Thread: Custom Scales For a Wade & Butcher (Heavy Pix and Explanation)

continuing...

So here is a tip I got from communicating with "Dr Matt". (Look up his YouTube videos)!!

The Wade & Butcher has a LARGE pivot hole. I was told that it was because they used to "punch" the pivot holes back in the day, and not drill them.

But if I used a 1/16" inch pin, the blade would wobble around and feel nasty. So following the lead that Dr Matt gave me, and I learned this technique.

Go to the Ace Hardware store because they carry all the parts you will need for this. I purchased a "3/32 x .014 round brass tube" that my 1/16" pin fits perfectly into. (I could also have used a 3/32" brass pin...but it would have been a large peen on the outside of the scales). I used the round tube because I only wanted a 1/16" inch pin to peen on the outside scales More on this in a few.

Anyhoo...here are a few pictures for you to see the tube and pin, the large stamped size of the pivot hole, and how small the actual brass tube needed to be, and why.







What I did was cut a piece of the tube larger than needed, and placed the 1/16" inch pin in it. Then I grabbed the rod (not the tube) with some grips, and sanded-down the brass tube to the size I wanted. When it was done, you can see the tube was barely the thickness of the width of the hole. And then you can see the brass tube placed in the blades hole.









The latter steps needed to be done because I needed to have the blade EXACTLY where it will finally be positioned, so I could find out where to place my wedge. Also notice because I used the brass tube, only the 1/16" inch pin was showing on the outside of the scales, which made for a smaller peen footprint.



After the wedge was marked, I cut out the shape on the scroll saw and sanded it down to its "almost shape". It needs to be larger than it needs to be, as it will eventually be sanded down flush with the scales. Once it was to the size I wanted, I beveled it down on 100-grit sandpaper so it was a wedge shape that would keep the scales opened when installed.









Then I added some Crazy Glue to the scale, and glued-on the wedge.



continued on next post...