Help with scales

[Saylor1322]

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?

[mikeyr]

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

[rsrick]

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).

[sidneykidney]

What are the scales made of?

[The Blacksmith]

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.

[Kenrup]

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

[Saylor1322]

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.

[mikeyr]

Don't wanta hijack the thread, but I, too prefer thinner scales, but like the exotic woods. Thinking about maybe laminating a thin piece of spring steel in the wood to give it some strength. anyone ever try it?..........Mike

[PapaBull]

With one of the thin kerf Japanese draw saws, you should be able to split those 1/4 pieces into two that are about 1/10 each.

[PapaBull]

Mike, spring steel would rust and is heavy. I think something that might be better to try would be to create your own wood micarta with a few layers of linen and resin backing the wood scales, so you get the real wood on the outside and a thin layer of linen micarta on the inside for reinforcement.