Thread: Inlaying a medallion in scales.

Has anybody inlayed anything special into a scale? I am wanting to do a restore for a friend and was thinking of puting small crucifix pocket medal into the scales .

I have no idea how to do this and was wondering if anybody has done something like this before. Scale material I was thinking of is either horn or a nice wood. More than likely it would be just a gift display razor, but just in case it would need to be durable as well.
Any thoughts?

If the Medallion is a common size and round,you may be able to use a forstner bit to set it.
Inlay work is an art and to me very difficult,not on scales, but his took me a month to do

Inlay by definition is set down into a depression so all you have to do is figure out how to carve a depression. The edge has to be a perfect match because that is what your going to see. Setting the plate flush can be tricky but you can test set before you glue so it's drop and done. Under can be a little off because the glue/epoxy will fill the void. I have yet to try it but I am pretty good with an exacto knife and that would be what I use to cut the outline. It will be a long tedious process but if you have the patience you could pull it off.

If it's thin enough just set it on top. Tape off the area you want to place it in as a guide. Make sure the glue is spread even and thin. Do a little praying and drop it in place. :<0)

I have done some transfers but the detail of the inlay and hardness of the scales made true inlay next to impossible.

I restored a boker and inlayed the logo into the new scales. I also did a wostenholm pipe and mane a pipe inlay out of deer antler. First i made the inlay. Then traced it on the scales and used my dremmel to recess the area until the inlay fit correctly. Glued it in place and sanded it even with the scales. Not sure if it is the right way but it worked. Good luck.

Originally Posted by bouschie

I restored a boker and inlayed the logo into the new scales. I also did a wostenholm pipe and mane a pipe inlay out of deer antler. First i made the inlay. Then traced it on the scales and used my dremmel to recess the area until the inlay fit correctly. Glued it in place and sanded it even with the scales. Not sure if it is the right way but it worked. Good luck.

Can we see them?

+1 what pixel said

I could see that working but never tried it. Would love to see yours and what bit you used. I have played around with the diamond bit on glass but was just playin' .

I would imagine a steady hand and the proper dremel bit could work good. http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Accessor....aspx?pid=9911

I dont know where you are at but i done inlay work just not on razors yet, but if you know anyone with a hobby cnc they work great for fine work like that otherwise take your time with a knife and dermal tool. B.est of luck and cant wait to see it

I've never done inlay on a piece of scales but did some simple elsewhere, so here are my thoughts. As said you have to be extra carfull with the edges, you can fill the gaps with a mixture of glue and finest wood powder (same wood). Some people do it with cnc as said or laserwhich might give you the best results, especially if the woods are darker, you could yuse this for cutouts and depression, do have in mind that laser will burn wood edges.
Another aspect to take in consideration is influence (of depth) of cutout on scales characteristics?

Don't have the boker anymore. Sorry. Here is the wostenholm