Thread: Warped scales.

Those look like hard rubber type scales. I've had great success using steam to straighten most materials. If I'm doing a quick clean up, I have a plastic spatula that I put between the scales. I hold on to the tang with one hand and gently pull the spatula away from the pivot side while steaming over a kettle. I've done it many times and can usually get the scales to do whatever I want. Works well enough for most blades. If im doing a full restoration I'll unpin and straighten the scales individually(the right way).

How do they look with the blade closed? Some scales can flex like that when the blade is open due to the shape of the tang and go straight when closed.

Originally Posted by BeJay

How do they look with the blade closed? Some scales can flex like that when the blade is open due to the shape of the tang and go straight when closed.

They look the same. The tang doesen't affect the scales at all on this one.

Originally Posted by MW76

Oops.. just found this

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...ed-scales.html

This is the setup that I use for fixing warped horn scales or blanks for that matter. Over the years I have tried many of the solutions offered on SRP but found this to be the easiest, quickest and most reliable. I wrap scales or formed blanks individually in aluminum foil with 1 or 2 layers. Make them longer than the scales so you can hold them when they are hot. I use a hair straightener that I picked up in a thrift store for about $7. Plug in the hair straitener and wait about 2 minutes for it to get hot. Then I heat the scales/blanks for about thirty seconds. Remove them quickly from the heat and place them between two straight wooden blanks (size ~1"x6"x1/4") and tighten them in the vice hand tight. Apply addition clamps to the ends as necessay. Let it cool in the vice for about 3-4 minutes. Remove them from the clamp vice and place them on a flat surface to check for straightness. Then do the other one the same way. Done.

tip 1: Try using a glove or even clamps as the straightener can get hot when holding it down.
tip2: Caution: do not overheat (>30 seconds) your scales or you could burn them.
tip 3: I have found that honey horn can burn easier than black horn.