Thread: HELP....Cracked scales

I received this Solingen, as a gift from my son. It is very special to me. Recently, I noticed a small dark crack, on one side (as can be seen by the arrow....the crack goes to the pin, but not all the way across the scale). The blade seems to have "loosened" a bit and will open slightly, when closed. I'm afraid to "tighten" the pin for fear of causing the crack to "run". How can I repair this? Can I buy scales like these? If so....where?I have some knife making experience, but do not know where to purchase a similar scale, pins, and spacers. Any help is appreciated. Also, I've read several posts, on SRP, that suggested the "Solingen" brand was often copied and may be from Pakistan. Is this an original brand, if you can tell? Thanks! John

Evening GY,

Yikes! Looks like excessive tension or a factory flaw.
Two options really in my opinion, replace or repair. For either you'll have to de-pin the razor.
If you're going to repair the original scales try using "Devcon 2 Ton clear epoxy". Dries clear, is super-strong and finishes well.
Cheers.

Well that a tough one, most repairs dont like to hold at the pivot. But I do have a method that has worked for me in the past, but theres no guarantees with crack repair.

Take a pin and "V" out the crack dont go all the way through V'ing the crack out. Then fill the crack with a thick super glue I find the Gorilla glue brand super glue is thick and has worked well for me. When filling the crack use a tooth pick to dab glue into crack and over fill a little bit, make sure you worked glue all the way down in crack. After it has dried you can wet sand the glue even with the scales use 400grit then 600 grit then 1500 grit. Then use a polishing compound to finish up turtle wax makes a good one Maas will work too. It should come not too noticeable. You could could also save the powder like fileings from V'ing out the crack and mix with the glue to help mask the crack repair a little better.

Or just wait til they break and get a new set of scales
If decide to do the glueing let me know how it worked out for you

Regards, Tony B

I've been using it...."as is" for the past several weeks. Not getting worse....YET! I will try the de-pinning.... and then filling-da'-crack method, first. I've been keeping it in a small, latchable, padded "Plano" box so as to keep a grandchild from getting too.....close! I found out last evening that the box may have been....dropped! (That boy gets into everything that ain't nailed down!) However, I really don't see how THAT could have cracked it. I use extremely light pressure, when stropping, shaving, etc. so I doubt that I could have "over-torqued" the scales. I think is may have been cracked from the beginning, and the crack has just now shown up with debris from rinsing, etc. Anyhow, Thanks for the insight and repair info. John

If I were you I wouldn't remove the pin or try to tighten the scales. Just use the method Brando recommended. If they don't loosen up anymore than they are now it should be alright. IME a crack on one side may remain stable. That is a big "may" but I think, as you mentioned in your OP, that if you try and tighten the pin the crack will run for sure.

As for the Solingen marking. It sure looks to be a bona fide Solingen. If it shaves well it must be. The Pakistani copies may look the part but they don't deliver the goods.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If I were you I wouldn't remove the pin or try to tighten the scales. Just use the method Brando recommended. If they don't loosen up anymore than they are now it should be alright. IME a crack on one side may remain stable. That is a big "may" but I think, as you mentioned in your OP, that if you try and tighten the pin the crack will run for sure.

As for the Solingen marking. It sure looks to be a bona fide Solingen. If it shaves well it must be. The Pakistani copies may look the part but they don't deliver the goods.

Thank You.....for that reply about the Solingen possibly being genuine. When my son gave it to me, I was very proud. (I'd heard, from his mom, that it wasn't cheap) After I read that article, about the "junk" out of Pakistan, I was devastated and worried that he might have gotten "duped". This is my first straight and I'm hooked for life! Well....let's say I'm hooked until my hands start "shakin' and jerkin'..." then I may have to give-'er-up", but I really enjoy it, for now!

If you've been able to shave with it, it is definitely not a Pakistani knock off.

Originally Posted by HNSB

If you've been able to shave with it, it is definitely not a Pakistani knock off.

They're THAT bad? I'm fairly certain, now, that I have the REAL DEAL. That makes me extremely happy. Thanks! I've used it for several months, now, and have only nicked myself twice. Very small scrapes, with very little blood. I've had much worse with a 3-blade safety razor. In fact, I'm not sure if this is common, but I seem to "need" a shave LESS with the straight. Does it actually cut the hair closer? Sure seems to do so for me. Anyhow, thanks again, and THANKS for this site. I've learned a batch. John