Thread: Assembling scales with wedge - question

I just finished shaping/sanding a set of scales (ebony) and creating a tapered wedge (maple).
My next step is to finish with CA glue.
My question is, are the scales and wedge finished seperatly, then assembled and pinned?
If so, at that point the overhanging wedge needes to be sanded even with the scales which will remove finish from both scales and wedge.

Plan "B" could be to finish the inside surfaces of the scales, plus the wedge, assemble and pin the wedge end, and then sand even. The outside surfaces would then be finished.

As I type this, plan "B" looks like it should be plan "A".

How have you guys approached this?

If I may offer a small suggestion. You can buy small screws and nuts for test fitting. I assemble and disassemble several times during the process and these are the greatest of help. I would test fit everything to make sure the size and taper of the wedge is working well before I put any finish on. I would likely glue the wedge on one side and test again, and then finish the wedge and wedge end of the scales, and take it all apart and apply the finish and when it was dry and finish test fit it one last time before final assembly. I can't find it quickly but there was a recent thread on matching up scales. It was an excellent tutorial on assembly amongst other things. I will look around again to see if I can get a link in here. It is a must read.

I found it. http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...le-halves.html

Hey Rez. Where do you fine the small screws and nuts?

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html
If you scroll down there is a link to micro fasteners, there is also a thread with the items linked in it. The web page changed so you have to go past the first links and use the newer ones. I have no idea about people that live near warehouses full of fatteners go. I'm sure city dwellers can find brick and mortar places to shop. I'm sure you must have some big fastener shops near you. Fastenal perhaps? You can also find them in modeling and RC shops. They are sized 0.

I do my final shaping with everything assembled (screwed, not pinned) to ensure a good fit. Then you just have to make sure you ease everything back into place when pinning for a perfect fit.

When using CA

Sand it, fit it, and then get ready to finish it... as mentioned above

Trick, if you are going to finish the wedge in CA also..

Glue the wedge to the front side scale, then finish it and that scale together, sand and fit the inside surfaces of the wedge and the backside scale then finally pin.. It was not uncommon for vintage razors to have one side of the wedge glued in...

Trick, if you are not using CA to finish the wedge, say you are using a Metal or Recon Stone wedge..

Sand and fit the wedge and the scales, take it all apart, now re-sand the scales using 320 grit, it takes a bit of practice/experience to sand them enough so that after the CA finish is on there and that it will match the wedge that you did not re-sand Basically you are sanding the scales down enough so that it all matches when the finish is applied..

If you want to get flush the wedge and the scales , you will probably have to assemble CA the wedge to the scales, then CA all. After that redrill the pin hole.
Get ready for a lot of hand sanding till you get all the scales covered.

I have been working on another set of scales in cocobolo and I think I'm going to let the pins/rivets do the job of keeping things together and finish the scales in beeswax. Might not be the most elegant, but I like an organic, living wood kind of look.

Otherwise, you might be able to smooth some CA across the join areas with tape over your finger/CA on your fingertip.

I'm no expert though.

Great info. Just what I needed.
Screws and nuts are on order from Macmaster-Carr.
Using one finger from a glove, three coats of CA are on the inside of the scales.
When the screws arrive and a test fit looks ok, the wedge will get CA'd to one scale and final wedge shaping done.
From there it will be CA'ing and sanding, followed by buffing.
Thanks for getting me past this puzzling point.
Pics, at some point, will be posted.

Sounds like all the great advice above has set you on the right track.

It's also pretty much the way to do it if you ever decide to go pinless at the nose of the razor (as I usually do). Just leave the perimeter of the spacer a bit oversized. Glue it to one scale (using a clamp) and let cure. Glue on the second scale (again clamping) - making sure both are aligned correctly by using a microfastener through the pivot pin holes. Then sand down the perimeter of the spacer so it is flush with the scales and apply your finish.