Thread: Making Self Wedging Scales

To start, have the material cut to about an 1/8th inch+ thick. Best to have the stock two scales wide. Smooth one side. That will be the finished outside.

To make the cut, I used a bandsaw.
First, saw to the middle of a flat board to cover the throat of the saw to prevent the workpiece from falling into the hole or sticking while cutting. Secure the board with tape or clamps..
Then, I cut a length of wood ( 2x3 )long enough to clamp to the table edge of the saw table and to be able to be trimmed by the blade.
Next I swung the piece to cut a vertical edge at the end, Then I cut the end to slightly make a rounded point..
I then clamped it to the table with the slight point a tiny bit ahead of the saw blade teeth and against them..

Why all the hassle? To assure that I had a vertical surface that matched the angle of the saw blade exactly and a guide to press the workpiece against while removing a blade width of material from the stock.
Feed the stock against the blade till you reach the stop mark on it. This give you a raised flat at the end of the stock, which will become the wedge.




From there on it is just normal scale work except for tapering the flats at the wedge end. Use a file as sand paper will always make a slightly domed surface.


~Richard