Thread: Easiest, fastest, durable scale material?

Ebay Joseph Rodger's. From delivery to shaving in 24 hours. Scrap black lexan. Not my best work, but quick. I've put that material into a metal brake and made 90 degree bends that STAYED at 90 degrees without cracking. It is a P.I.T.A. to sand and polish though.

I think if you look at the original post the acrylic plex-glass meets two out of three categories Sticky asked about. I think you could also throw in a fourth cheapest once again acrylic meets that criteria also. Now if you don't take care of your scales than yes not the most durable but thru normal use, wear and tear not so terrible.

Polycarbonate…
-Almost as fast to make scales as Acrylic.
-It is durable (wont crack under normal use, resists more chemicals than acrylic, flexible, waterproof as-is, easier to work than most other “Hi-Tech” plastics, high melting point
-Relatively cheap (for the clear).
-The most common (and cheapest) Polycarbonate is transparent, and if artistic, you can finish with any color (grain type finishes will require some ingenuity).

No one mentioned basswood. This is available at any hobby stores in 1/8 thickness. It cuts quickly, sands smoothly, drills easily, and can be ready to go. You can rub Formsby on it if you want to make it a bit more waterproof and it is ready to go in a few hours. It can take other easily applied finishes if you want to enhance the appearance. The weight is good and the result is a good soft feel of this scale.
JMHO
Headdoc

Originally Posted by headdoc

No one mentioned basswood.

I think because you can snap it in two pretty easily. "The wood is light and soft with generally low strength properties and a poor steam-bending classification."

I have some razors that need scales and, since I'll be keeping several of them, I'm leaning more toward "durable" than the other categories. Linen or canvas Micarta is easily found in 0.125" sheets and is the top contender right now. I'll try some of the hardwoods, too. I may try the Lexan polycarbonate. The old model-making skills should transfer over to making scales (hopefully...).

Thanks for all the answers to date.