Thread: First time making scales...No-name Razor w/ two-tone Walnut scales

So I've finally finished my first razor preservation and made my first set of scales. I started with a no-name razor with nothing but a "45" stamped on it. Original plastic scales were flimsy and cracked when I was practicing my bevel setting on it, so it led me to this...

Before I get to my terrible photos of the razor and scales, here's what I learned/observed/whatever.

First of all, my scales look like scales and function like scales. In that regard, it was a rousing success.

However, my pinning looks like it was done by a child (though it's very tight), and the scales I carved are too thick. Also, my wedge is terrible. I'm debating making a new wedge, but part of me wants to just leave it so I can always remember what my first set of scales looked like. The wedge I made is tapered in the wrong direction (big oops), too thin and not flush to the scales, because I made the mistake of finishing the scales before making the wedge (another big oops).

So the process...

I hand-sanded the razor to get the nasty stuff off, but I left a lot of the pitting and other marks. I sanded up to 1000 grit and used Brasso to finish.

The wood was a small rectangular sheet I got from a hobby shop. It's two-tone because half of the sheet was dark walnut, the other half light walnut. Rather than buy 2 sheets to match the colors, I opted for each side to be a different tone of wood. It's harder to see in the bad iphone photos, but in person it's like I used two different types of wood. I used the old scales as a template, but I didn't carve effectively and they ended up too thick. It's not an issue though. I sanded up to 1500 grit and finished with 4 coats of Tru-Oil. Same with the wedge, though like I said I messed that up. It functions, but just barely.

So, some pics...



Overall not bad for a beginner, eh?

Next up is to hone it. Who knows when I'll get around to that...

Overall a good first attempt! It sounds like you learned a lot.
One critique: in the future, try to make the tang end of the scales narrower so that at the end it matches the size of the tang. That will make honing and stropping easier.

Good job!

That's what I meant when I said I carved them too thick. I intended to use a razor with a wider tang, but I cut the hole for the wedge in the wrong place, so I used the smaller one and didn't think to change the profile. But honestly, it would have been too thick for the bigger razor too. That's what I get for eye-balling it.

Keep the critiques coming!!

Originally Posted by HNSB

Overall a good first attempt! It sounds like you learned a lot.
One critique: in the future, try to make the tang end of the scales narrower so that at the end it matches the size of the tang. That will make honing and stropping easier.

Good job!

You did a good job for your first time making scales. They look better than my first set did.

I am going to try my hand at a set of scales soon out of some wood, not sure what kind yet. I sure hope I can get something close to yours for my first set. I would be more than happy with those results!

Nice job for a first attempt.
There is always a sense of satisfaction when you use a razor you have rescaled/restored yourself.
Well done.

Stu