Thread: First Crack at Making Scales

Originally Posted by DocMartin0321

I am certainly looking forward to upgrading my tools, and getting started on the next set. I expect that my SRAD will only worsen now that scale condition is less of a factor.

It will worsen but in a good way! You will see that you can make some beautiful scales.

Thanks all! There is certainly a sense of accomplishment when you see them all finished.

Originally Posted by DocMartin0321

Thanks all! There is certainly a sense of accomplishment when you see them all finished.

There is not a better feeling than the one you get when you have accomplished something you didn't think was possible. You never know unless/until you try!
Than you very much for your contribution!

Those look great! I've been a little intimated to start a horn scale project. Don't know why, I'm definitely inspired!
I wonder if different kinds of horn are harder than others to work with. Also want to know more about warping.. I'm gonna go see if I can find some posts about horn!

Originally Posted by MikeT

Those look great! I've been a little intimated to start a horn scale project. Don't know why, I'm definitely inspired!
I wonder if different kinds of horn are harder than others to work with. Also want to know more about warping.. I'm gonna go see if I can find some posts about horn!

I've worked with a lot of horn & there isn't much difference in hardness. I actually like working with it. It can come out beautiful when done! Here are some honey horn scales I made from scale blanks or slabs. The first pic is when I finished them but then a day or so later, one of them had some cracks in it after I tried mocking up a razor so I had to duplicate one scale which is in the second pic. the third pic shows the Jonathan Crooks FBU blade I was mocking up.




I start out by cutting out my scales from a pattern I make. I then use some double sticky sided carpet take & put both pieces together as even as possible. I then g out to my belt sander & from one end to the other I slowly take some of the horn off at the long edges until both are nicely & evenly rounded. I then have some wet or dry sandpaper & i wet sand them starting in this order, 240, 280 , 320 , 360 ,400 ,500 , 600 ,800 ,1000 ,1200 ,1500 ,2000 ,2500 & 3000 grit & on the insides of the scales too, to get a nicer transparency to them. I then use some Maas polish with a soft rag & hand polish them out, then I use a clean soft rag & then they are shining so beautifully.

Thanks! The more I see these horn scales the more I look forward to working on them.
I thought that maas polish is for metal...? If so, I wonder if maas polish would dry the oils out of the horn. Errrr Ofcourse that is if horn is oily. I wouldn't know given my lack of experience. Is there a favorite polish among horn enthusiasts?
Will be looking for good horn now.

Originally Posted by MikeT

Thanks! The more I see these horn scales the more I look forward to working on them.
I thought that maas polish is for metal...? If so, I wonder if maas polish would dry the oils out of the horn. Errrr Ofcourse that is if horn is oily. I wouldn't know given my lack of experience. Is there a favorite polish among horn enthusiasts?
Will be looking for good horn now.

I don't know if there is a polish for making them shiny like the Mass does but once done you cane wash them off in soap & water, then soak them in neatsfoot oil which will help retain the luster. I have never used the neatsfoot on new sales but it does rejuvenate old horn scales. I have used Maas with no problem & I used Mothers before I started using the Maas. Either works well.

I agree with everything engine says above. I used the same process to make my two sets of scales, except I don't have a belt sander and had to hand sand entirely. My final polisher is Metal Glo instead of MAAS, but it is the same idea.

I got my scale blanks from a guy on Etsy. Not sure if I can share his name (the name starts with something you dip tortilla chips in ), but he is selling pairs of horn blanks for $7.25 each currently.

My only other tip is to not rush it. You can always take more material away, but you can't put it back.

That is some great looking horn that you got! Nice work on the scales, especially for your first set!!

Those all look great. Love the figuring on your horn scales Doc. I've been trying a similar method with wood and kirinite for my two sets of scales made so far. I have some horn ordered so ill be giving that a try soon. How thin do you try to get it before shaping? Some horn blanks seem quite thick and I'm not sure how far to take it down.