Yet more scales and lessons learned

I'm still making my fair share of mistakes, but the wood kinda bailed me out on this one.
Black Cherry Burl with Black Walnut Wedge:
Attachment 97596Attachment 97597Attachment 97598

Beautiful scales, well done.
The pins on the wedge end seem unusually close to the end though, any reason for that?
Grant

Looking very good, just a great choice of woods. Love to get my hands on some of that Black Cherry Burl.

Bob

Good Job, I like what you ended up with, they are very well done, good looking razor you have there.
I hope to be that good some day, just not today!!!

Have many great shaves with it!!

tinkersd

Lovely wood. And you've done several things better than I ever have. Your wedge looks perfect. Keep it up.

That burl looks really nice. Keep up the good work. As for the pins if your putting them there to keep the scales tight against the wedge try thinning the scales some more. Either way I like the look of them.

Great wood selection for the scales and wedge, real nice.

Thanks guys, your comments are all spot on. Glen (by PM) as well. I'm pretty happy with them, but the next set will have a shorter length wedge, the pins won't be so close to the end, and the pins (hopefully) will be better alligned (been struggling with that last one).

Each set gets better.....the hallmark of learning!

I don't know about others, but I like to use a seamstress' measuring tape for pins. It's flexible, so I can wrap it slightly over the edge of the scale. Also, with some of its numbers in different colours, I'm able to see the centre much easier. It may be odd, but it works like a charm for me.

I was using the workbench for the stuff in my other thread in here and thought I'd fix this one up a little, too.

Attachment 99249

I like the look of those scales. Very nicely done.

ok I looked 3 times

You cut the oversized wedge back, along with the end of the scales, and re-drilled the scales eliminating the pins that were too close to the wedge end, looks like new finish too.. So you fixed the problems and saved the scales :tu

That is what I think you did, please correct me if I am wrong :p


g

Awesome! much more streamlined.

Hi unfortunately my Red Point scales deteriorated in my hands this morning. 4 pieces. Broken beyond repair, was thinking JB Weld but to many pieces.
I have the possibility of two older razors to scavenge from; one wood, one plastic. Which do you think would be the easiest for a beginner to work with??
Thanks

Glen, you nailed it: cut back, sanded, pinned, and the finish touched up.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback!

Johnus, I'm limited to how much I can post during the day, but basically, with donor scales, go with whichever ones fit the blade best. You don't want them to be too big so the blade closes too fr into them; you don't want them to be too long do that there's a big gap between the wedge an the end of the blade when closed, you don't want them to be to small so that the edge protrudes through the bottom. Basically, eye them up and see if they're a fit.

Also, make sure you know how you're going to pin them before you start. See the wiki for details.

Thank you.

I quite liked the 'Snake Eye' look of the originals.

You're referring to the double pins in the wedge end? I liked them, too, but I failed to execute them well. I'll use multiple pins in the wedge again in a future set, but not until I get another big blade to justify the wide scales.

Nice looking scales, really awesome actually. Great thinking on the do over.

I too have been making some scales and its like anything else: you make mistakes
but you learn from them. I love the process however its tons of fun.

Working on buffalo horn pair at the moment.

Chris

DFriedl

Here is a photo of a Weltmeister with buckeye burl scales that had a weak spot in the center of the rear scale. A coworker pinched the scales together and the wood snapped in half.

The scales were originally made by Dave Stephens who was kind enough to repair this break by glueing a maple liner inside each scale. Worked great. So don't pinch your scales together. You seem to have two mini-knots and an inclusion in the center of your front scale. Be careful.

I was broken hearted when mine broke. Bill Ellis lines some of his burl wood scales with aluminum. I have a TI with burl that he did. Good luck with your scales.....

JERRY
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Attachment 99339

Thanks for the suggestion. And ouch!

Burl wood is very hard and as a result is somewhat brittle and fragile. Burl wood is very beautiful to look at and oftentimes the grain figure is most eye-catching but care must be taken. I am convinced that most burl scales should be lined with whatever material. A lamination is always stronger than no lamination. I found out the hard way. Thought I should share this danger.....................

Jerry
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Thanks for sharing your work.
Love that wood.