Thread: Bent celluloid scales

I've a razor where one of the scales are bent, the scale is close to the blade in the middle of the scale, has anybody a fix for celluloid scales that are bent, sort of unbending(?) the scale. I was thinking about gently warming the scale to see if it would work, but since I know absolutely nothing about celluloid I thought I should ask first

All suggestions are more than welcome!

Celluloid is highly flammable....so, don't use fire to un-bend the scales. Perhaps boiling water.

Are you sure it's not just that the blade is off centered?

Personally, I'd replace the scales.
If it's a large blade, I have a BUNCH of NOS black celluloid scales (pivote pin is not even drilled). PM me if so.

Good luck!

C utz

Hi bjorn, use a hair dryer. Place popsickle sticks (or other wood) between the scales so that they spread a bit larger in the area than you want/need. Apply the heat to the side that needs to go wider (if both need to go wider do one at a time). Heat about a 1 to 1&1/2 inches area. Be careful to not melt the side you are heating by looking carefully at the gap. When appropriate stop and let cool 15-20 min. Remove sticks and evaluate. Better to do again than too much the first time.

Monte

Take it from experience, replace the scales. I tried to save the scales on one of my grandfather's razors and ended up cracking the blade, which I had to shorten. A good set of scales is not that expensive from Classic Shaving.

Are these black celluloid, clear, or colored?

When applying heat to black celluloid, when it starts to turn brown....you have started to cause them to degrade.

They are not like plastic, which will start to bend.

However, I've only used the heat gun for plastic scales. With celluloid, I've only caught one set on fire by drilling a pivot hole too slowly.... Oh, and they fire up REAL quick too!

C utz

Thanks for the answers guys, I'll give it a go to night.

Originally Posted by C utz

Celluloid is highly flammable....so, don't use fire to un-bend the scales. Perhaps boiling water.

Are you sure it's not just that the blade is off centered?

Personally, I'd replace the scales.
If it's a large blade, I have a BUNCH of NOS black celluloid scales (pivote pin is not even drilled). PM me if so.

Good luck!

C utz

The scale has a small dent, so I'm pretty sure it's not just off centered.

Originally Posted by monte6177

Hi bjorn, use a hair dryer. Place popsickle sticks (or other wood) between the scales so that they spread a bit larger in the area than you want/need. Apply the heat to the side that needs to go wider (if both need to go wider do one at a time). Heat about a 1 to 1&1/2 inches area. Be careful to not melt the side you are heating by looking carefully at the gap. When appropriate stop and let cool 15-20 min. Remove sticks and evaluate. Better to do again than too much the first time.

Monte

I'll try the hairdryer approach tonight, thanks for the walkthrough.

Originally Posted by C utz

Are these black celluloid, clear, or colored?

When applying heat to black celluloid, when it starts to turn brown....you have started to cause them to degrade.

They are not like plastic, which will start to bend.

However, I've only used the heat gun for plastic scales. With celluloid, I've only caught one set on fire by drilling a pivot hole too slowly.... Oh, and they fire up REAL quick too!

C utz

They are colored, and I'm going to try the hairdryer first, if that won't do it I'll bring out the heat gun.

I put them between two pieces of flat wood,held together with rubber bands,then put them in the oven at180 for 30 minutes,and let the get to room temp gradually as the oven cools.They then retain the flat shape,even if re-exposed to high temps again.I have tried the hair drier,and boiling water,and found that it works for awhile,but thatafter time the warping comes back.Regards gary

Originally Posted by Traveller

I put them between two pieces of flat wood,held together with rubber bands,then put them in the oven at180 for 30 minutes,and let the get to room temp gradually as the oven cools.They then retain the flat shape,even if re-exposed to high temps again.I have tried the hair drier,and boiling water,and found that it works for awhile,but thatafter time the warping comes back.Regards gary

Thank you, guess I'll try this first.

Originally Posted by Traveller

I put them between two pieces of flat wood,held together with rubber bands,then put them in the oven at180 for 30 minutes,and let the get to room temp gradually as the oven cools.They then retain the flat shape,even if re-exposed to high temps again.I have tried the hair drier,and boiling water,and found that it works for awhile,but thatafter time the warping comes back.Regards gary

Great tip... thanks for sharing that Gary.