Thread: Designing Scales

Originally Posted by CactusBob

So from what I'm reading scale making is 1 part common sense, 1 part effort and 2 parts trial and error. Any of this seem right?

BTW today I called 901 555-1212 to get my decoder ring and it was busy now it says its been disconnected or no longer in use
Are you tryin to tell me somethin

I'd add at LEAST 1 part "artistic vision". I think that to be able to have an idea in your head and get that vision into your hands has a big part to play. I think some people are maybe more adept at this just because of maybe learning styles or whatever. Like remember when you were young you and 4 others might try to draw an apple from your memory and some would just look more like an apple than others?

P.S.- When Ken listed the number it had to be changed immediately.

Originally Posted by Sancho

More to the topic, The biggest mistake I see with hand made scales is that some are to bulky and I prefer that they are thiner and streamlined.

This is really a personal preference thing to a certain degree I would say. Like scales cannot be too thin OR too thick, but there is still a bit of room for your own tastes. How thick I like scales depends on whether they are flat or a curved profile as well as what blade they are going with, etc.

Due to too many people not being able to keep it a secret, I'm renouncing my membership in the International Brotherhood of Scalemakers. Of course now with that stated, I'd like to___________________________

We're sorry, but Yul has been, shall we say, made "unavailable" for the next few moments.

I have been asked to read the following statement, but I'll save it for later. Ow! What? Again with the bat?

Anyway- Make sure you have the proper tools. Life is SOOOOO much easier with, than without. My first set of scales was cut out with a jigsaw, drilled out the pin holes with a Makita, then hand rasped, sanded and finished. My second set was cut out with a coping saw, but sanded down on a bench sander. My third set was cut out with a scroll saw, drilled on a drill press and sanded on a bench sander. My scales are now being made fast and furious! Well, not really, but the proper tools made my life and artistic senses so much easier. Hot Tip! Delta tools- the cheap shop tools- have been bought out by Black and Decker. I picked up my discontinued Delta scroll saw for $88!

The only thing I could possibly add to the already detailed posts given here, is that, you can use the wedge design and material to adjust overall razor balance....... if needed!!!!

The only thing I'll disagree with is about the criticism. If I'm making the scales for you, or if I ask you, specifically for your thoughts on a certain design, fine. I'm prepared for whatever you have to say. If not, keep your mouth shut. One man's trash is another man's treasure, and what I like, you may not, and vice versa (gotta love the run-on sentence ) Unasked-for criticism is rude and stupid. Believe it or not, not everyone wants to know what you think, or considers your opinion as important as you do. This wasn't meant to pick on anyone. Just my philosophy on it. (Obviously this only applies to a person's craftsmanship, and their attempts to honestly add to the hobby we all love...politics in the off-topic is a totally different manner ). Good things should be shouted from the mountaintop...negative things should be handled quietly.

A long time ago, I read a tale from one of my knifemaking heroes, Ed Fowler, and he told the story of meeting a couple of his knifemaking heroes and asking their opinion of his knives (he was a new maker at the time). One of his heroes dismissed him, and criticized them mercilessly. Another (Bill Moran) took his time and found some good things to say, even though (by Ed's own admission) they were pretty rough. This good constructive criticism laid the foundation for his interaction with other knifemakers, and didn't kill his spirit. It made him want to improve, instead of getting defensive and trying to defend the undefensible, causing hard feelings and possible lost friendships. And Ed is, today, recognized as one of the premier makers of the "high performance" knife. (And I've heard amazing things about some of Ed's knives...one customer claimed one of his cleaned 132 harvested animals in a processing plant without sharpening)

Again, this only applies if you've been asked for your opinion, or if you've actually spent your money to play. Certain discussions require opinions and whatnot, but too many guys who've never made anything feel free to criticize another's work. Didn't your momma ever tell you that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything? Or is that just a Southern thing? I think most guys grasp this concept, but there are always a few squeaky wheels.

I think we're all guilty of saying things we regret in a flash of pique or anger, but as a group of supposed gentlemen, we should earnestly try to limit it.

Originally Posted by Joe Chandler

This good constructive criticism laid the foundation for his interaction with other knifemakers, and didn't kill his spirit. It made him want to improve, instead of getting defensive and trying to defend the undefensible, causing hard feelings and possible lost friendships.

This is exactly what was meant by anyone advocating constructive criticism here. I certainly meant it this way even if I didn't describe it in the best way. What I really should have said was when someone makes scales for the first time and posts them asking "what do you think", we should be adding things like "why don't you try ... to make that spacer fit a little better?" rather than just saying how great they look. No one ever advocated saying "I think those suck".

Originally Posted by Philadelph

This is exactly what was meant by anyone advocating constructive criticism here. I certainly meant it this way even if I didn't describe it in the best way. What I really should have said was when someone makes scales for the first time and posts them asking "what do you think", we should be adding things like "why don't you try ... to make that spacer fit a little better?" rather than just saying how great they look. No one ever advocated saying "I think those suck".

Very good points, but notice in the example of the story that the author actually asked for someone's opinion, rather than it being "volunteered". Very nice discussion, IMO, though.

Originally Posted by Joe Chandler

The only thing I'll disagree with is about the criticism. If I'm making the scales for you, or if I ask you, specifically for your thoughts on a certain design, fine. I'm prepared for whatever you have to say. If not, keep your mouth shut. One man's trash is another man's treasure, and what I like, you may not, and vice versa (gotta love the run-on sentence ) Unasked-for criticism is rude and stupid. Believe it or not, not everyone wants to know what you think, or considers your opinion as important as you do. This wasn't meant to pick on anyone. Just my philosophy on it. (Obviously this only applies to a person's craftsmanship, and their attempts to honestly add to the hobby we all love...politics in the off-topic is a totally different manner ). Good things should be shouted from the mountaintop...negative things should be handled quietly.

<scratch Chandler customer razor off my dream list... maybe?>

Joe, I respectfully submit a point of view which may make unsolicited advice or criticism more acceptable.

UNSOLICITED ADVICE OFTEN REVEALS MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER THAN THE RECIPIENT.

Sorry, I just had to shout that. I've been noticing more and more that this is a truism in my life, and it makes it *much* easier to either slough off negativity, or to take constructive criticism in the intended light.

So if I say I don't care for the rounded finger cutout in the tang/shoulder transition of one of your recent custom razors shown here recently, it simply reveals my preference, it is not a judgement of your work as a whole. <Also note that I wrote that I love the workmanship and the rest of the design, I really did.>

That, and if you post photos of your work online, that is tantamount to an open invitation for comments and, perhaps, criticism. Just remember, it's not you, it's us

Can I please keep you on my fantasy razor list now?