Help with scales.

I picked up a wade and butcher today. I would love to put new scales on it because the ones on it are rough. But I really don't know where to start because I've never scaled a razor before. So what would be some major tips and tricks to do it.

Hoover welcome to SRP. Nice looking w&b. I would suggest looking in the library there is lots and lots of great info in there about just such a topic. Second I recommend visiting the workshop section. Lots of great work happening there and again lits of helpful info and great guys.
By this one picture honestly the scales dont look too bad. Perhaps a soak in neats foot oil and a good cleaning may all the she needs. Can you share some better pics?

Yeah it's not so much the side in the picture it's the other side. The scale happens to be broken down at the bottom.

Ok I couldn't see the missing piece from the first picture.
So ill share what I know I am still learning this myself. First you will need to disassemble the razor so you can make templates for your new material.
This means unpinning the razor. The pivot and the wedge end. This can be done several ways. I suggest trying to save as much of the original as possible meaning, the collars and wedge and thrust washers that may or may not be between the scales and the tang.
You can drill the pins out. If possible I say file the pin flat then using a small drill bit and pin vice drill the pin out. You should only need to get one side undone then the pin will come out the other side. Next take the good scale you have and trace it to make your template.

So what material would you suggest?

Once you have a template then transfer that to your scale material. You will want the 2 halves of whatever you use stuck together not only for cutting but shaping and drilling of your new pin holes.
I'd get in our library and read and look at the pics. There should be step by step how to make scales and it will most likely make better sense than my explanation :) also you tube has several videos of doing this. Depends a lot on your skills and tools. I do almost 95% of everything by hand.
I also suggest watching the videos and read all you can before getting in too deep. You can also send your razor out to have all this done by I completely understand if you want to tackle this yourself :) if you have bhai y questions please do ask and I will try and guide and help as best I can.

That's a very nice razor once done it will be even better. I'd guess its around 1840 to 1860's just a guess though :)

I suggest using black horn, preferably water buffalo, which is the original material. You can re-use the lead wedge and possibly the washers if not damaged during unpinning. Here is a superb tutorial:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...-way-i-do.html

I've been looking for horn. But all the places I have found (internet) are fairly expensive. So what if I did the new scales in deer antler? How do you guys think that waould fair ?

I don't believe it would work well. Quality scale material and correct period washers are available from Austin Kennedy, who is also a member here. His eBay username is ajkenne4xm3, here is a link to black horn, enough to do your razor:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/262605951751


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Ok I'll will look on there. Thank you.

IMO Hoover if you care to retain historical and antique value I guess I would say put back what was there and keep it stock. Never worked with antler but I imagine it would be similar to bone. Not sure though. Horn is simple to work. He'll if you're not worried about value then pick what catches your eye :)

Lovely blade... A real beauty..

I would say use wood. It's easy to work with and gives the best finishes in my opinion.
Rosewood or Cocobolo are two great woods

I've Bought from Austin Kennedy before. Got some good blanks in horn. And a fair price.

So I've been looking into making scales. And so far I've came to the conclusion that I wouldn't have all the tools to do it. I'm sure I could do it but without the right equipment I doubt it.

The tools needed are your mitts and a cheap scroll saw hand held and sand paper and a hand held drill. That's really about all I use and yea its time consuming but you can do a lot with a little.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...80a6f6a1ff.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2465c1b61b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c7d6df43c5.jpg
These were made by hand. I do have a band saw, that being said the horn were done all by hand from .250" down to about .114" the bone I cut with the band saw then shaped and polished by hand.

Yep. My first couple sets were with hand tools and a drill. It can be done. Id say the hardest part for me was making the wedge as its small and hard to sand. A jig can be made for it but i still havent made one.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...ales-hand.html
This is a good start. You can get a lot of shaping done in a really short time with a scraper.
Bahco Scraper - Lee Valley Tools
You will be surprised as to how few tools you actually need.