Thread: SR scales

I would like to know what is the best and easiest material to use for straight razor scales? I have been using wood but it breaks very easily. Can anybody help me on the type of material to use and where can I acquire it? Thanks

Personally I prefer working with horn. Its easy to work. I usually buy blanks on eBay.

I work with woods like Purple Heart, Lace Wood and Zebra Wood and have no problems. Are you cutting them out against the grain so there is no strength to the wood. I let the grain run the length of the scales. See "2 Double Ducks Rebore" under restoration to see the lace wood.

Originally Posted by ruday555

I would like to know what is the best and easiest material to use for straight razor scales? I have been using wood but it breaks very easily. Can anybody help me on the type of material to use and where can I acquire it? Thanks

What kind of wood are you using? At what point in the process is it so easily breaking? I've used all kinds of wood in making scales and have never had any breakage. Maybe I am just lucky, but it seems to me that there must be something in the type of wood you are using or in your technique that is causing your problems. If so, you may run into those same problems using another kind of material.

Regards - Walt

I will put my vote in for horn. I'm pretty novice with making scales and I found it very nice to work with.

Hi Ruday,
I prefer applying the most exclusive and finest tropic woods on the market whatever the price is.
Ebony; African Blackwood; Cocobolo; Royal White Ebony; Lignum Vitae. I buy what i need in Berlin. For an impression: Edelholzverkauf GbR - Goldfield-Maser Griffschalen 1A - - Feinste
Of course there must be many vendors alike in the US. However, If I want something special I don't care spending some extra € € costs for shipping don't caring in whatever corner of the world the vendor is situated.
Try Royal White Ebony. This is very very exclusive wood. When polished after Camellia oli applied and aging for a few months something stunning black/white/greenish appears. Unique.
Happy go lucky.
Joost

You could try stabilizing the wood first. add some polyurethane to a ziploc bag and place the wood in with it. let it set for a couple weeks so that the wood absorbs the poly. This might help. I use water based poly, as that the wood absorbs it better. this can also help it from twisting over time.

Adding to my remark that I don't care in what corner of the world the vendor is situated, the following. Apart from my straight razor passion I have a thing with prime Japanese kitchen cutlery. Buying it directly from the manufacturer I get lost in a Euro/Yen battle. I buy my Japanese knives in a shop in Madison. And Kumamoto/Madison/The Hague, the distance is a trifle.
Joost