Thread: First set of scales under way

Originally Posted by minstrel

one blank is cut against the grain, so I fully expect those scales to snap at some point. I just cut those out as an experiment, since it shows the most variation in the pattern.

Some woods take it better than others. If it is strong and heavy wood it might just work.
Lighter, weaker woods will probably snap.

But it will be an interesting experiment. The look of those cross-cut scales is great.

Btw: you went across the grain, not against the grain. Going with the grain or against the grain is the same from the wood's point of view since with or against indicates a 180 reversal of direction while across conveys 90 degrees -> perpendicular to the grain.
EDIT: sorry for being a stickler.

Yeah, I probably meant to write "across" the grain.

I think some of the boards I have of this wood are made up of staves which have been glued together, but sometimes it's hard to tell. If so, I would expect the joint to split if you put strain on it, especially if you thin the wood down. Still, the "cross-cut" scales may turn out to be functional, in which case I'll probably use them for one of the blades. They do look more interesting than the others, for sure, even though I think the others will look good too once they're finished.