Thread: Scale sanding/shaping tip

I looked around a bit and didn't see this posted here, but I'm sure that I'm not the 1st one to do this.

Using aluminum foil in between the scales during the shaping/sanding process;

I had been using rubber cement, waiting 15 minutes for it to get tacky, then clamping them together for a few hours.
After really trying to contour some wood scales I found that the line between the scales when they're glued together gets (for a lack of a better term) "lost".
The simple answer? glue something between the scales to make the line more visible. Aluminum foil is the only thing I've tried, but it works well. It doesn't affect the process at all, is just thick enough to make the seam visible, and is easily peeled off when you split the scales.

Using totally flat foil and waiting 15 minutes for the rubber cement to set a bit seems to work best. I tried slightly crumpled foil and wet cement and neither worked very well.

That's it. Pretty simple really, but I hope it helps somebody.

Huh !!!! thats a good idea, I know some of the guys use paper but I never did... I am going to try it on the next set of scales.....

a hot glue gun works better it dosent take but 2 minutes to set

Good thinking! Norm Abrams (New Yankee Workshop) does something similar when turning half spindles. He glues them together with a piece of paper in between. After turning, he splits them apart and scrapes off the bits of paper. If aluminum foil is working for you, there's no reason to stop.

This is what I love about this place! A great exchange of great ideas! I use rubber cement and paper my self. I will try foil and a glue gun for grins & giggles.

Not sure why you would do that. I use double stick tape to tape my blanks together, cut the shape and sand to contour. Then I run them over a small router to round the edges and a light hand sand for the final prep. Split them apart, a quick rub to roll the inside edges with a little 400 grit and finish them.

I use thick paper (like cereal box material) and crazy glue. Works pretty good.

I tried double sided tape, but that did not last through my shaping/sanding.

Originally Posted by cannonfodder

Not sure why you would do that. I use double stick tape to tape my blanks together, cut the shape and sand to contour. Then I run them over a small router to round the edges and a light hand sand for the final prep. Split them apart, a quick rub to roll the inside edges with a little 400 grit and finish them.

For some scales there's no reason to do this, but on a set like this where the taper on the sides actually meet at (or come very close to) the seam it's nice to be able to see exactly where you're at.



I also don't have a router, so the sanding, shaping and contouring are all done by look and feel.

And I don't think that I'm using the right terminology here, but hopefully you catch what I'm trying to say.

Got ya, most of my scales roll like that but the bottom mounted router rolls the same regardless of the thickness so it has never been a problem for me. Down side to using a router, your fingers are scary close to a blade spinning 30,000 RPM and now and then you get a scale that chunks as you route it. Fiber grained hardwoods are bad about that as is extremely dense woods like pink ivory and ebony.

Double stick tape, if you want to give it a try, don’t go to Wal-Mart and get double stick. Go to a wood store and get turners tape, very strong. It is for taping stock to a block for lathe turning. I use two very small 1/ 8 inch squares, one at each end of the scale and you have to work at getting them apart. I do everything with them taped up, even drilling the pin holes so everything is exactly matched.

I used high grade ( expensive) very sticky double stick carpet tape. I never had problem with the tape holding even when using the router on the scales.

( I still do not like the router.)