Thread: Scale Ideas

I was hoping that you guys might be able to suggest some scale materials for my first two restores. Nearly all work will be done by hand so I'm going to try and minimize some things.

1. What is a good pale wood with dark grains? I'd like a very light coloured piece that has dark grain rings that pop - any ideas?

2. Can you get router bits small enough that you could do 3 parallel lines in the scales? I'd like to have the lines either just for a unique aesthetic purpose or place a sliver (for lack of a better term) of a redwood or cherry wood inset into the handle. Any suggestions to make this happen? Any reason this might be difficult - beyond the needing to buy a router?

3. Is it possible to create both sides of the scales out of the same piece of wood and then use a table saw to cut out the razor's home? Essentially what I'm trying to get at here is creating a single pin scale and avoid having to cut and shape a spacer for at least one of my razors.

Originally Posted by durdensbuddy

I was hoping that you guys might be able to suggest some scale materials for my first two restores. Nearly all work will be done by hand so I'm going to try and minimize some things.

1. What is a good pale wood with dark grains? I'd like a very light coloured piece that has dark grain rings that pop - any ideas?

2. Can you get router bits small enough that you could do 3 parallel lines in the scales? I'd like to have the lines either just for a unique aesthetic purpose or place a sliver (for lack of a better term) of a redwood or cherry wood inset into the handle. Any suggestions to make this happen? Any reason this might be difficult - beyond the needing to buy a router?

3. Is it possible to create both sides of the scales out of the same piece of wood and then use a table saw to cut out the razor's home? Essentially what I'm trying to get at here is creating a single pin scale and avoid having to cut and shape a spacer for at least one of my razors.

Hey there! A nice pale wood with very dark grain in it is Zebrawood. Plumwood is a pale wood with nice grain and some of it has a purple hue to the grain.

2. I don't know about router bits that small, but Dremmel has small engraving burs that will work perfect for such delicate work as putting the lines in or carving out a place for some inlay work. But that is pretty much freehand work.

3. It is possible to make scales out of a single piece of wood or whatever you are using to make the scales. I'm not to up on that right now. You can contact gssixguns or OLD_SCHOOL, both members here and I bet they can fill you in. Also Ronnie Brown might be able to help.

Good luck in all your endeavors!

Originally Posted by durdensbuddy

I was hoping that you guys might be able to suggest some scale materials for my first two restores. Nearly all work will be done by hand so I'm going to try and minimize some things.

1. What is a good pale wood with dark grains? I'd like a very light coloured piece that has dark grain rings that pop - any ideas?
Have you looked at lacewood or tiger maple?


2. Can you get router bits small enough that you could do 3 parallel lines in the scales? I'd like to have the lines either just for a unique aesthetic purpose or place a sliver (for lack of a better term) of a redwood or cherry wood inset into the handle. Any suggestions to make this happen? Any reason this might be difficult - beyond the needing to buy a router?'
Can you say Demel, also there are cutting drill bits that work with hand drills


3. Is it possible to create both sides of the scales out of the same piece of wood and then use a table saw to cut out the razor's home? Essentially what I'm trying to get at here is creating a single pin scale and avoid having to cut and shape a spacer for at least one of my razors.
Yes it is. I have never done it. Floppyshoes may have done it, Max, or one of the other uberrestorers.

Comments in red above.

1. What is a good pale wood with dark grains? I'd like a very light coloured piece that has dark grain rings that pop - any ideas?

2. Can you get router bits small enough that you could do 3 parallel lines in the scales? I'd like to have the lines either just for a unique aesthetic purpose or place a sliver (for lack of a better term) of a redwood or cherry wood inset into the handle. Any suggestions to make this happen? Any reason this might be difficult - beyond the needing to buy a router?

Yes they make bits. Use a router attachment for the dremel. Look up inlay on the net. There is a lot of good information especially on luthier sites

3. Is it possible to create both sides of the scales out of the same piece of wood and then use a table saw to cut out the razor's home? Essentially what I'm trying to get at here is creating a single pin scale and avoid having to cut and shape a spacer for at least one of my razors.

You can do this but it is easier to start with the scale wood already at thickness. Temporarily hold the halves together then separate after shaping. Everybody has their preferred method of holding together, double sided tape, rubber cement, or glue with paper in between the halves. This method is easier than splitting with a saw.

As to bits, talk to your dentist about used bits. They may not be sharp enough for enamel but will certainly work on wood. Mine has given me some and even ran them through her sterlizer [for free].

scales are narrow: 3 stripes? maybe it is better to laminate the pieces to create the stripes rather than inlay.

With all that going on I think you'll have a hard time finding "grain" in a small enough scale to show up

now you need clamps not bits