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Thread: Trouble Flattening Inside of Scales At Wedge End

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    JP5
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    Default Trouble Flattening Inside of Scales At Wedge End

    I'm making some curly maple scales and I've almost finished shaping them. One problem I'm having though is that when you put the two scales together, there is 'V' at the wedge end. I guess this happened when I was sanding off the paper/glue from when I first cut the scales. I know this will cause a gap between the thin end of the wedge and the scales, so I need to straighten it out. I've tried sanding it a couple different ways, but it doesn't seem to helping too much.

    Any advice on how to get rid of the 'V' gap so the scales fit better? Thanks

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    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    You need to be sure you are on a flat surface. Sand paper on flat surface with material to be sanded. With evev pressure sand the scales. If you still have a tiny gap at wedge fill it with super glue.
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    Senior Member blabbermouth Geezer's Avatar
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    Also, a slightly concave surface scraped into the inside of the wedge ends allows them to seal around the wedge. That way the edges of the scales are pulled tight to the edge. Or, you can concave the sides of the wedge a tiny bit...if...the scales are dead flat. No more than a piece of paper deep. And... open the top and bottom of the drilled hole in the wedge. That allows the pin to assume any angle necessary to fit up the scales.
    ~Richard
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    JP5
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    Yeah, I have the sandpaper on a flat surface. I know that is a must. I need to rig some sort of large sanding block I could attach the scale to, so the pressure is distributed evenly.

    Geezer, if flattening doesn't work I'll probably try the concave surface idea. Can you give me something as a reference so I know how concaved your talking about?

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    Senior Member blabbermouth tcrideshd's Avatar
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    no more than a piece of paper depth , this is done a lot with wood working . most call it a back cut like on mitres only in this case , causing a small dish in the middle of the joining of the scales and wedge so that the outer edges make contact before the insides
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    JP5
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    I misworded my follow up question. What I was wondering was how steep the convex of the sanding medium should be. I thought maybe he used something specific to convex the sandpaper when he was sanding.
    Last edited by JP5; 06-28-2015 at 02:09 PM.

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    Senior Member karlej's Avatar
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    Sandpaper would not be my choice for concaving and fitting the wedge. Use a scraper to remove material from the area. You have much more control over what you are doing and can work right up to an edge. Use micro fasteners and tighten it up, hold it up to a light and look for gaps. If there are any keep on fitting. Accept no gaps. No filling in things with glue.
    Are your scales thin? Wood does not flex very much which can create problems. I dislike using wood as a scale material but some of it sure is pretty. Next time you make a set of scales from any material when you have each scale half cut to oversized shape that is the time to make sure the inside area of the scales are flat. Much easier to hang on to and control. Either hand sand on a flat surface or use a belt sander.
    Here are pictures of scrapers I use. These are from my gunsmithing and stockmaking days and are made by Jerry Fisher. They are well worn from sharpening and I've gone through a number of these. To sharpen you just hold them perpendicular to grind belt. I use the heck out of these when making scales. Particularly the flat one. They really shine working with horn. When working with wood you'll have to be mindful of how the grain of the wood flows or they will tend to tear the wood. Old time gunsmiths used scrapers for finishing long before production sandpaper was available.
    Hope this helps.
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    Senior Member blabbermouth outback's Avatar
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    This has been a very informative post.
    Though I've never encountered this problem YET.
    The saw and blade that i use makes very clean cuts, so I've never had to sand the inside of the scales EVER. i just make the wedge a little bigger than the scales and then shape the wedge to the scales.Name:  uploadfromtaptalk1435498724761.jpg
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    YMMV
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    Mike

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    Is it possible the wedge is not flat?
    Mike

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    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Geezer touched on it but, remember to chamfer the pin holes on both sides of the wedge and on the inside of the scales with a larger drill bit or countersink.

    Any burrs from drilling can keep the wedge from fitting together tightly.

    Or use a lead wedge.

    You can make a scraper for one time use with an inexpensive putty knife, grinder, files and sand paper, it is not as hard as a cabinet scraper, but it will hold an edge long enough to do a pair of scales.
    Last edited by Euclid440; 06-28-2015 at 02:06 PM.

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