Thread: best types of wood to make scales ?

Interesting about the fish glue. Of course, fish was kind on thin on the ground out there on the steppes. I think that it is safe to say that the Mongols likely used horse glue as they had a lot of those critters hanging about the yurt.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

It's not the horn in bows that suffered so much but the water based glues & the bowstrings. Even the glues were not a problem if mixed with alum or fish based glues were used rather than animal hide glues.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I feel the best wood to make scales from is horn. OH! that's not wood! Anyone wonder why wood scales on a stock razor is a fairly recent phenomenon? Techniques to dry and seal wood in the old days were not as good as today's wood scales. Old scales made from wood absorbed moisture. Made the blades rust. Wood is nice, but few can make them thin and proper, treat them to last. Many wooden scales I see are too bulky. Won't bend, too stiff. Spacers instead of wedges. JMO.

I agree. Some look like branches without the bark.

My wood scales are between 0.065 in (1.65mm) and 0.09 in (2.286mm). I block sand the entire blank to within .0015in (.038mm) before cutting out the scale.

The first time I tried acacia, solid wood and well handled. Do not want to say that this is the best wood, but working with him a pleasure.

Originally Posted by JDM61

Interesting about the fish glue. Of course, fish was kind on thin on the ground out there on the steppes. I think that it is safe to say that the Mongols likely used horse glue as they had a lot of those critters hanging about the yurt.

Yes it's likely they used alum for waterproofing but other nations used the fish glue. The Mongols didn't have monopoly on compsite bows. India, China,Korea, & Turkey are but a few of the countries that made them.

From what I read, the Huns were the first to show up in the West with the "modern" composite bow with the lath stiffened tips and center, but the earlier models with the "working" tips are a couple of thousand years older than that,

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Yes it's likely they used alum for waterproofing but other nations used the fish glue. The Mongols didn't have monopoly on compsite bows. India, China,Korea, & Turkey are but a few of the countries that made them.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

IME/IMO


#1 Lignum Vitae

#2 Cocobolo or of the same Rosewood family

#3 Ebony

Danish or Teak oil on these 3 is more then enough to keep them waterproof really just wax would probably do it

Any Hardwood can be used but the tighter the grain the better and the less "Finish" you need to apply..

The are dozen of exotics that work and personally I like these guys

Short Exotic Wood Blanks | Exotic Wood, Birdseye Maple, Curly Maple, Tiger Maple

Great CS, Fast shipping, Great selection and products, and most important they like us SR guys

I am glad to see that Glen has Lignum Vitae as his #1. Glen did a beautiful restore of a Wade and Butcher Anchor in Lignum for me, and it is easily my favourite razor, both aesthetically and for its shave Plus he made a matching brush. Even my non-straight shaving friends who are scared to put a sharp edge to their face, often comment that if they were to shave with a straight, it would have to be with my razor in Lignum.

Lignum

Honestly one of the if not the most naturally water-resistant woods known

The stuff was actually used at one time as Propeller Shaft Bushings for where the shaft went through the hull both for it's wear resistant denseness and water resistant qualities

might hold up well for scales and brushes

Is also flexible and strong at the .075 - .125 thickness's we target for scales well those of us that don't like the Tree branch look target

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Lignum

Honestly one of the if not the most naturally water-resistant woods known

The stuff was actually used at one time as Propeller Shaft Bushings for where the shaft went through the hull both for it's wear resistant denseness and water resistant qualities

might hold up well for scales and brushes

Is also flexible and strong at the .075 - .125 thickness's we target for scales well those of us that don't like the Tree branch look target

Is still used today to make bearings for hydroelectric dams.

Glen are you ab;le to find real lignum as opposed to the Argentine stuff?

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Lignum

Honestly one of the if not the most naturally water-resistant woods known

The stuff was actually used at one time as Propeller Shaft Bushings for where the shaft went through the hull both for it's wear resistant denseness and water resistant qualities

might hold up well for scales and brushes

Is also flexible and strong at the .075 - .125 thickness's we target for scales well those of us that don't like the Tree branch look target

Genuine Lignum Vitae (guiacum officinale from Griffin Exotic Wood