Thread: Amateur Hour IXL Resto

I have been wanting to make my own scales so I got this IXL blade on eBay to try my hand at it. The scales are cocobolo with laser etching I commissioned from a local awards shop. The wedge is camel bone. This is my absolute first attempt and I know there are some flaws but I am happy with it. I am pressed for time since I am moving in a few days but I am thinking maybe nickel rod instead of brass and smaller washers. Critiques and comments are welcome! Thanks!

Looks like you are on the road to being a resto guy. Subsequent restos will be easier because of your experience with the first one. Good luck.

Jerry

First attempt? Would have fooled me. You did a really great job on that guy

Well done!
I love the wood, not at all that bulky as most wood scales are.
As for the steel it looks good to me, some patina like looks good if you can't/won't get it all polished instead of get it almost like new with some flaws still visible.

Now just a splash of gold leaf paint into the lettering, and you have a winner!

Scales look good to me in terms of shape, sanding, thickness and peening. You already identified that the washers are on the large side - the only other change I would make is to use a wedge in future. It eases the blade into the scales and adds to the overall shape in my opinion. Exception work for a first attempt.

Originally Posted by UKRob

Scales look good to me in terms of shape, sanding, thickness and peening. You already identified that the washers are on the large side - the only other change I would make is to use a wedge in future. It eases the blade into the scales and adds to the overall shape in my opinion. Exception work for a first attempt.

I wanted to make it more of a wedge but I couldn't get it to bow like I wanted. Any tips on making it do what you want?

Good looking work.

Here are two ways to make scales bow.

One. Make the wedge a wedge, one end narrower than the other. For bone wedges get a low grit diamond hone. Attach the pre shaped wedge to a scrap piece of wood to make a handle. Wet the hone and rub the wedge on the hone for a while. Rinse the hone and repeat as necessary for the shape you want.

Two. Taper the scales under the spacer, I have found this on some German razors.

Jonathan

Cool. I read the help threads on making wedges and I made one but got it too thin. It seemed like the cocobolo wasn't going to flex and draw up tight against the narrow part of the wedge. Was I just being a wuss?