dubl duck scale warp

Recently purchased this Dubl Duck goldedge with only slight rust but a misaligned blade and warped scales (i think). My question is, what are the supposed to look like? the little black rubber/plastic center pin looks to be squished so that the scales are closer at the underside. Before i go ahead and straighten them i'd like to know if it is supposed to be that way. Also what's a good replacement for the center pin thingy? (if it needs to be replaced)
Attachment 140363Attachment 140364
topside underside

Also, how thick is the pearl layer on these type of scales?(in case i need to do some polishing.)

It looks to me like the pin is bent real bad. This maybe the only problem but then again the scale may stay warped from it being that way for so long. Your should be able to hand polish with car polish no problem. Not sure how thick the pearl layer is but I think it is very thin surface thing only. I may be able to send some pics tomorrow as I am going to take a Goldedge apart that has some wasted scales on it. I will have something to experiment with and document. Don't be mad it it takes me a couple days :<0) Someone might come along and know anyway.

I have no Goldedges, but that looks like warped scales for sure. The pin being bent is a victim, not a culprit.
You could replace the black plastic with brass tubing.
I would be careful with those scales, seen alot of DD with cel rot.

Check out this link, Glen just happens to be repairing a DD Goldedge;
gssixgun straight razor repair pinning wmv

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Originally Posted by souschefdude

I would be careful with those scales, seen alot of DD with cel rot.

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That's what i'm worried about. though it hasn't started yet I don't know when it will and i'll end up making new scales anyway. thing is I like the looks of these scale and i'm not sure if I can replicate the look, especially the inlays. I know they can be removed but can they be re-inlayed? I was toying with the idea of melting them in with a soldering iron. has anyone tried that?

If you discolor the brass all the way through you won't be able to polish it out. I did try heating them some and melting into new acrylic but stopped before color happened. I just lay them on top and make sure the glue is spread evenly. It is a hair raising experience and I would suggest lots of practice placing them before you glue. If you get glue all over the scales it is not easy to get it off. Not enough and you might as well start over. That's the easy part. Sanding them to fit is a process all it's own. Think ,forever, because if you sand off too much guess what ? Start all over again. I am by no means saying this to discourage you. Just letting you know what your in for. If you don't have the patience and eye for it then you may want to pass on the idea.
And not to start an argument with souschefdude I just don't think scales are going to bend pins and the fact the spacer is squished tells me somebody smacked the pin with a hammer. 1+1 = warped if not cracked scales. That's just too much going on to be just from the scales warping.

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Originally Posted by 10Pups

If you discolor the brass all the way through you won't be able to polish it out.

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That won't happen, only the surface will react with the atmosphere and get colored.
Unless you heat it way to long (minutes-hours), then you can get strange things to happen, like "Hydrogen sickness" in Silver alloys.

No arguments from me, just my opinion. Hard to tell, even if you have it in hand what has happened to it.
Just my observation. I've seen similar warping in scales that had major rot.

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Originally Posted by Lemur

That won't happen, only the surface will react with the atmosphere and get colored.
Unless you heat it way to long (minutes-hours), then you can get strange things to happen, like "Hydrogen sickness" in Silver alloys.

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That's good to know. I was just thinking both sides, too hot, color, polish ,,, yikes ! Polishing this thin brass is not an easy affair by hand and using a Dremmel on it is more than risky. The soldering iron sounds like a good idea and if you try it make a vid. I have heated the brass and tried to melt it into the acrylic and I got to the point where I felt anymore heat would damage the brass and the plastic. I have some extra material and will experiment someday in the search for a better transfer. I think if you could find celluloid material it may be easier to use heat to press it in. Of course then your just making the same self destructing scales that were on it.

Acrylic melts at 320 degrees and brass is good to about 900. Typical soldering iron gets 450 or so ? If there is such a thing as typical.

I think it may be tricky to heat evenly enough to sink the brass into the plastic without bending the brass into a soft spot plus if you touch the acrylic with the iron at all you may get instant black.

I am surprised Glen hasn't found a way to do it yet.

Somebody needs to play around so I know these things :<0)

My best guess on how to do it would be like a branding iron. Something the exact shape of the inlay but man all the alignment and temperature control would be a pain in the buttox unless you were going to make a thousand of them.

here's another idea. one trick I've read about in repairing guitar binding is to use the paste left from melting the celluloid in acetone as sort of a color matched putty. Maybe plastic melts the same way and could be used as a putty to either fill in a routed out inlay pocket or give the appearance of being inlayed?

Ha ha I just cleaned a bunch of that off my fingers and although that may be possible I 'll leave that experiment up to you. I just melted some acrylic with acetone too and it is sticky sticky sticky. I'll let you know how it sets up :<0)

I'm not sure if it applies to Acrylic but some plastics will crackle up badly from solvents like Acetone.
It's best to have a test piece and do everything on it before you do it to the scales.

This is how thick it is.....

Attachment 140586

I would say about as thick as your fingernails. It lays on top of the white part (which is the shape) like it was pressed on hot.
Attachment 140587
The part from the brass to the center pin was polished Dremmel style with white compound. Not much of a difference and what you can not see is the burns marks from the Dremmel. You sure can feel them though. In fact Dremmel and Duck scales is not a good idea at all.

Sanding you ask ???

Attachment 140589

Used 320 for sometime on the part between the center and pivot. About the same results color wise as the Dremmel .

Now to me it looks like the yellow goes in deeper in some spots more than others. This is just one set of scales and I am not sure what your looking to acheive but I would say polish with car polish or plan on a lot of work. :<0)

Hey, thanks everyone for your input. I've got one more thought and then I'll give it a rest. would coating the inside of the scales with something like CA seal them enough to keep any of the cellrot gas from effecting the blade?(I think I've decided to go ahead and try and fix the original scales and enjoy them as long as I can).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tintin

Hey, thanks everyone for your input. I've got one more thought and then I'll give it a rest. would coating the inside of the scales with something like CA seal them enough to keep any of the cellrot gas from effecting the blade?(I think I've decided to go ahead and try and fix the original scales and enjoy them as long as I can).

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I don't think it's possible to seal them at all, any sealant would blister or crack.
If we find a sealant that could instead react and neutralize the corrosive gases or at least give us a fair warning something is going on.

Warped scales do not mean there is cell rot. I have seen plenty of warp where there was none at all. Every time is unique.

I would take them apart, and attempt to straighten them using a hair dryer. I know there are threads on here showing the use of a straightening jig and steam/hot water, but moisture is a deadly enemy to celluloid, so just use the hair dryer set on high. If it works YAY! If not, you have not lost anything but a little time.

+1 on what Magpie says. If you take care of your razor and use it often what your afraid of will not happen over night. Keep it out of the sun/heat and keep it dry. +1 for straightening also :<0)

These are scales from a DD Lifetime "Grim Reaper that I have been working.. It took 2 days and several stages, if you try and do it all at once I have found I mess it up so I take my time and give the scales a chance to settle before each successive attempt to fix them...

They were pretty warped to begin with

Attachment 142139

Getting straighter

Attachment 142138

Really straight

Attachment 142137


I used low boiling water, a press, and the Refrigerator


Polished, cleaned, and back together..

Attachment 142136

Attachment 142135

Attachment 142134

As you can tell from the pics of the razor opened and balancing without assistance, the scales are actually even straight and tight :) Most of the DD scales are Catalin and are beautiful, but also fragile, finicky, pains to work with.. You can only do so much to them, and you can only bring them back just so far :(

Off to the hones then heading way way way south of my place :rofl2: to New Zeland

I like the duck - nice touch lol

Don't worry about it...all ducks are warped.....just make sure it closes right.