Scale liners

I know ive read here of folks using liners. Im thinking about a project in the far future. A flexable material that needs some strength but still flexable for scale flex. Also im in need of something very thin.

Ive read about G10, Brass and a few other options but, what do you guys recommend? Id love to find something no more than .025 thick so that the scales dont end up too thick. I am a little worried about using metal. Wouldnt want the blade edge to accidently close onto metal. Im not looki g for a liner to just support like the fiberglass resin stuff. Im in need of strength. I think. :shrug:

Also, how do you go about using liners? Glue them to the materail used for scales or just pin it all together?

Jerry
You can get thin sheets of aluminum, copper or brazz at Hobby Lobby at little cost. You need to rough it up with sandpaper if you are glueing it to the outer surface.

Leonard

Thanks Leonard. Im a little afraid of metal but this might be the best option.

BTW, thanks to Joshua/JP5 for sending me such a flexable piece of material to make scales out of, or should i say rubbery. Its going to be a new challange for sure. But not real soon.

I've used the very thin aluminium from a Coke can just as a strengthener for repaired scales.

I have used g10 which is pretty tough stuff, and a little hard to cut by hand with a scroll saw.
I glued pieces of g10 on to the full size scale blanks before cutting out the scale shape using two part epoxy.
After gluing I sandwiched the piece in wax paper and put weight on top of the piece.
Be careful when you put the weight on when the glue is wet. The g10 and the scale material might shift slightly. (Trust me, I know.) Setting this up in an area that's completely level helps.
When the glue dries, the wax paper peels right off and you're good to go.

Pete <:-}

Thanks for the discription/instructions Pete. :beer1:

Jerry,

For what you are describing, G-10 liner is hands down the best choice.

Here is a link where I wrote about it:

https://straightrazorpalace.com/work...rn-scales.html

G-10 is a pain to work with and is hard on machinery, though I haven't found anything that measures up for liner on straight razor scales.

Jerry, you can also build your liner onto the scales.

If you dont remember the two day set of ivory, I repaired.

I epoxied two pieces of 3/4oz woven fiberglass to the inside of the scales.

Attachment 291896

Attachment 291897

As for metal..its gonna have to be harder than the blade, to do any harm. Unless you smack the edge into them while closing.

Thanks Mike. Im afraid that mKing the liner as you say, is not going to give it enough strength. Just imagine cutting scales out of thick soft rubber. What im going to be working with is not that soft, but it is sort of like that. No strength. You can twist it or bend it to 90 degrees easy. This is why im thinking something hard.

Thanks for the link Pete. Ill check it out here in a bit. I got to get out 9f the truck and unload my trailer. For some reason they want me to watch what im doing when unloading. Something to do with hazmat spills. Whatever. :)

Mike, I don't know how rigid that material is but he will definitely need something supportive that will add a little thickness.
The material is a +1/16" blank cut from a hybrid wood/resin blank. The resin half is like stale gummy bear. Not alumilite. You could easily fold it in half with two fingers.

And Jerry, I would try the G10 spacer/liner material. It won't add a much weight as metal but still be strong.
If I had more I would have included some. Hope the material works out.

g10, or metal,,, if your smacking your blade into the liner then something is wrong to start withAttachment 291899Attachment 291900

I've come across two other types of liner.

One is vulcanized paper, which I use on knives. It's nice in that you can cut it with a pair of scissors and it doesn't create toxic dust like G-10. I haven't used it on razor scales as it isn't as strong as G-10.

There is also a paper Micarta liner that is 1/32 thick. It hadn't occurred to me before this thread to use metal. I don't have a good way to cut it right now, though it would be nice to not have to use G-10. I see that you can get stainless in 1/32 thickness.

Jantz, knifemaking.com, has all of this stuff. They are good folks to deal with.

Outback effectively made super thin G-10 by epoxying fiberglass cloth to the inside of the scales.

Food for more thought.
There are plenty of sources for "German Silver"/ " nickle silver," etc. a form of white brass long used for knife and razor construction and decoration. It would be available in down to 0.01 thickness. That is about two sheets of paper
It may be bought in 4x6 inch sheets from many online venders.
JMO
~Richard
Usually a lot cheaper from an industrial source rather than a Jewelry supply. Not always so do your homework!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geezer

Food for more thought.
There are plenty of sources for "German Silver"/ " nickle silver," etc. a form of white brass long used for knife and razor construction and decoration. It would be available in down to 0.01 thickness. That is about two sheets of paper
It may be bought in 4x6 inch sheets from many online venders.
JMO


~Richard
Usually a lot cheaper from an industrial source rather than a Jewelry supply. Not always so do your homework!

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Mr. Geezer, what you know and share continues to astound me :bow

Very strong flexible and thin carbon fibre. Carbon Fiber Plate on sales - Quality Carbon Fiber Plate supplier

Im leaning towards some metal at this point. I wantex to do this a while back (use brass) but im thinking now that when brass gets dirty it would be hard to clean on the insides. Still, thanks to all for the comments. Its good to know there are a few options out there.

Important Hint:

The "liner" MUST be more flexible than the scales, you are setting the material up for a Negative Bend or an Inside Bend, that means it wants to come off the material it is bonded to with every flex :(

When gluing Metal liners creating what is called a "Mechanical Lock" will strengthen the bond this can be accomplished with a few holes in the metal and matching divots in the inside of the scale material..

Be very aware of weight too, stropping and honing an off-balance razor is just tiresome, and awkward :(

Epoxy is good, but the Bedding Glass used for Rifle Stocks is way better aka Accu-Glass and other names


ps: i am a little confused/concerned with how flexible you are saying the scale material is


Experienced gained through many experiments and failures :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Very strong flexible and thin carbon fibre. Carbon Fiber Plate on sales - Quality Carbon Fiber Plate supplier

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It is available down to 0.015 or less. Google carbon fiber sheet.

;~Richard