Thread: 10Pups restores a Reaper.

Originally Posted by Laurens

You mean like alien bone scales with star dust wedge and black hole pins?

Silly , alien bone has too much acid in it and will eat the brass. :<0)
Black hole pins though hmmmmmmmmm

I skipped the polishing of the brass before I got started on this and that was a small mistake I will pay for later.
But here is me, taking the brass off the old scales.




Cleaning the brass is a long tedious chore so I will probably just take some pics of the process. Then there may be a break in the action until the scale material gets here. I haven't even ordered it yet but I will this week end. My cart is full at PLEXIGLASS SHEET - ePlastics - Authorized Plexiglass Dealer since 1948

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Black hole pins though hmmmmmmmmm

Lost my hammer on the last one I tried to remove the scales on one that had those,
now the darn thing is 8oz to heavy (head and handle gone) on the wedge side.
I almost went in after it... I really liked that peening hammer

Nice Video again 10Pups!
Doesn't look TOO BAD to do...
I am guessing the fitting of the brass back onto the scales is the hard part.
Shaping them perfectly and such has to be a PAIN!

Cleaning the brass for the next set can be a pain/slow but yeah, the fun parts have ended. Granted making the scales is fun but the fitting slows it down. After the first 5 or so it goes quicker because you start to get an eye for what needs to be done. I will show you as I go :<0) The brass is not always perfect either so that will be another topic in 2 parts probably. If I don't keep skipping things trying to get a video of it.

Well my new scale colors showed up today. I traced the pattern onto the acrylic and cut them out on a scroll saw like any other scale you would make. I went ahead and sanded right to the line which should still be a little bigger than final but not much. Drilled the pin holes. After shaping the outline of the scales I have learned to put some sort of bevel on the edges. I separated a pair of horn once and then sanded the bevel on the wrong side of one of them. pfffffff (donkey ears grew)

I picked up a little 1X30 belt grinder cheap so I gave it a spin. Didn't like it at first because there is a lot less room to maneuver the scales into shape. I have a 2 X 42 I also grabbed off of craigs list that I have been using but if I get used to the little guy the 42 will turn into a 2 X 72.

Here is the little guy I picked up for 30 bucks. one thing ..it's quieter. 120 grit belt.
I don't know about the disk. It might make a better buffer.


Roughed out to the lines.



I then took the brass and staked it out on the scales. I drew a line around the brass and did some fine shaping.
So the outside of the scales now matches the edge of the brass. I 'll make it match perfect by hand before moving on to shaping the radius part of the scales. This will finish one dimension of the fit and give me something to match the rest to as I go.



I didn't show it in the pictures but I have also cleaned the back side of the brass so it is ready to glue. I used a 5oo and 1000 grit paper and some Semi Chrome polish on them. Got to do something if your waiting for material to arrive in the mail :<0)

Excellent instruction, I'm very much enjoying the progress of the grim reaper, just a question looking at your avatar were you ever a rodeo clown? being from the UK I've never seen a live rodeo but love watching those Pro bull riders, got to say you sure need a real big pair of balls to ride those Brahma bulls.