Thread: Scales

This is an ex excellent online reference for wood species and their characteristics.

https://www.wood-database.com/

I would like a jig to cut -1/8" blanks with, but I think that setup would like be more difficult with smaller pieces like pen blanks.

Originally Posted by DZEC

This is an ex excellent online reference for wood species and their characteristics.

https://www.wood-database.com/

My biggest challenge is where to get the blanks or blocks.

Etsy charge a lot to ship here, Exotic woods in the US want over $40 to ship $6 worth of wood (3x3x4) by USPS!!

The other US places I have found so far are similar.

Maggards are by far the cheapest shipping (just over $5 for a reasonable stash) and I will be getting a few blanks from them but their choice is limited so another source with reasonable shipping would be nice too.

I should check the bay.

Thanks for the link to wood information, if I can get the wood it would be invaluable.

Try this location in Burlington, ON.

https://exotic-woods.com/

Give them a call about cutting to the size you need.

You could look at places like Winners and others that sell cutting boards. I got an olive wood cutting board and it gave me quite a number of scales when it cut it up. It was less expensive compared to ordering on line.

Bob

For scales you need blanks that are 6' X 1.25". This gives you next to no wiggle room to get one scale from. And remember that a 1/8" thick is just a starting point. I like the finished product to be 0.100" - 0.080" for thickness. JMO

Originally Posted by BobH

You could look at places like Winners and others that sell cutting boards. I got an olive wood cutting board and it gave me quite a number of scales when it cut it up. It was less expensive compared to ordering on line.

Bob

Can I make scales from a cutting board without treating them somehow?

Originally Posted by STF

Can I make scales from a cutting board without treating them somehow?

All I did after the final shaping and sanding was use crazy glue to coat them. This was done over many coats with light sanding between coats. There should be some threads on here about that process. Be careful of what woods you use as some can be harmful if you inhale the dust from them. Use appropriate safety precautions.

Bob

Bob

Especially any wood that is spalted.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

Especially any wood that is spalted.

spalted? What's spalted?