Thread: What are you working on?

Sorry to say, if the tip was hitting the wedge, the scales had indeed shrunk more than a tiny bit. The bent pin would not be enough to cause that.
Those catlin type scales were very prone to shrinkage, and you should be glad for it, as the only other way those scales fail is catastrophic cell rot. And no, super glue will not do the job. You can try it if you like, and mock pin it just to see how close the tip of the razor is to the wedge (I MIGHT be wrong after all) But without some sort of liner material to give it strength, it wont hold, if it bonds at all

Originally Posted by cudarunner

I've found that while CA (Super glue) has it's uses, it has it's limits. I've found that 'Shear Strength' isn't one of them.

I've got a Genco I repaired this way last year (before I found this forum), so far it's been holding up fine. 5, 10 years from now If it fails I'll try epoxy.

Originally Posted by Magpie

Sorry to say, if the tip was hitting the wedge, the scales had indeed shrunk more than a tiny bit. The bent pin would not be enough to cause that.

I figured I'd know for sure when I bolt it up for a test fit. If they have shrunk I'll take a little off the wedge, they were just barley touching so it won't take much.

Unless I have been ham fisted, I feel that a broken scale has both reached the end of its natural life span, and given me a perfectly good excuse to make a new set of scales. I really like making scales and have tried to go beyond simple scales, and I’ve made some very nice ones.

Originally Posted by RezDog

Unless I have been ham fisted, I feel that a broken scale has both reached the end of its natural life span, and given me a perfectly good excuse to make a new set of scales. I really like making scales and have tried to go beyond simple scales, and I’ve made some very nice ones.

You have definitely made some "beyond simple scales" I really like a lot of your scales. I want to try and keep this as original as possible since it is also a keepsake from my honeymoon. If things go sideways I have a back up plan...I have an identical razor with an iffy blade I got in a lot purchase. Of course a two day set would also be nice But this one has the priority.

I strongly suggest using a thin brass sheet as a liner if you are determined to keep the original scales. If they are becoming brittle with age, this will be a strong, long lasting repair that will allow you to keep the originals while giving it the strength to not break while your in the middle of stropping, ccausing any number of deletable expletives to transcend the otherwise pleasant experience

Hmmm, you're making me second guess myself. A brass liner would look pretty nice. I could also try the super thin model airplane fiberglass I've seen used. Would either mess with the wedge geometry

This is all good feedback, thanks.

Nope, the wedge would remain the same. Liners work well, especially thin ones, nothing is as thin as the fibreglass we have seen outback mike do.

The only problem is if the epoxy will stick to the plastic. More than likely, not. The repairs I've laminated fiberglass to, were bone and Ivory.

There are epoxies that are intended to use with plastics. I’ve used them but not for scales, it’s hard to say how well they would work. There have also been some posts where guys have used metal rod inlaid into the scale or bored in to ad strength to the area. I find it easier just to make new scales. I believe Mike has used structural epoxy to make repairs but I’m not sure what he has been repairing with it, I think just filler for bug bites.