Thread: Optimal scale thickness??

Using natural materials such as Ivory,horn. bone. What do you pros think is best? what thickness do you shoot for?Am thinking around .080/.090. just curious.Have worked on some Ivory scales that were .050 and almost translucent,scary stuff.

I'm not quite sure what it is in inches, but I usually make scales about 3mm thick.

Originally Posted by Zephyr

I'm not quite sure what it is in inches, but I usually make scales about 3mm thick.

Thx for the response, thats about.125 or approx 1/8 in. I work mostly with Ivory,that would make for some really heavy scales.

Yep really depends on the material

Ivory I tend to go pretty thin on, as it is a really good material to work with, but right around .100
Horn I end up at about .110
Acrylics about the same .110
Micarta/G-10 again a very good material so .100
Wood varies the most for me it really depends on the wood, but never more then .120 but I rarely get near the .100 except on Ebonies and Lignum
Bone much like Ivory .100


Always however Weight, Density, & Flexibility has to Balance out with the razor too... But those are my general targets for thickness...

Glen, do you take into acct the blade wgt? say a thick spined,8/8 at about 70/75 gms,(blade only)

Like Glen, I usually go for .100 to .125 depending on scale material. Also I try to avoid making the scales heavy, even with a heavy blade because I don't like it when I notice "weight" in the scales while shaving. I find it distracting.

Bob @ OCD

Originally Posted by boballman

Like Glen, I usually go for .100 to .125 depending on scale material. Also I try to avoid making the scales heavy, even with a heavy blade because I don't like it when I notice "weight" in the scales while shaving. I find it distracting.

Bob @ OCD

All sort of falls in line with the old scales i have measured,.100/.120ish thx guys.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Glen, do you take into acct the blade wgt? say a thick spined,8/8 at about 70/75 gms,(blade only)

Yes and No

The actual Thickness is more about the Flexibity of the scales, and how it all feels in the hand, the actual Balance can be adjusted for weight with the type of wedge and the design of the scales way easier then the Thickness of the scales..

Did that make sense ??? I don't know if I am explaining it right

ps: Yep I just learned from measuring and checking Vintage scales, please don't think any of the "Ideas" I talk about with scale making are mine, I studied what they did in the old days, and figured they were smarter then I was...

pps: This is exactly the same with Vintage scales your don't see hardly any variation in the thickness on them, but the design and wedge type and weight does change with the weight of the blades to circle back to the question

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Yes and No

The actual Thickness is more about the Flexibity of the scales, and how it all feels in the hand, the actual Balance can be adjusted for weight with the type of wedge and the design of the scales way easier then the Thickness of the scales..

Did that make sense ??? I don't know if I am explaining it right

ps: Yep I just learned from measuring and checking Vintage scales, please don't think any of the "Ideas" I talk about with scale making are mine, I studied what they did in the old days, and figured they were smarter then I was...

Makes perfect sense,you rareley see old ivory scales more than about .080,but most have lead wedges.
was there perhaps a science to balancing a razor?

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Makes perfect sense,you rareley see old ivory scales more than about .080,but most have lead wedges.
was there perhaps a science to balancing a razor?

OMG don't get that started again hehehe that is a long story to say the least I will pm ya the details when I get a sec..

I will say this much, If you check the Vintage razors you will find that by a large majority they will balance to the tang when opened fully, is that correct ???? well like I said above I think those old farts were pretty smart