Thread: Help with scales

Ok so I have been trying to make some scales recently and have actually completed two sets but I have one small issue, the scales are too thick. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to trim down the scales? I do not have a planer and I have been unable to find any wood in a standard size of 1/8 inch. Everything I have found to buy in a standard size is 1/4 inch and it is becoming very difficult to sand the scales down to half their original size. Any suggestinos?

Old W & B barber's wedges make great draw knives! Seriously, tho, for no bigger than what you're working on, little "finger" planes are less than $10.00 if ya look around. Should work for some shaping, too.
Just a thought............Mike

Do you have a thin kerf bandsaw or scroll saw? You could shape the scales in the 1/4" form then saw down the middle for two pieces (or saw down the middle but not completely through for a one piece scale).

What are the scales made of?

This is where I get my wood: Exotic & Domestic Woods - Woodcraft.com
Comes in 1/8" X 3" X 24" I still use a 'hand' belt sander to do the shaping and "planing" of the wood.

I use a 4" belt sander bench model. I'll use my 1" belt sander for touch ups before I finish with hand sanding.

Thanks everyone they are all great ideas that I had not really thought of. Hopefully this weekend I can get a chance to work on them some more and hopefully get some thinner better looking scales.

I took a piece of 2 X 3/4 inch mahogany to a store that makes custom cabinets and furniture and asked them to rip 1/8" off. They did it for free. Then I cut out the scales with a coping saw and sanded them to shape.


Doug, NYC