Thread: When to use Scale Liners?

I am getting ready to start making myself some scales. I know liners are used for added strength. Does anyone have a list of woods they recommend using liners on? Does anyone use liners just for the looks? I was thinking of making some brass lined olive wood scales. I have seen olive wood scales with out liners; so are the liners necessary at all? Will they be too heavy? I personally love the look of brass liners/pins with light woods which is why I was considering that combination. All advice is welcome. Thanks fellas.

Never even made scales but had a few with liners.
1) They may make the scales look a bit chunky - you may or may not like it
2) The ones you propose SOUND heavy - change balance (maybe OK on a heavy blade)
3) I have never seen Olivewood with liners
4) Ti is probably a good choice, Al another one as they can be had light and thin
5) I thought liners are mostly used on brittle stuff - such as MOP, Mammoth ivory, some woods. I know Bill Ellis used liners on African Amazique and Dessert Ironwood but I am sure I have seen Ironwood scales without liners

Cheers
Ivo

Personally, I don't see need or any other benefit of the metal liners. Other than maybe looking somewhat "better", scales are fine without them.

But, only if some rules are observed. It is smart idea to glue small brass tube inside the pin holes, with the same inner diameter as the pin. It will prevent wooden scale to crack if you over tighten the pin. If you don't do that, than it is smart to use metal liners. Ebony is prone to splitting when pinned...

I use brass tubing on all my wooden scales, for the same purposes, but never liners.

cheers,
Nenad

I use brass liners on all my custom scales, because I like the look. However, the brass liners I use are very thin (0.005), so it does not add any weight to the scales. I also like to add a thin inner plastic liner (again very thin) so that the blade is not resting on the brass. If you want I can post pictures of what the liner/scales look like, just let me know. On some woods/materials it is highly recommended to use a liner (i.e. burl woods, or woods/materials that are suseptible to crack...perhaps not right away, but with time), but most times it's personal preferance. As it has already been mentioned, the only 'older' scales I have seen with liners are mother-of-pearl scales, and the metal liners are rather thick, adding to the weight (and MOP is already rather heavy in my opinion).

C utz

I've purchased some beautiful stabilized burls for handles. From what I've read, and from what I've seen working one set of scales to date, I don't think I'll need liners. I understand burls normally would, but this stuff is so dense because of the polymers that I think I can get away without them. - J

Well, if they are stabilized you might be able to get away with it....

I do like burl wood! Let's see the set when you are done making them!!!

C utz

C utz,
Can you post a picture of the scales that you made with the liners? I'd really like to see the wood/ metal/ plastic..

Thanks for the replies fellas. I already planned on using the 3/32 brass tubing. I always thought that was a great idea, and I like the look of it. I had planned on using the tubing as one solid piece through the scales/tang/wedge, and just cutting/sanding it flush on the outside. Maybe I will just save the brass sheet I bought for some different scales. I would like to try some more expensive stuff, and definitely some burls once I am more comfortable. C utz please do post the pictures you have. I have Bills CD so I have seen liners with liners, but the more I see different set ups; the more I understand different technique.

Hey Guys,

Be patient, I'll post some pictures when the wife brings the cord back from work so that I can down load images from the camera to the computer... It is hard to capture the edge of the scales on the scanner, so I'll have to use the digital camera.

I have attached a few images of some 'custom scales' I made in which you can see the brass liner in some images.

C utz

Chris,

Good stuff dude!!! Where are you getting your liner materials?

Thanks,

Lynn