Thread: Scale size question

Are scales thicker for wider blades or are they a standard size?

Most of the large vintage blades I have bought had thin scales, whether they were bone, horn or whatever.

In my experience the scales of most razors are about the same thickness regardless of the size of the blade. However, some blades have scales that are taller (wider?) than others to accommodate the extra blade. The pic shows a 8/8 and a 5/8. The scales are the same thickness but obviously the larger blade has wider scales. Sorry for the terrible pic, a photographer I am not!

In case you are wondering, the razors are a Henckels with standard plastic scales and an Greave and son wedge with wood scales I made. (Don't remember the wood...)

Width of the scales is what I meant, thanks for clarifying. So to take scales from one razor and use it on a different blade, the size of the blades needs to be the same or very similar? Is this for aesthetic purposes or would, say, an 11/16 blade hang out the bottom of scales taken from a 5/8 blade?

Very nice scales you made there!

The width of the pivot end of the scales should match with the width of the tang so they are easily handle. Pun intended.

Originally Posted by Moonshae

Width of the scales is what I meant, thanks for clarifying. So to take scales from one razor and use it on a different blade, the size of the blades needs to be the same or very similar? Is this for aesthetic purposes or would, say, an 11/16 blade hang out the bottom of scales taken from a 5/8 blade?

I think that would depend on how close the 5/8" was to the 'back' of the scales. The grind of the blade would definitely have an impact on how deep the blade went into the scales as well. For example: if you replace a full hollow ground with a wedge, the wedge wouldn't go in as far.
In some cases you may be able to make the scales fit a blade with a different sized wedge.

Thanks moonshae I didn't mention it in my post, but as mentioned above the grind of the razor has a huge impact on the scales. I have had to redo wedges many times to fix mistakes as I make scales!!

Thanks for the input! I think the grinds on the razors I have in mind are the same, so I'd think the impact of 1/16 would be minimal. I bought 2 razors, one with nice scales and a ruined blade, and the other reversed. Hoping to make one nice razor out of them. Well, get them made...I'm not very handy.

I don't think the grind is important - it's the thickness of the wedge at it's widest point that dictates how far the blade will fit into scales. If you wanted to use a much wider blade in scales intended for a smaller one - you would need to adjust the wedge to avoid the bottom of the blade protruding. However you would then have a lot of blade showing above the scales which is not aesthetically pleasing.

In summary, it's best to have scales appropriate for the blade size.