Thread: Pre Made Scales

Today i finished re-scaling these three Ralf Aust razors into pre made T.I scales ...The T.I scales come fitted with spacers and wedge end pinning. 2x horn, 1x bone.

The T.I scales come with a thin spacer glued and pinned which could mean that attempts to remove the spacer could take part of the horn scale with it.
The spacer is so thin that the tang on a razor would have to be 1.5mm thick to fit. On top of that the Ralf Aust razors have no angled section on the tang which means it caches on the scales unless they have cut out parts like the original scales, or a 3 pin is an option.

The bone was the most difficult to fit because a wedge with correct angles would have broke the scales due to stress and using a large enough spacer would mean the heel protruding through the underside of the scales..

Also the grinds are very poor requiring mad skills to hone

I did have something positive to say but have forgotten now.

Originally Posted by JOB15

Today i finished re-scaling these three Ralf Aust razors into pre made T.I scales ...The T.I scales come fitted with spacers and wedge end pinning. 2x horn, 1x bone.

The T.I scales come with a thin spacer glued and pinned which could mean that attempts to remove the spacer could take part of the horn scale with it.
The spacer is so thin that the tang on a razor would have to be 1.5mm thick to fit. On top of that the Ralf Aust razors have no angled section on the tang which means it caches on the scales unless they have cut out parts like the original scales, or a 3 pin is an option.

The bone was the most difficult to fit because a wedge with correct angles would have broke the scales due to stress and using a large enough spacer would mean the heel protruding through the underside of the scales..

Also the grinds are very poor requiring mad skills to hone

I did have something positive to say but have forgotten now.

I've been going backwards and forwards about whether to get pre-made scales for my first attempt at rescaling but it looks easier to just jump in with both feet and make them from scratch, especially since I don't know exactly what size I would need.

Hi steve,
I think that is a good idea..First port of call would be to look down the spine from every direction and check if the blade is straight ..

Originally Posted by JOB15

Hi steve,
I think that is a good idea..First port of call would be to look down the spine from every direction and check if the blade is straight ..

The blade is nothing special, PaulFLUS kindly gave it to me to practice honing with but the scales cracked at the pivot and came away so I would like to rescale it in the spirit of continued learning.

Its a 9/16 smile with a smiling spine. L Lowe & Co, Milwaukee. it does look staight to me and lays flat along its length when I tilt the blade toward the table.

Like I say it's not a special razor but I love all my razors whatever the quality so I am really hoping to make it beautiful.

I killed the edge so I could work with it and it needs a good sanding and polish before i add the scales.

I will probably try with lolly sticks first as suggested here but the downside to that is that I would burn through rod and washers.

I got a few sets from razors and more on etsy. I haven't tried to use them yet, but they seem nice and not expensive. One thing that did surprise me is when he sells "unpinned" it means it comes with the bottom glued together. Also, the pivot hole is not drilled so you get site leeway on the blade length.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RazorsandMore

Drilling a hole at the correct angle through 2 scales with the wedge end already fixed will be a challenge, maybe..
You will have to let us know how it all works out..
Cheers

Originally Posted by JOB15

Drilling a hole at the correct angle through 2 scales with the wedge end already fixed will be a challenge, maybe..
You will have to let us know how it all works out..
Cheers

Yeah, I've been thinking on that. Best plan I have so far is to shim it with the tang just above the hole. Maybe line it up where the hole should be and just be real careful not to go into the tang.

Edit: oh yeah, it's my first time restoring any razors, so I'm hoping for it works out in the fair to middling range :}. Nothing to make yall proud, but enough to get it working.

Those scales look pretty thick judging from the pic of the completed razors.

Typical, Ti scales. Thick n heavy.

They were a little thick, the bone definitely..