Thread: First Scales

These are my first scales. I bought a Torrey and a Wostenholm I*XL at a local antiques shop. The Torrey had two makeshift scales, pinned with some sort of tack, with the point bent over. I made this set out of cherry with a walnut wedge, and finished with wipe-on poly. I tried to keep the design consistent with other Torrey Whip razors I have seen. I have small children and a wife that works nights, so I used no power tools. I actually have a full woodshop and have been woodworking for years, but that has all taken a back seat since the children were born. I find myself using more hand tools and doing smaller projects. I was pleased with this one as a first go. There was a little chipout on the top edge of one of the scales from carelessness, and the pinning location is a little off on the wedge side, but nothing that gets in the way of function.


The Wostenholm had broken scales. For this razor, I wanted to try a couple experiments with materials and design. I took some plexiglass that I had in the garage and coped out the rough shape. Then I rasped it to the final dimensions and smoothed it with 320, 1000, and 2000 grit paper. Then I thought it would be cool to take some textured rustoleum and spray the inside. I figured it would have a nice translucent quality, which it did. Then I sanded the overspray off. I then took a Dremel with a sanding bit and put random divots in the outside surface. Then I took black ink and coated the outside in hopes to stain the depressions (didn't work so well). Then I sanded and polished the high spots the best I could. The wedge is walnut. I learned during this exercise how brittle plexi really is. You can see that they cracked at the pin, not from pinning, but from opening the first time. I guess I should have pinned it a little looser, but then again, this was an experiment, and I will likely not be using plexiglass again.


So then I decided on a design for the final Wostenholm scales. I Liked the shape of the plexi scales, so I stuck close to that design. I did use some power tools on this set. I used the table saw to rip some 1/8 walnut slivers for the blanks. Then I used PSA tape to adhere the two pieces and coped out the rough shape, while it was secured in my vice. Then I rasped them to final dimensions, then sanded and smoothed with paper. I used the dremel to freehand the grooves on both sides and did another hand sanding. The wedge is cherry, with a slight taper, and the finish is wipe-on poly. I used about 6 coats. You may notice dust in the pics, but they are not embedded in the poly. We just have cats, so the dander is a nuisance.


I learned a long time ago how useful PSA tape can be. I don't remember the last woodworking project I did without it. If anyone is looking to make scales, invest in a roll. It will go a long way. I used it to adhere the blanks on all three sets, before coping to shape. It really helps you keep things symmetrical. The pieces come apart easily too, by running a razor blade between the halves. I also found it very useful to make the wedges. I just took a small blank and adhered it to a small section of 2x4. Then, with it secured, I took a rasp to taper it to the wedge shape and proper thickness, then smoothed it with sandpaper. It worked like a charm.

I stuck with what I had on hand, and what was familiar to me. It really didn't take very long to do any of these. I just need to put a final polish on the edge and get them honed up. And I am already looking forward to making my next set. Anyway, thanks for looking.

-ADAM

Pretty amazing what you can do with materials at hand and a good dose of ingenuity. Turned out well all around.

Bob