Thread: Cloning celluloid scales: a work in progress

Sharptonn, I kind of assumed celluloid didn't start deteriorating until many years later. If this was an issue even when the razors were being made, sounds like planned obsolescence!

If this works out I'll need to buy a black pen blank or something for the wedge. What collars are you planning on using Sharp/Zak?

I bet Jim Sargent would be interested to see something like this next time I'm in Alabama (even if he doesn't normally deal with razors).

When pouring acrylic they recommend a ac chamber too. But ive read to just let it sit longer to set up. And as far as the bubbles, i like your idea. It must work or you would be able to tell.

What about an application of Rub N Buff in the lettering? I am not sure what colors they have, but I just started messing with the gold Rub N Buff, and the stuff is really pretty cool.

Originally Posted by MrZ

What about an application of Rub N Buff in the lettering? I am not sure what colors they have, but I just started messing with the gold Rub N Buff, and the stuff is really pretty cool.

I suspect that's pretty much what they originally used anyway. I was probably going to just use an acrylic since I think I've got some around the house.

Very interesting. Subscribed.

Like polyurethane soles on shoes that are not designed to last.

Use them or loose them.

I've cleaned up the scales I'm casting and minimized the scratches from pin removal, gotten more Silicone RTV, and poured a new mold.

By tomorrow the scales I poured should be getting close to cured (though thinner pieces apparently take longer, booo).

It is officially time to just wait.

Very cool!!! I want to try the same with a silicone mould. I'll be following along in your journey.

Originally Posted by JP5

Sharptonn, I kind of assumed celluloid didn't start deteriorating until many years later. If this was an issue even when the razors were being made, sounds like planned obsolescence!

If this works out I'll need to buy a black pen blank or something for the wedge. What collars are you planning on using Sharp/Zak?

I bet Jim Sargent would be interested to see something like this next time I'm in Alabama (even if he doesn't normally deal with razors).

I've been thinking about the wedge and the little barrel that goes around the third pin.

Ideally, I'd make molds for those too, but I think it's probably just as practical to just buy plastic tubes and some acrylic sheets of the right thickness. Mostly because they're such small parts, so quickly made, the effort and curing time to mold them just doesn't make sense.

And yeah, they definitely knew celluloid was unstable when they were using it. I don't think it was planned obsolesce so much as just cost-cutting -- it was the material that let them get the look they were after which was cheapest to produce.