Thread: Cutting Scales

I've got all the equipment I need to start restoration fun. I do have a question about the thickness of the scales. I cut my first pair at 1/8" I think and one split. I suspect I went a little to thin. Any advice out there?

Rich

"There is no native criminal class except Congress,"- Mark Twain

When did it split, during shaping or drilling?
What kind of wood are you using? Some woods split much easier than others.
Also try starting with 3/16" and sand to the final thickness.

I was using bird's eye maple. It happened on the small end as I was trying to pin the blade & scales together. I'll try 3/16 next time.

Rich

“Be respectful to your superiors, if you have any” – Mark Twain

It happened while you pinning? Perhaps you where tapping the pin too hard. Just a guess.

As it happened when you were pinning, you either hit the pin too much and the pressure split the wood, or the holes you drilled in the wood were too snug and the pin expanded a bit and forced the wood apart. 1/8th sounds about right - it's normal to get even thinner at either end. You could use the damaged scale to practice pinning on until you have success with either lighter tapping and/or slightly larger holes.

Regards,
Neil

In my limited experiance, 1/8" sounds pretty thick to me. On the two sets of scales I made, I started at 1/8" thick and thinned to less than 3/32". An old wood scale razor I have couldn't be more than 1/16". As far as the cracking, I would think that the longer pin would possibly have more tendancy to bow sideways, cracking the scale. Some woods just likes to crack but I'd go thinner.

Thanks fellas! I think I'll go a little thicker until I get more experience. Still a newbie at this end of the straight razor experience.
Rich

“Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions.” – Mark Twain