Thread: Custom Bolster

Which custom rescalers among you have done some traditional style bolstering? Like the kind you might see in this thread:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...-bolsters.html

I'd like to get some new wood scales with nice fancy brass(?) bolsters made up for one of my razors.

Post here or PM me please,

X

Those kinds of pieces could be done by hand, but are a lot of work. A less troublesome avenue would be to talk to a jeweler who does castings and see if they can duplicate them. Then you'd also have a choice of nice metals. After that, most scalemeisters would be able to fit them up.

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

scalemeisters

I like that term.

The majority of bolsters I've worked with are from flat, thick brass foil. One could theoretically make one's own bolsters by cutting out the pattern with a sharp blade. They could then be folded and hammered onto a dummy or the scales themselves.

Mass production likely involved a stamper and hot press (thus fusing the metal to the plastic scales).

About 1 year ago I started talking with a friend about her hand operated stencil making machine and the possibility of using thin brass shim stock but we have not connected for awhile.

When I think of bolsters, I think of pocket knives with flat stock that is pinned and soldered to the liner. The scales are butted against these.

Razors typically have thin sheet stock that is preformed, and are inlet, partially inlet or overlaid with scale material below.

Is the proper name still bolster?

I don't know about laser or mass production. You could use a jewelers saw and files. You could make tight radii with punches,, and use chisels and files to create a blank. the shaping can be done with wood punch and die.

simpliest way to do the other type is solder pre-shapes to flat liner and shape via stock removal, plain or file cut designs.

I'm sure this kind could be made from lost wax casting. Then you could carve the wax with nearly anything you could think of design wise.