Thread: scales: plastic recommendation?

Hi Everyone,

I'm in my first year of straight shaving over here in Philadelphia, and have some flea market blades de-scaled and polished up. I plan on using hardwood for most of them but I'd also like to shape up plastic scales too.

Is there a recommended plastic type for scales? If most plastics are fine for scales, is there a type that should be avoided? I thinking strength/stiffness is important, but expansion and contraction from temperature would be the main issue here.

I'm not even sure if they are long enough but, are the plastic pen blanks at woodcraft suitable?

(FYI, I am a shaving noob, but a capable craftsman. I've been lurking here for a few months reading all I can. All these wonderful restoration pics have me itching to participate)

Been having the same thoughts myself. Should be perfectl good for the job. The pen blanks I have are too short, someone should be able to supply in the required length though. I am in the process of doing a resto with aluminium scales at the moment. Let me know how you get on.....!!!!

Most types of plastics should work.
Corian or one of the variants, scraps can be picked up at kitchen counter installers usually free,
Plastic clipboards that come in a wide range of colors some neon, usually they are pretty cheap especially when kids are going back to school
basically anything that is flat and as a minimum 6" X 1 " X 1/8, if you can find or cut blanks a little bigger that's better.


Bob

There are longer acrylic pen blanks available

IIRC it is www.woodpenpro.com that has the 6 inch ones in slick colors....

good news!!

thanks for your feedback.