Thread: How I make scales...step by step

Making scale step by step

Hi. I have no pretence on my abilities to make scales, this is my second try at it. The first ones came out really nice so I decided to try my luck at it again. http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=17580

Here I go, hope everything is well explained and easy to understand, english is not being my native tongue. I have added some pictures.

First you have to have good hard wood. I have Canary, Palisandre, Zebra, Maple and Amarante. This latter will be use this time. Amarante is a South America hard wood violet in color and extremely hard.


I buy my wood in pieces of 1½"x1½" by 6". These small pieces are difficult to cut so not to injure my hands I glue the piece to a bigger piece of soft wood. I use this bigger piece to align on my radial saw. I cut two slabs of about +1/8" thick. Two slabs will make 2 sets of scales (4 pieces).

After cutting the slabs I join them together with double face tape. This helps for cutting, drilling and sanding, helps to get symmetric pieces.

After joining them I trace the profile of the scale using the original with a medium "Sharpy" so I have an easy line to saw and sand down to correct size.
I roughly shape them on a small band saw than I go to a 1" band sander to reduce the rough cut to a more accurate shape. This is where the thick line comes handy, I just sand it down.

At this time I will drill the 1/16 holes while the scale are still flat and joined together.

And now to the hand sanding. Using some 320 and 400 grit sanding paper I will really get the profile to the exact size and I will proceed to round the sides and ends. With this Amarante wood you have to sand for a long time to get any result. After getting it right I'll go to 800 and 1500 grit sand paper for the "final touch".

After this I will separate the scale using a knife to pry them apart. Now I will flatten the inside on a flat piece of extra fine sand paper.

Now I will measure and make the wedge, in this case a flat wedge. I'll use maple wood that should contrast nicely with the violet wood. I drill the oversize wedge and glue it to one side of the scale. I'll put the scale together with 1/16 brass nail and gently sand down the wedge to the right dimension, I'll finish sanding by hand.

I only glue the wedge to one scale so it leaves the second scale free and easier to put in the pins, inside washer and blade.

This is how I do it.

Now I have an offer for you guys. I have made two sets of scale so if anyone of you want to finish both of them with CA or Epoxy I will gladly give you one set of scales and you can return me the other.


Jacques
Quebec, Canada

Thats awsome!! That will for sure be my next project, just need to get a blade.
Thanks soo much!

epoxy resin finish is very easy, measure, mix and pour. Oh yea, and make a stand to elevate the scales. I spent $20 on the resin and hardener and it will do at least 50 sets of scales. the bottle says it will over 4.5 square feet at 1/16" thickness. I just did my first set this evening. We will see how they turn out tomorrow.

Ty

oh yea, this is pretty much what I did

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=17422

Very helpful, Jacques. Thanks! Though I can't say I've read every post on the forums, that's the clearest description of the process I've seen yet. And don't worry about your English skills - it's very clear what you're saying. I wish I could write half as well in another language.

can you post pics of you pinning those nails? i use the brass rod and want to see the end result of the nails.

vgod

WOW!!!... such a pleasure when you use your own hands to shape something just the way you want it.

Great work.

I use the same process, except I use a scroll saw, not a band saw. I also use a 1 1/2" Sanding drum on my drill press instead of a belt sander.

You get your wood from Langevin & Forest?

Oui c'est bien chez Langevin et Forest pour le bois. Ils ont un bon choix et j'y prend aussi les tiges 1/16 en brass.

I'll buy a 1½" sanding drum for my press drill, much easier for the inside curve I'm sure.

Where do you buy your nails or do you use rods?? The nails you see on the pic are for asssembly during making only, they are Stanley steel nails brass coated so to hard to penn.


Jacques
Laval, Quebec

I get my pins and washers from a local hobby store (Hobby Junction, Dorval). I'll be making an order from microfasteners soon though, it works out to be cheaper in the end. PM me if you want to split an order.