Thread: Scale Material

Remember, I am talking about Ambroid! This is a compressed form of amber. I'm not sure what if any properties change if you use that material rather than amber...amber is so light it floats, not a good characteristic for scales. I'm not actually excited about this...I made one inquiry about ambroid to an online retailer of amber...nothing. So likely a dead end for a number of reasons. Still fun while it lasted.

The tricky part would be finding your beloved amber or ambroid in sheet form. Frankly i think it would be impossible to obtain this simply for economical reasons.
I think your only way out is going modern with acrylics.



A razor with that type of scale color would resemble a Genco Gold Seal

Originally Posted by Tarkus

The tricky part would be finding your beloved amber or ambroid in sheet form. Frankly i think it would be impossible to obtain this simply for economical reasons.
I think your only way out is going modern with acrylics.
A razor with that type of scale color would resemble a Genco Gold Seal

I like acrylic. And that razor looks sanitary.
If there was money in it, I believe someone would create a imitation tortoise shell the would come closer to the density, color patterns, and feel of the shell of the Loggerhead.
While I'm at it, I wonder how durable the real thing is?
Finally, Darl, you doing anything with the nasty old rock that the razor is displayed on?

I may be way off base here, but I really like Masecraft's "Tortuga East" polyester.
It reminds me of the Frederick Reynolds SR scales I've seen many a time.
LINK: Polyester Tortuga East 1/8"

That looks very nice Bongo. Will it fool anyone next to the real thing? I have no way to test this. Those that have razors with tortoise shell scales insist that there is no comparison to the imitations. Are there measurable differences? Or is it a mystical fact: a lab cannot manipulate the Periodic Table of the Elements to match the miracle of Nature. Is this surprising?

Originally Posted by WW243

That looks very nice Bongo. Will it fool anyone next to the real thing? I have no way to test this. Those that have razors with tortoise shell scales insist that there is no comparison to the imitations. Are there measurable differences? Or is it a mystical fact: a lab cannot manipulate the Periodic Table of the Elements to match the miracle of Nature. Is this surprising?

The only imitation I've seen is horn with some form of dye/ink or whatever applied to the surface. The obvious difference when compared to real tortoiseshell is that the real stuff has has patterns running through it as opposed to sitting on the surface. In the same way that an acrylic horn is distinguishable from natural horn - it's a question of subtlety - where nature is far more subtle than the hand of man.

Funny how all the real nice artificial tortoise shell scales were made ages ago, and hasn't really been equaled since.
I guess its all down to supply and demand.

Originally Posted by Tarkus

Funny how all the real nice artificial tortoise shell scales were made ages ago, and hasn't really been equaled since.
I guess its all down to supply and demand.

roger that, I've seen some nice bakelite artificial tortoise...

I know some guys who make a ton of amber jewelry. I'd be happy to ask their opinion if you have specific questions that I can ask. Let me know what you'd like me to run by them, and I'll give them the list. I'm sure they'd be happy to help, at least in answering questions...can't promise crafting help, of course. But I'd imagine that they have lots of scrap in the process of making jewelry...

Please send me a PM or e-mail if you're interested; I may not see this thread. I'll be happy to check with them on Sunday, when I see them next.

Originally Posted by bongo

I may be way off base here, but I really like Masecraft's "Tortuga East" polyester.
It reminds me of the Frederick Reynolds SR scales I've seen many a time.
LINK: Polyester Tortuga East 1/8"

I can remember a member using exactly that on an early 1800's restoration. By the pictures, it looked as close to original tortoiseshell as I have seen.