Thread: Material for Scales

Originally Posted by gugi

First I must say that I'm partial to natural materials - bone/horn/ivory/mop/wood/badger... ops, scratch that hairy one

As Ilija said celuloid will eventually rot (but may be not even in your grandchildren's time) and the only celuloid I would justify is vintage art nouveau and art deco.

I think another great option these days is micarta - if i remeber it's linen based very dense composite which has a feel similar to wood. Some very respected razor restorers prefer it as much as to have it on most of their daily shavers.

my first choice would probably be some other wood, second horn, third micarta

Badger scales.....hmmmmmm. All-in-one brush and razor...the ultimate travel set!

Excluding metal, due to its weight and effect on balance, here are my views on various materials for utilitarian items. This is not bases on my making scales, but on experience in the antiques trade and doing restoration/refurbishment.

Durability - bone, ivory, horn - all are calcium-based natural products that can last for millennia (items made from these are routinely removed from ancient archeeologiical sites). Care? Pretty much the same as your teeth, so unless you are having red wine or coffee while shaving, I don't think there is much risk of staining in the bathroom (iodine, etc. wold, of course). They also take in a nice patina as they age.

Variety of texture/pattern/color (natural) - wood. Dense tropical hardwoods, such as ebony, rosewood, etc. will last for decades if not longer, with proper care. "Feed" the wood - lemon oil, a light waxing and buffing. Good for the dining room table, good for wood scales. An occasional drop of oil on the pivot pin will help reduce any possible water damage.

Variety of texture/pattern/color (synthetic) - resin/celluloid/composites. As stated, I would preserve any well-designed scales that have nice relief carving or molding. Barring that, I have seen an amazing spectrum of scales made by some of the members - true artists.



Greg

Can anyone answer this one?

How many horn materials are available? Not antler mind you, but horn. I've seen some great pieces out there but they all seem to be from just a couple animals. Cow, Ram, Water Buffalo, Uland? or did I get that mixd up. I think that would be an interesting set as well. Crud, that really has me thinking... by by $$

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

. Crud, that really has me thinking... by by $$

Glad to know my threads are able to cause other south-bayers some pain in the pocket, as I can tell it will be for me in a few short days.. once I pick out my next "first razor." We'll all be in the well groomed poor house.

DC,

Uland?

Brece

Being dyslexic can cause some weird spelling issues and or names that come from weird places...

I'll have to look that one up and see what I was trying to say/spell, it made sence yeasterday, today I have no clue...

Uland? Sounds like "eland", which is a kind of antelope (or if you're Dutch it means "moose").

Bjorn, if you like the look of celluloid, then I would suggest getting some scales from Gary (Traveller). They are really nice! He will do a full install and he has also sold scales for do it yourself.

Originally Posted by edk442

I LOVE snakewood! I wanted to put it on a custom someday, but after hearing that it shrinks and checks i might have to reconsider

If it's dry when you put it on, it'll be fine. You could say that about any wood.

and now i'm hooked on snakewood again!