Thread: How to repair Micarta Scales?

Does anyone have any tips on repairing these scales?

Someone on another forum thinks they might be Micarta. They are mildly magnetic, which would support that theory.

They're pretty soft, which is a bother, but the big problem is that the holes for the pins are completely shot. They're pretty torn out, which means I can't really tighten the pins - the washers just kind of sink into the ragged holes and I'm afraid that they're going to tear out completely.

I figure I could stabilize the scales by putting fibreglass in the inside, but I don't know how to shore up the holes.

Any thoughts? Is there a better alternative to fibreglass? Is there a clever way to stabilize the holes?

I'm a relative novice to razor repair, but I have access to a pretty well appointed shop, and I have a lot of experience setting fiddly rivets, and mixed experience in the shop, just to give a sense of my competence level, if it makes a difference.

Many thanks in advance.

Looks like they might be pressed leather. Can't help ya, there.

The only thing I can think is un-pin the razor. Use marine epoxy and fill the holes. When dry drill right size hole. Color epoxy with black marker and light coat of superglue. Re-pin.

Gotta agree with my compatriots,,

I don't see Micarta, in fact I am 99% sure they are not

These brass rivets can be epoxied in to strengthen the area, you want a 2mm - 1/16size

Glen beat me to it. They work great but be sure to not leave them too long or the pivot will never tighten up.

Forgot all about those.

That's a thought.

I bought a throwaway razor with nice scales to replace these, so if I experiment and wreck them I'm not out anything, so I may give this a try.

I kind of feel like these need to be a bit stabilized as well, so I may see if I can make a layer of fibreglass stick to the inside.

Originally Posted by bouschie

The only thing I can think is un-pin the razor. Use marine epoxy and fill the holes. When dry drill right size hole. Color epoxy with black marker and light coat of superglue. Re-pin.

You know, that's what I thought - they kind of feel like pressed leather.

Except a) they're a little more fibery than pressed leather, and b) they're magnetic. I've never heard of leather being magnetic, and I HAVE heard of early micarta being magnetic.

Then again, I'm a relative newb, so (and I say this unironically) what the hell do I know?

(Narrator: The answer, he knew, was "not very much.")

Originally Posted by outback

Looks like they might be pressed leather. Can't help ya, there.

Oh, that's a thought.

What makes you think they're not Micarta?

I'll give these fellows a try, though I think I still have to stabilize the scales a bit - the holes are torn out enough that the top is a bit floppy, and it doesn't hold the shank in place very well.

As I've said above, though, I can afford to experiment and if it goes wrong I can toss these out with little regret.

Thanks for the help!

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Gotta agree with my compatriots,,

I don't see Micarta, in fact I am 99% sure they are not

These brass rivets can be epoxied in to strengthen the area, you want a 2mm - 1/16size

Originally Posted by skald

Oh, that's a thought.

What makes you think they're not Micarta?

I'll give these fellows a try, though I think I still have to stabilize the scales a bit - the holes are torn out enough that the top is a bit floppy, and it doesn't hold the shank in place very well.

As I've said above, though, I can afford to experiment and if it goes wrong I can toss these out with little regret.

Thanks for the help!

That is an old razor and micarta wasn't used for them back then, to my knowledge.
That 'seam' around the edge is characteristic of leather scales.
.