Thread: Scale warp

I know I've seen a post on straightening warped plastic scales, but I can't find it after some searching. Any advice on unbending scales? Does a heat gun help??

In experimenting with some scales, even a hair dryer will produce enough heat to allow slight re-shaping of plastic and celluliod scales. I used one to gently heat several sets and ease them back into the shape I wanted, then rinsed with cold tap water to set where I wanted them. Another tip that helped me was to use something to maintain the proper space in the middle of the scales; a q-tip stick (cotton pulled off of one end) worked pretty good.

Just be careful if you opt for a heat gun. It may produce too much heat and will be really detremental on light-colored scales (may yellow them).

I am not any sort of expert so use at your own risk; just my personal experience!

v/r

Allen

You may also want to search on Traveler.

He posted or re-posted something recently on this topic using an oven and popsicle sticks.

Hope this helps....I have a fairly new razor I need to fix the scales on too. I will likely try a hairdryer first and then the oven as a follow-up if needed.

I have had success with dipping them in boiling water and then holding them to shape in a cold water dip. (No, I didn't put my fingers in the boiling water, douh!)

Originally Posted by Kenrup

I have had success with dipping them in boiling water and then holding them to shape in a cold water dip. (No, I didn't put my fingers in the boiling water, douh!)

Really for any plastic that is the best method for even heating. I have used that technique with my old class when we made bracelets out of tooth brushes. Then when I got my Carmen in the mail and its scales were bent, I did the boiling water thing and fixed it right up!

So this is plastic and celluloid... what about horn scales? I also don't want to de-pin the razor. (just to make it more difficult)

Just dipped a razor with warped black plastic scales in fresh boiled water for about 10 secs - manually held them under cold water for about 10seconds after that. Just the shape they need to be - only thing is the black has gone milky coloured in patches and won't polish out. Not the result I had hoped for - what did I do wrong? Suppose I need to do a little bit more aggressive polishing now to erradicate?

Originally Posted by JGS

You may also want to search on Traveler.

He posted or re-posted something recently on this topic using an oven and popsicle sticks.

Hope this helps....I have a fairly new razor I need to fix the scales on too. I will likely try a hairdryer first and then the oven as a follow-up if needed.

Thanks. It's THIS thread. Sometimes the search terms are a little hard to pin down.