Thread: A question about custom scales ....

Hello all,

Today i have been working on some old decrepit razors trying to salvage what i can.

This is a scale that i have a question about.




This is a design that many of us have seen before. But ..... i took it to the buffer with some black buffing compound and the result was surprising .....



The buffing compound obviously became embedded in the pattern but what struck me was the level of detail that became apparent.

This reminded me of the multi color scales we have seen from makers like Tadross.

So, does anyone have a suggestion on how i can make the black color permanent?

Depending on the material you could possibly use a dye or paint; rub on and wipe off, similar to the antiquing or weathering process used in other crafts.

From the world of gun engraving I read one persons method of making his blacking permanent and that was to take some Testors black enamel paint and combine it with equal parts of dry powder coating, mix, then thin to the desired consistency with paint thinner apply to your workpiece and wipe off the excess. Then bake in an oven at some temp/time combo.

https://www.facebook.com/sandi.sturg...5676845570459/

Originally Posted by thehattr

Depending on the material you could possibly use a dye or paint; rub on and wipe off, similar to the antiquing or weathering process used in other crafts.

Analine dye?

Enamel paint then wipe and bake?

Is it a plastic material?

I'd say enamel paint would probably be your best bet. It seems it's a common method for model making. Using an enamel wash and then letting it dry for a 15-45 minutes and removing the excess with a cotton ball or qtip and some paint thinner.

Before you wreck the scales

You cannot use any Naptha, Toluene, Acetone type solutions on Celluloid it will destroy them REALLY fast

Basically rule of thumb, "If you sniff it and you jerk your nose away Keep it off the scales until you test it"

Well, I did not think these were celluloid so I tried naptha and acetone on different areas.

Boy was I wrong!

The acetone started melting the scales immediately!

I wonder how Antoni Tadross made those multicolored scales? Hmmmm .....

Yes any chemical and plastic is a no no

What sprung to my modest mind was Rub n Buff.. Of the top of my head.