Thread: Help on horn scales

I have a razor with horn scales and when reaching for it to get it,, I accidentily dropped it on my counter top... well golly!! The scale on the razor broke in half and needless to say I was very dissapointed. My Question is: what can I use to glue it together, I have tried super glue and the apoxy you mix together,, but I have not been successful in glueing it together. Are there any suggestions out there( other than replacing the scales) and any help would really be appreciated!

Originally Posted by ruday555

I have a razor with horn scales and when reaching for it to get it,, I accidentily dropped it on my counter top... well golly!! The scale on the razor broke in half and needless to say I was very dissapointed. My Question is: what can I use to glue it together, I have tried super glue and the apoxy you mix together,, but I have not been successful in glueing it together. Are there any suggestions out there( other than replacing the scales) and any help would really be appreciated!

You've already used the two I would suggest. Maybe try the CA ( super glue ) again with some activator to help it cure faster. Most hobby shops have it at a reasonable price. I know you dont want to hear my third suggestion but, might have to do new scales.

Step 1: Go buy epoxy resin.

Step 2: take both scales (because you're gonna want the finish on both) clean the scales up so theres no gunk on them and make them nice.

Step 3: glue the scale together with superglue - very minimal, just enough to hold it together.

Step 4: Stick a couple dowel rods into something so that you can balance the scale on 2 ends of a dowel rod. Use double sided tape or tacky.

Step 5: Pour the mixed epoxy resin over the scales using proper technique.

Step 6: Once dry, grind the drips off the bottom side with a belt sander, and apply a second coat. Sand the drips off the bottom of the second coat.

Step 7: use a paintbrush to apply epoxy resin on the backside of the scales, thus sealing the entire razor in epoxy.

BUT REALLY, SEND ALL OF IT TO ONE OF THE GUYS HERE AND HAVE HIM MAKE YOU A REPLACEMENT SCALE/SCALES!

No need to go trough all the steps above , unless you have experience you are probably going to end up with a mess and no solution. I suggest to buy a set of replacement scales and just switch.

I have a old Joseph Elliott that came to me with twine holding the broken end of a scale together. I tried everything to glue the horn together. Nothing worked. I ended up where I started and tied twine around the end of the scales to hold it together. I wish I had left well enough alone and kept the original twine. No telling how many decades ago the original twine was tied to the end of that razor.

Scales flex so whatever you do with glue is likely to fail down the line. New scales are the best remedy.