Thread: smooth sailing on first custom scales then CRACK!

So I recently tried to make scales for a razor with Arcylic, i first cut out the scales with a bandsaw, then i shaped them up with a belt sander taking off the sharp edges on the acrylic and trying to round off everything, going up grits from 80 taking off all he scratches from previous grits. Then I was off to hand wet sanding though the grits again all the way to 1000. Then on to some white compound on the buffing on medium speed about 2000 rpm on 6 inch wheel... At this point I'm about an hour and a half into doing this! I was starting to get antsy and excited for my first set ever made. I got the first pin in and buffed it round, SWEET! Now to pin the pivot, swing and a miss! Cracked the scales! I have to say after that happened a piece of me died at that very moment hahaha... I was so close to finishing the scales and getting the restored razor in I could taste it... Well here are the pics I am still very proud of myself that I got that as far and as I did and still can't wait to give it another shot.

Looks nice, I never really ventures too deep into custom scales, but I did crack a few. It is heart breaking when you think back to all the time you put into it and in one second destroy all that work.

Accidents happen occasionally to the best of us no matter how careful you are. It's a minute of cursing and what not but little can be done. C'est la vie. I usually take a break until I'm mentally ready to start all over. Doesn't take too long and it's all forgotten. You should be proud either way.

very light taps with a very light hammer is the key!(tap on the cuticle of your thumb with your hammer without too much discomfort is about the right pressure) nice looking scales BTW.

Pretty scales! I'm always a sucker for bright scales.


Mike

Thanks guys I gave it my all, I think that the razor wasn't going to sit in them too perfectly it was good practice... Yea I agree I love the bright colored scales, I really wasn't going for a point on them either it kinda just worked out that way and I went with it lol... I felt like I was making a prison shank there for a little bit lmao

That's hard luck Fonzie; we've all cracked a few in our re-scaling adventures. The old vulcanite ones are particularly prone to it, ivory probably the least.

They were looking good too! Try practicing on some old horn or early plastics scales found on crap razors that turn up in junk shops. You'll soon get the hang of how hard to strike. "Not very" is the answer, as tintin described above.

I can relate as well. This happened about a week ago. I will probably be able to CA it back together though. (Ya I know it is a GD but I needed a project and had some wood sitting around.

Originally Posted by yotebuster1200

I can relate as well. This happened about a week ago. I will probably be able to CA it back together though. (Ya I know it is a GD but I needed a project and had some wood sitting around.

sorry don't know all the a acronyms yet lol... What is CA? I know it's probably going to slap in the face obvious...

Great work on the wood and razor! Don't worry u won't catch any flack from me about a GD... In my mind it's just a razor that shaves, if ur talented enough to repair their flaw then that's a good thing right? Plus the Rockwell on them is huge gotta go at it with the gringer to get anything to happen to it...

It's funny u actually posted this picture I'm trying to make that point on the pivot end of my scales right now... I'm using horn and usually contour my scales round but now that I've gotten to the pivot end I was staring at the scales tryin to figure out my next move for like 3 solid minutes with the belt sander running the whole time... I ended up shutting that thing off and going to bed and calling it a night hahaha... Here give me a minute and I'll post a pic so u get an idea of what I'm talking about

So the first pic I think I'm close and the problem is it was a total accident how I got there so for the one on the far right I have no idea how to get it close like the other lol... i even took them apart to maybe even use the dremel...

the middle pic is the whole scale dsign (obviously lol) but I'm going to double pin her on the bottom... I just want something different, I think that's what I want to do is make eventually make my own unique style that maybe is new