Results 1 to 10 of 10
Like Tree3Likes
  • 3 Post By Ernie1980

Thread: Piece of wood for scales, need suggestions

  1. #1
    Senior Member blabbermouth Kees's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    5,474
    Thanked: 656

    Default Piece of wood for scales, need suggestions

    I was allowed to pick some wood from our local timber yard's skip and came home with this:

    Name:  P3010208.jpg
Views: 149
Size:  40.5 KB

    It is a piece of brownheart, I especially like the green streaks.

    It is 27 mm thick, for scales I need a piece that is a only few mm thick. Any thoughts on how to do this?
    Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr.

  2. #2
    Senior Member DoughBoy68's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Crossville, TN
    Posts
    1,711
    Thanked: 304

    Default

    For scales your wood needs to be no more than 3 mm (1/8') thick to allow for sanding, etc. The best way would be to plane the wood if you have access to a planer. If not you might try ripping it with a band saw but keep in mind there will be some saw (teeth) marks that will need to be sanded out. I've used both methods and both work just fine.
    "If You Knew Half of What I Forgot You Would Be An Idiot" - by DoughBoy68

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to DoughBoy68 For This Useful Post:

    Kees (03-01-2016)

  4. #3
    Moderator rolodave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Racine, WI USA
    Posts
    7,530
    Thanked: 1927
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    I would rip a 2.5cm piece about 18cm long and then resaw that in 3mm slabs. You will have to do some sanding.
    Get the slabs the same thickness and as uniform as you can.
    Then proceed to the normal scale making procedure of pin holes and shaping to the blade.

    What kind of wedge material are you going to use?
    If you don't care where you are, you are not lost.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to rolodave For This Useful Post:

    Kees (03-01-2016)

  6. #4
    Senior Member blabbermouth Kees's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    5,474
    Thanked: 656

    Default

    Not sure what I am gonna use for a wedge. Haven't given it much thought yet.
    Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr.

  7. #5
    Senior Member Ernie1980's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    1,568
    Thanked: 269

    Default

    Just a thought if you are up to it...you could made an integral set of scales out of that piece, similar to what Mastro Livi uses on his entry level razors.
    Kees, rolodave and Substance like this.

  8. #6
    Moderator rolodave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Racine, WI USA
    Posts
    7,530
    Thanked: 1927
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ernie1980 View Post
    Just a thought if you are up to it...you could made an integral set of scales out of that piece, similar to what Mastro Livi uses on his entry level razors.
    Good idea.
    If you don't care where you are, you are not lost.

  9. #7
    Senior Member blabbermouth Substance's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Gladstone QLD AUSTRALIA
    Posts
    3,245
    Thanked: 804

    Default

    you also need to make sure you miss the cracks in the wood for your scales
    you could hand cut some scales if need be with a saw and they will work
    the integral scales might be a great idea for the size wood you have
    is it a hard or soft wood?? as it looks a lot like Miranti pine which is a medium wood at best and would need a sealing agent
    Saved,
    to shave another day.

  10. #8
    Senior Member blabbermouth Kees's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    5,474
    Thanked: 656

    Default

    It is part of a floorboard with a groove on one side and a tongue on the other. I has a few cracks but still plenty usable wood between the cracks.
    Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr.

  11. #9
    Senior Member UKRob's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    West Midlands, UK
    Posts
    1,263
    Thanked: 360

    Default

    I would start with blanks that are about 160 x 60mm and either get them ripped into 4mm slabs by someone with a band saw - or you could do it yourself with a Japanese pull saw. These come with various tooth forms including a very fine one for ripping along the grain. Because they cut on the pull stroke, these saws can be a lot thinner than a western style as they don't buckle.

    The benefit of having a 60mm width is that you can then sand to the required thickness and get two uniform scales from a single piece
    My service is good, fast and cheap. Select any two and discount the third.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to UKRob For This Useful Post:

    Kees (03-03-2016)

  13. #10
    Senior Member DoughBoy68's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Crossville, TN
    Posts
    1,711
    Thanked: 304

    Default

    If you do decide to go with a wedge I personally like to use either contrasting (color) wood or lead wedge with wood scales.

    Integral scales sound good too and that is something I have not done yet but this thread has sparked an interest in making some.
    "If You Knew Half of What I Forgot You Would Be An Idiot" - by DoughBoy68

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •