First time wood scale mistakes

[Gomerpile]

I've finished and pinned my first set of scales and I've made some mistakes. These things are huge! This wood looked too good to keep sanding but I should have. I think I bent my pivot pin also. Other than that what do you guys think? BTW the blade is a Joseph Elliot, best silver steel, C+C that I picked up at the gun show for $35 with horn scales. I needed a big blade for the scales.

[bouschie]

First I love the blade. Not too bad of a job on the scales. Nice shape. Maybe if they were not so thick. Instead of the curve on the outside I would have sanded them flat. That way you have less weight to the scales. Keep at it. You only get better with practice.

[RezDog]

We usually learn more from what hits the dust bin than otherwise. They are not that bad but an invaluable lesson for sure. I think you are totally on the right track.

[StraightOverload]

I think the shape and everything looks great but I'd agree about them being too big. Some people like them that way though. I personally hate "chubby" scales and try to make mine as small as functionally possible.

[Substance]

Nice workmanship
The scales look thick & oversized for sure but a good job was done

[Maladroit]

Not a bad first try. Keep going, you'll get there.

PS your pinning's good too.

[Bruno]

We usually learn more from what hits the dust bin than otherwise. They are not that bad but an invaluable lesson for sure. I think you are totally on the right track.

Actually, I learn most from what I manage to fix

In this case, the scales are too thick, and also too wide.

[Gomerpile]

My sister city. I would love to come see your work shop. Sadly I can't trust international travel right now. World is too crazy! I will keep working off the kitchen counter and the easing machine top for now.

[UKRob]

My sister city. I would love to come see your work shop. Sadly I can't trust international travel right now. World is too crazy! I will keep working off the kitchen counter and the easing machine top for now.

Birmingham UK is known as the city of a thousand trades. At one stage it did have a small razor making community but no-where near the size of Sheffield which is 80 miles to the north. It is famous for guns, jewellery and at one stage was heavily dependent on automotive and associated business - it still has the two main Jaguar and Land Rover manufacturing plants.

Sadly, what was once a city centre (downtown) of fine Victorian architecture was destroyed partly by German bombers in WW2 but moreso by city planners in the 1960's who decided that they should be knocked down so that cars could travel freely at ground level, while pedestrians were made to use tunnels underneath the roads. You can imagine the pleasure of using these tunnels last thing at night.

In recent years, this has begun to be reversed and, while it is still not a city you would admire for its beauty, it is getting better.