Thread: Straightening Crooked Scales

Oh, worthy craftsmen:

I have a 4/8" spike Burrell Cutlery "Top Flight" razor that is a fabulous shaver. I am not all that fond of 4/8" razors, but this one is sweet. Although the original scales have hardly a scratch, they are crooked nevertheless, thus preventing the blade to fit properly in the slot.

I have tried to straighten them by using a hot hair dryer, but to no avail. My next move is to use hot water and see if that works. Obviously, I can have the razor rescaled, but I prefer not to spend the money. Not only that, but the scales are the perfect color and weight for the razor.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Many thanks.

Regards,
Obie

When you used the hair dryer did you put something between the scales to hold them in the proper position when they cooled off? This works for us 99% of the time.

A hair dryer has worked for me in the past. The scales need to get really hot. SOmetimes I make a wooded wedge to fit between the scales to bring them to the correct shape and hold them in place as they cool. Do be careful not to burn the scales with the hot air. Boiling is almost the same as hot air except for the burning part, but there is melting to consider.

Hello, Carrie and Joed:

Oh, such clever minds. No, I have not tried this. I will, though. Thank you for the suggestion. Naturally I'll give you my report.

Regards,
Obie

+1+1 to Karen and Joe

Wooden spring-type clothespins make great wedges and can even help you hold things and manipulate them while you heat them.

Depending on what you're heating -- boil some water in the teapot, hold the scales over the spout.

We wish you the best of luck Obie

Thanks to all for this thread. I've been mulling over starting a similar one for a couple of razors I have that need scale straightening. Had considered hair drier + wedge but was going to appeal to the collective wisdom here before trying and, what do you know, Obie poses the question for me.

Easy does it. I dipped some scales into boiling water a while back and almost turned them into melted blobs! After that I used a hair dryer. When you do it right the results are really great.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html.


How to fix warped scales, yep we have one in there

BTW read the whole thread there are some ideas in there that worked really well later...

This is not the fast and easy fix...

Ladies and gentlemen:

Thank you for your suggestions, Carrie, Joed, and all the rest. You were most helpful. I used a wedge between the scales and hot air from the hair drier. Afterward I placed a heavy cast iron cooking pot on the scales for weight (Where are bricks when you really need them?). That seemed to work, although the spacing between the scales is wider now.

At the same time I tried to tightened the pivot pins using my little jeweler's hammer, and succeeded somewhat, although the blade is still loose. I still have to use care folding the razor, but it is much better than before. I'll work on tightening the pivot pins a little more.

While all that was going on, I also put a little red paste on an old beat-up strop, stropped a couple razors, looked at some shaving sites, ordered a shave soap I did not need, drank two pots of tea, had a long conversation with a dear friend in London, went to the mail box to retrieve my Edwin Jagger aftershave balm, ordered a Filly strop from Ruprazor to use for pastes, and . . .

Well, I didn't feel like working today anyway.

Regards,
Obie