The photos:

more photos:

Very nice.
I was inspired by that video a few weeks back . The only thing holding me back is that I don't have access to a band saw.

Originally Posted by JOB15

Very nice.
I was inspired by that video a few weeks back . The only thing holding me back is that I don't have access to a band saw.

Thank you Job. I think you could very well make it with just a manual cutting saw. Once you have a reasonable sized piece of wood, you cut it in half, glue the halves together and paper sand (with mani different paper grits) till you find a shape you like.

Originally Posted by santiago53

Thank you Job. I think you could very well make it with just a manual cutting saw. Once you have a reasonable sized piece of wood, you cut it in half, glue the halves together and paper sand (with mani different paper grits) till you find a shape you like.

If I could start with wood 1/8th of an inch think it would be easy sailing from their on in.

I have a block of Walnut doing nothing.

There is a timber merchants five mins from me. I might go and see if they have anything exotic and get them to do my 1/8th of an inch.

Have you seen this stuff? I think it would make amazing scales.The darker one is jaw dropping.


exotic resin wood blank knife handle scales pistol grips maple burl block | eBay

Yes, I too like the darker. Impressive!!

You may need to watch for rust from the camphor wood.
In his book on Japanese swords, Sato recommends not storing in Camphor chests for risk of rusting.

Camphor wood does have a nice smell, I can see why you picked it up! I have two knives with that wood inlayed on the handle. You did a really nice job with those scales, especially for your first set!

Thank you. Yes, the smell is very nice and strong. I will check for possible rust. I gave it 6 passes of shellac and steel wool.

Very nice and especially so since you picked the wood from the forest or woods yourself.