Thread: How to make a traditional set of horn scales ... the way I do it.

Nice Tutorial!
Two Thumbs Up!

Originally Posted by karlej

I got this one from Brownell's. It's made by Jerry Fisher, a well known stock maker. I've been through a number of them over the years. This one is about worn out.

Yea, on backorder. Thanks.

Great write up mate
I like the idea of the scrapper to do the final finish shaping of the horn

Very nice tutorial, but I don't get your agenda against thick and chunky. Some of us have a preference for that look.

Some material just screams to be left thick and chunky.

As long as you are able to maintain symmetry and balance I say go for it....

Good job, as a visual aid for the production.

Great thread. Just what I needed to know. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Suticat

Very nice tutorial, but I don't get your agenda against thick and chunky. Some of us have a preference for that look.

Some material just screams to be left thick and chunky.

As long as you are able to maintain symmetry and balance I say go for it....

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on the thick and chunky thing. You can't have symmetry and balance if the scales are thick and chunky. The tutorial was about making a set of scales in what I consider the Sheffield school not some modern fanciful design.

Originally Posted by karlej

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on the thick and chunky thing. You can't have symmetry and balance if the scales are thick and chunky. The tutorial was about making a set of scales in what I consider the Sheffield school not some modern fanciful design.

+1....I couldn't agree more Karl!

BTW...very nice tutorial. Especially the neat trick with the scraper. Not being a 'woodworker' myself, I never would have figured that out on my own. I'm going over to 10 Pups workshop this morning and we plan on making some scales today so I'm looking forward to giving that technique a go. I'll have to use Marty's (Euclid440) idea of a putty knife, so thanks to Marty as well for that tip.

Really nice work on putting this together Karl!

Originally Posted by Wolfpack34

+1....I couldn't agree more Karl!

BTW...very nice tutorial. Especially the neat trick with the scraper. Not being a 'woodworker' myself, I never would have figured that out on my own. I'm going over to 10 Pups workshop this morning and we plan on making some scales today so I'm looking forward to giving that technique a go. I'll have to use Marty's (Euclid440) idea of a putty knife, so thanks to Marty as well for that tip.

Really nice work on putting this together Karl!

I think you'll find the scraper fast and efficient. You have to hold the scraper on something like a 45 degree angle to get the burr to cut but you'll figure it out real quick. The scraper will follow any divots in the material though so you'll have to follow up with a file to true it all up. Also if you repeatedly run the scraper over a pin hole you'll create a divot on either side of the hole which you can remove with the file or better yet don't create it in the first place. Following the filing one last pass with the scraper to remove all the file marks and you'll be ready for sanding. I don't use the scraper around the ends of the scales much. Just the file to smooth out the facets created by the belt sander and then 320 paper to blend it all together.
Good luck and let me know how the process went.

Hey Karl! I finished up a set of scales last night. Good information my friend...it worked really nice. Much quicker way to hand shape a set of scales. Very fast! I used a half inch wide chisel...sharpened it and then created a burr with a hone...and it was quite effective. Pretty neat how the horn just curls up in fine strips.

I'll be posting a finished razor in a day or two in the restoration forum and I'll be sure to mention using your technique.

Thanks for the great tip!

Mike