Thread: Straightening warped celluloid scales?

I've got a cool razor marked "Canton Cutlery." The scales are a multi-tone green with nickel bolsters. One of the scales is warped so much, the razor can hardly be closed without the edge of the blade hitting this errant scale.

The only thing I can think of is hot water and something to wedge it out and then allow it to cool. Not knowing the properties of celluloid, I'm hesitant to try anything.

Do the more experienced have and ideas?

You are on the right track...
In the Wiki there is a thread about how to do this, make sure you follow the link to the original thread I did because there are many asked and answered questions....
I would link it but I am at home on dial up and it takes forever

PM me if you have any questions after you read it....

Max gave me a good tip. Instead of the hot water method, try a hair dryer. Gently heat the scale up so it can be moved. When you've got it straight, dip it in some iced water to make sure it holds.

Thanks guys. After reading the Wiki and thread, I decided to use tongue depressors and the hair dryer to move the scale out to where it should be. I think if I shave one tongue depressor to a wedge shape, that may work OK. I hope it doesn't break!

This may sound nuts but here goes anyway.
I've found that the same "tapping the pin to tighten the action" move can be used to draw the razor inward away from the offending scale. Tap, check which way the blade moved and then tap again on which ever side then needs to be tapped. The blade will travel one way or the other and you'll have to watch this and adjust as necessary.

Of course this isn't going to help with really warped scales and can't be used when the blade is already too tight but it can help get that little bit of tweakness you need to get the blade from hitting the scale.

Again, this might be nutty so don't take it as sound advice, just something I noticed by accident one day.

Dave: It is not nutty at all, you can move the toe of the razor by adjusting the pivot quite a bit by using high or low taps...
You can also adjust the razor simply by squeezing the pivot with slight direction with just your finger tips too....
Warning !!!! be very, very, careful and gentle while doing this, or you will be learning how to make customs scales...
Watch using blow dryers and heat guns with celluloid scales, you would not believe how fast that heat can get away from you.... As with anything having to do with scales slow and gentle works...

The Restoration motto "Rush a restore, wreck a razor"

+1 for Dave and Glen.

I know from personal experience that carefully adjusting the pin can change the shape of scales, because I did it wrong trying to tighten some pins and created a razor that wouldn't close straight anymore.

And +1000000 for being very careful with whatever you do.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Dave: It is not nutty at all, you can move the toe of the razor by adjusting the pivot quite a bit by using high or low taps...
You can also adjust the razor simply by squeezing the pivot with slight direction with just your finger tips too....

So I'm not nuts you say?

Thanks for the method validation.