Thread: Plastic?

Good afternoon.

I was wondering if there is a non destructive test to determine with certainty if scales are plastic or natural material (like bone or ivoire for instance).

Thx.

Well, experience both visually and by feel, nothing feels like ivory (silky, oily), like a polished finger nail.

Probably the hot pin test, though slightly destructive and sometimes rubbing with your thumb, some "plastics" will give off an odor. Plastic will melt easier than horn, again experience.

Feel and close examination are definitive test for me, and Ivory scales are almost always pinned collarless, and thinner than most scales, usually the first hint. Bone does not feel as smooth and generally, you can see the grain and small holes under magnification and close inspection.

With plastics, there is no pattern or it is perfectly repeated. And it has a different feel, to me a sticky smoothness.

But really, no definitive test.

Can you post pictures? If so we can usually help tell the difference and from there help you maybe see?

I will get pics on sunday.

My question was of a generic nature. But i got my hands on some old razors and i am not sure if the scales are plastics or horn. I dont want to throw away "noble" material.

Cheers

Well old horn can look similar to wood it definitely has a grain to it. Celluloid and bakelight can look similar I guess if polished. Bakelight smells like burning rubber. I bet if you share your pics you will get the answers you seek.

Some old scales were of stamped leather. Look like dry wood as do some of the old pressed horn.
~Richard

If it is an old razor, many plastic replacement scales have a stamped number on the inside if the scales.

Here us one example. According to previous owner, it dates back to civil war. The tail, to my opinion, looks long. Any thoughts?

I would have to guess horn. But this is an uneducated guess.

Thats horn far as date it could be 1850 -1860's

I thought to myself, get a vodka tonic and shave. That blade is alright!!! Great shaver.

So, there is no real test to horn, bone, ivory...vs plastic.

I will have to continu reading and shaving :-)