Thread: Changing Wapi Scales to Satin Finish?

I have a NOS Wapi on the way. I've read various posts about the annoying way in which its stainless scales pick up finger prints. (For an illustrative photo, see here).

I am wondering if anyone has tried to deal with that problem by taking high grit sandpaper and giving the scales a matte finish. If so, can you tell us how it worked, and what grit(s) you used?

Thanks in advance

600 does a good job in making it kind of a satin finish. If you go lower than that it starts to pick up a kind of brushed look, and anything lower than about 400 and it just starts to look scuffed up in my opinion.

Coarse steel wool may get you what your looking for. However, you may want to just replace the scales; the steel scales throw the balance of IMO.

++++1 on the above. Please change the scales. It ruins the potential of the Wapi as a shaver, it really does. I only wish I had changed mine sooner. If you still like the mirrored/metal look, get some sheet metal lined acrylic scales made. Im sure if you were to ask Serpahim he would help you or certainly advise you how to make some.

But solid metal scales ruin the balance and make razors even more dangerous

Geez why didn't ya tell me earlier I would have tossed in a set with the DD I have a couple of old sets here I can buff with some SS compound and see what happens....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Geez why didn't ya tell me earlier I would have tossed in a set with the DD I have a couple of old sets here I can buff with some SS compound and see what happens....

The reason I didn't ask you is because you acted too promptly in cleaning up, honing, and shipping the DD I sent you last week: I hadn't bought the Wapi yet.

Originally Posted by DPflaumer

600 does a good job in making it kind of a satin finish. If you go lower than that it starts to pick up a kind of brushed look, and anything lower than about 400 and it just starts to look scuffed up in my opinion.

So, you've done it on a Wapi? And taking the mirrored polish off ends the fingerprint problem? I don't want to go to the effort if even the matte finish presents fingerprint problems.

As to others re scale replacement: I guess I will make my own judgment about the scale balance once the razor arrives. YMMV, and all that.

If the balance doesn't work, but the blade's otherwise a keeper, I will replace the scales.

Maybe take it to a local auto body repair shop and see if they'll sand-blast it for you.