Closing Straight VS Off Center

So I got aused Sheffield razor in the mail last night and it would hit the side of the scale when closing if not closed carefully. Well, I submersed it Into just under boiling water in the closed position and you know what? When I pulled it out it was closing straight as an arrow but...... The pin/blade was loose. So I used a spoon and my steel dumbbell and tap tap tap first on one side then tap tap tap on the other side and continues to do this until it was tight. It closed perfectly. Was it a fluke? No. I also took my Gold Dollar and did the exact same thing and had the exact same result. Just wanted to share with others.

That's how its done, good job.....you learn quick!

Does that straightening technique work on any type of scale material?

I tried this method with my Gold Beetle and while it helped I ultimately had to repin the pivot end. Ended being a bent pin, but closes nice and clean now. BTW, I used a hair dryer and it worked fairly well.

@PaulKidd: I would be a little leary about wood scales, but I'm pretty sure it would work on most any plastic or horn (at least a little bit).

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Originally Posted by PaulKidd

Does that straightening technique work on any type of scale material?

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Many of them, Boiling, Steam, Heat guns, Hair Dryers, pretty much covers all

There are a few different threads in here Paul

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html

And a ton under the search tab using "Fixing Warped Scales"

Thanks, Glen. If I screw it up, I know where to send it.

My guess is (after reading about it in the WIKI) that the pins were tightened unevenly which is says will cause a blade to close crooked. By heating it up it seemed to loosen the pins which allowed me to tighten them up evenly. Maybe. It could be other things too but that is my best guess. After looking at re-pinning a razor both here and on youtube I will probably be buying either some new cheap scales or some stock to make some and re-pin a few of my razors. The steel is great on all of them but the scales don't hold up as well so I think some new scales would really make them shine. Any recommendations on where to get new scales or stock? Like horn or ebony or something else?

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Originally Posted by Steel

So I got aused Sheffield razor in the mail last night and it would hit the side of the scale when closing if not closed carefully. Well, I submersed it Into just under boiling water in the closed position and you know what? When I pulled it out it was closing straight as an arrow but...... The pin/blade was loose. So I used a spoon and my steel dumbbell and tap tap tap first on one side then tap tap tap on the other side and continues to do this until it was tight. It closed perfectly. Was it a fluke? No. I also took my Gold Dollar and did the exact same thing and had the exact same result. Just wanted to share with others.

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Glad that worked out...
Was there visible warping going on with the scales? I have fixed a couple with the heat gun but the "warp" was pretty simple and easy to see how I should bend it back into place. But wondering what to do when the warping is not so simple. In other words maybe when it's bad enough you have to de-pin so you can flatten them out?

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Originally Posted by RoyalCake

Glad that worked out...
Was there visible warping going on with the scales? I have fixed a couple with the heat gun but the "warp" was pretty simple and easy to see how I should bend it back into place. But wondering what to do when the warping is not so simple. In other words maybe when it's bad enough you have to de-pin so you can flatten them out?

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No I didn't notice any warping. In fact, when I tried to heat, twist, and cool it had no effect. It was only after I dropped the whole razor in closed that they loosened/straightened up and then I re-tightened them and they were straight. That why I think it may have been an issue where they were unevenly tightened.

I came here to post a new thread, perhaps I can just coattail this one. Just a couple days ago I received an awesome Heljestrand #31. After polishing it up, its nearly flawless. Just a few blemishes, I don't think it was ever honed. However, it has a very minor bend on one of the scales, probably from laying on one side its hole life. I think they are bone. I've spent hours looking at the scale issue, so much about re-pinning. Do you think this boiling would do the trick or is it a problem with bone?

I really don't want to do anything drastic, but if I'm not conscious of closing it it could very easily damage the blade or scales.

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Originally Posted by dhammadoug

Do you think this boiling would do the trick or is it a problem with bone?.

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I'm pretty sure your Helje is ivory - I've got a few and that's what they are.

Not sure how ivory reacts to boiling water [I'll defer to some of our local pros] It's likely too fragile to unpin that razor, and tapping with a jeweler's ball pein might crack those beautiful scales.

Worst case is you live with it? I could think of worse fates <g>

First thing I would do is see if Pixelfixed has an answer about the Ivory, he knows the stuff forward and backward,, If he doesn't, then I have quite a few broken Ivory scales sitting here to test... I have never tried to straighten them, Bone I know can be done in Boiling water, so can Antler and Horn... But I think I would try Steam on Ivory first just looking at it blind...

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Originally Posted by bpave777

Worst case is you live with it? I could think of worse fates <g>

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I'm actually worried about a fate of the blade coming in with some force on the scale. I'm in an environment where I share a lot and I'd hate to see someone not cognizant of it get upset from a catastrophic collision.

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Originally Posted by dhammadoug

I came here to post a new thread, perhaps I can just coattail this one. Just a couple days ago I received an awesome Heljestrand #31. After polishing it up, its nearly flawless. Just a few blemishes, I don't think it was ever honed. However, it has a very minor bend on one of the scales, probably from laying on one side its hole life. I think they are bone. I've spent hours looking at the scale issue, so much about re-pinning. Do you think this boiling would do the trick or is it a problem with bone?

I really don't want to do anything drastic, but if I'm not conscious of closing it it could very easily damage the blade or scales.

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They are Ivory,is some info here:Guitar Parts - Bone and Ivory Working Tips
But I have never tried it.

I was just wondering if anyone followed up on straightening ivory scales? I have a set that has a bend to them and I remember reading on here that there isn't anything that can be done to them. Was hoping maybe the info was wrong and I would be able to straighten them.

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Originally Posted by JSmith1983

I was just wondering if anyone followed up on straightening ivory scales? I have a set that has a bend to them and I remember reading on here that there isn't anything that can be done to them. Was hoping maybe the info was wrong and I would be able to straighten them.

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If you follow the link from pixelfixed above it talks about bending ivory with a lot of tips. Let us know if you are successful and how.

I read the info on the link and will have to give it a try. Looking at the site and the price of ivory keeps me from wanting to make alot of scales from it. Wish I started straight shaving long ago cause I remember having to remove a piano from a house with ivory keys that had to be demolished cause they literally built the house around the piano and everything was trashed.