Thread: help replacing wapi scales

I made some scales from plexi glass as u can see in the pic for my wapi ,they came out a little ruff .I did not know this stuff was so hard to work with.I have never made scales or pinned a str8 i have the rod and washer can some 1 tell me how far the rod should extend from the washers.Also i was thinking of using guitar pics glued together and cut to size for the wedge will this work.

Originally Posted by Joe777

how far the rod should extend from the washers.

Well, some people here say to cut the rod as close as possible from the rod and them tap all around the rod, but that depends on how you want it to look. For instance, I let 1 mm above the washer, this way I have the correct amount of brass to peen the remain of the rod in a way that resembles the roundish look of the other end of the pin. This way you have both ends look the same.

First, have you removed the old scales???
Unless something has changed, the pivot hole is over sized on the Wapis, so you are going to have to get a small piece of 1/16 ID brass tubing to fit the over size hole, other wise the blade is going to flop around...
After you have figured all this out, when you measure the pin cut, it is way easier to file off the excess, than to try add some metal back to that rod,,,, so it you leave about 1/8 of an inch, then carefully file this down to peening length, you accomplish 2 things, you create a nice smooth flat surface to peen, and normally it actually helps lock in the washer so it makes peening easier....
Good luck....
BTW the guitar pics sound like a great idea!!!!

Thx gssixgun for the info,yes i have removed the scales but i did not pay attention to the pivot hole .I might have the tubing u mentioned i picked up by accident when i did not know what i was looking for in the hobby shop, i also have the 1/16 rod.By the way i have come across a number of youre posts u have some awsome looking str8's.Thx

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Unless something has changed, the pivot hole is over sized on the Wapis, so you are going to have to get a small piece of 1/16 ID brass tubing to fit the over size hole, other wise the blade is going to flop around...

Glen, I have actually done Wapis and have not found this problem at all. I know you've heard it a few times, but it didn't need any bushing in my experience. The blade pinned tightly and centered.

Thanks Alex, I know you have done more of them then I have, I have only done 2 in the last year and both of them needed a bushing... But those were over 6 months ago so I would definitely differ to yer more recent experiences on these....

I have read there are 2 wapi's an older 1 wich i have and a another with a symbol stamped on the shank.mabey the i with the symbol has a smaller pivot hole.mine seems to be like gssixgun said, so i did not want to take any chances, since i already have the tubing i put the bushing in it as u cam see in the pic and the pin fits nice and snug.

Thx leon for the quick response and the 1 mm info.