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Illustrated Guide to Fixing Warped Scales..
OK I am starting this thread today, As the scales are straight now!!! :y
I started with a Dubl Duck Wonderedge with severely warped scales, This is one time I have to mention the owner as he was nice enough to let me experiment on his Wonderedge Thank You.... RayG !!!
We talked about what to do on this one as the blade is in great shape but the scales were shot...Ray and I decided that I could experiment with straightening these and if they were destroyed I would make him a set out of Ebony and do the inlays like Floppyshoes and I did in the Reaper thread....
The problem with straightening scales has always been the hit or miss heating and bending of the scales. I was looking for a way to eliminate that guess work and come up with a sure fire way of doing it....
The beginning, the razor looks good from this angle...
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When the razor is turned at this angle the problem is obvious:
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The razor broken down and ready for repair:
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The trick has always been to heat the scales and re-bend them, the problem was burning the crap outta yer fingers while trying to get the bends right...Usually ending up with worse warps than you started with...
Boiling water or steam has always been the safest way, but how to keep the razor hot and fingers not???
I built a Jig for this out of wood, and adjustable pins..... I drilled the holes through the razor and the wood so that when the pins were tightened the scales would be held straight... I used the #0 wide washers to spread the force, and the hex heads, so I could tighten them easy with the wrenches...
Dipping the jig with the scales attached loosely then waiting about 15 seconds the scales become flexible, I tightened the pins a little, then re-dipped and re-tightened until the scales were straightened out...
Then I put them in the fridge for about 15 minutes then took the pins off and the scales are "almost" dead straight....
The process:
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The good news is that it works!!! YEAH !!!!:tu
Here are some things I would change...
Make the jig out of metal not wood, attach a handle or wire to lift it in and out of the pot...
Use distilled water, the white coating is from our well water I think, or the wood itself...
When scales are this warped there are normally other problems, if you look close there are some tiny pressure cracks right by the center pin hole that I am going to have to be very careful with when I re-pin this razor, so I am not out of the woods yet on this one.....
Keep in mind that this is the first try at this technique, so go slow and careful when you try it... and keep us informed with your success's and failures!!!!!
OKay here's the cross section diagram
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6...r/scalefix.jpg
color key:
Black = your scales (pivot is on the left side, wedge is on the right side)
Red = popsicle stick/paint stir stick sanded and cut down to fit very closely inside the entire length (especially the wedge end)
Blue = splint on top and bottom of your scales, this should be something sturdy like a thick metal ruler, thick wood pieces, etc.
Green = points for c-clamps or vise grips. I think these would be the best choice for a couple reasons. First, you can keep them clamped down while you steam or hot water dip the whole straightening assembly. Second, I don't think you will find a micro fastener bolt long enough to go through the five layers of materials we have stacked up.
Since we can't verify through your pictures whether they are celluloid, ivory, or faux ivory, it is important to remember to take this slow. Heat for a higher number of short periods rather than heating couple times for 20 minutes at a time.
Also, you want the clamps to be tight enough to hold your scales in the proper alignment, but no tighter. I noticed on mine that there were some spots that had been smashed down by the weight while the plastic scales were malleable. Nothing bad beyond aesthetically unpleasing but I wouldn't want to ruin the nice detail work I can see on yours.
I hope this helps.