Thread: Leather scales?

But wouldn't you have to be careful from now on of the leather somehow getting real hot and the beeswax re-melting? Like if it were left somewhere that got too hot? Just thinking out loud.

This is interesting. Will be waiting to see the results. Will you be able to remove enough wax to get down to the leather (or just close enough to where you can see the grain of the leather) and still have it remain stiff? How durable will this be when finished?

Not really. (I am saying that from the sheaths I have made in the past.)

Once you get done polishing them there is not enough wax to really leak out. (Just a side note: I live in North GA now, but am from southeast GA where it gets over 100F for most of the summer)

Go boy, GO!

I'm waiting with baited breath to see how this puppy turns out....

I already have some ideas kickin' around if this works out.

Keep us posted, and walk us through it!!!!

C utz

Oh I always take lots of pics so that if I need to or someone asks I can do a write up on it. LOL Too many times I didn't and kicked myself for not taking bunchs of pics.

OK, here's an idea:

Get one of those Wapis with the stainless steel scales. Bond a thin layer of leather to that and you won't have to go nuts with impregnating the leather with beeswax, etc, etc.

The steel keeps the scales stiff and centered, and you could then just focus on getting the leather to be how you would like it--emboss it, oil it, caress it, whip it..whatever floats your boat.

Seraphim,

If you look at the pictures in Post #9, I'm not sure they need anymore strength. Those look plenty strong to me!

And people already complain about the weight of the Wapi scales (with talk of drilling holes to lessen their weight)....

Windcalmer, I can't wait to see the final results!

Originally Posted by ByronTodd

Seraphim,

If you look at the pictures in Post #9, I'm not sure they need anymore strength. Those look plenty strong to me!

And people already complain about the weight of the Wapi scales (with talk of drilling holes to lessen their weight)....

Windcalmer, I can't wait to see the final results!

That picture shows the scales with a leatherman on top of them, that's not so impressive in my book, I'm sorry to say. I'm not so sure that is stiff enough.

If you close the razor, and snag the edge on the scales, it will not do nice things to your edge.
I bring this concern up as I have seen a razor that had a small little warp to the edge that I couldn't figure out where it came from....and then I saw that there was a corresponding slice out of the edge of the plastic scales....

If you are very careful each and every time you open and close the leather scales, sure it will be fine. But I think perhaps it should have some sort of backing? (the Wapis perhaps are not the best choice as you say they are quite heavy, but they also are quite cheap, so I suggested them as a test subject, drill them out, cover them in leather, whatever, it's only $17)

Anyhow, I do think this is quite interesting.

I have started stabilizing wood and after reading this thread the thought of stabilized leather came to mind. The idea is to put the leather in a pressure tank with the liquid resin, pressurize it for awhile then take it out and press it flat til it drys.

I will be doing some more this week so I will try it out and let you know.

I also have purchased some hot waxed dipped leather, 10 oz, from Sykes Belting in St. Louis Park Minnesota that is pretty stiff. This leather is used to make commercial drive belts.

Just thinking out loud,

I have an idea, lurking in the dark recesses of my memory, that I have read of hard leather being used for razor scales in Sheffield in the nineteenth century. I do not remember any mention of their being lined and I do not know what tanning or hardening processes were used.
With regards the stiffness of the wax hardened leather, I have a pair of Parkin & Marshalls with very thin ivory scales which will probably not be as stiff as those leather scales, yet which behave perfectly well - so I do not think that you will have a problem.
Good luck with your experiment. I look forward to seeing the results.