Well, I really hate the blue plastic scales on my Filarmonica, so I decided to make a nice set for them, like the ones I see here. "Doesn't seem too hard" I though. And the plastic scales have a crack near the pin, they'll break apart soon.



The kind guy who honed my razor, sent me two little pieces of Ipe wood, and I ordered some bolts and nuts from microfasteners. Don't have many tools, so I spent 2000 hours cutting the wood with a dull knife, then I spent another 2000 hours handsanding and applying vernish, but yesterday I finally gave them the last vernish layer.

"They don't look bad at all" I said this morning, proud of my work. "let's pin them so I can shave myself this night with a niiice wood scaled straight.

First mistake: the vernish was still quite fresh, and as soon I began manipulating the scales, I left many scratches, dirt and marks over them.

That's not too bad, I can re-vernish them again in a couple of days, let's continue.

"First, I have to make the hole for the pin. I have a electric drill in the basement, but why should I go down to get it, when I have this hammer right here?"

Yeah, sure. Very smart. Lazy ass.

I cracked the scales. Exactly in the same place the plastic ones where cracked.

And the hole is crooked. When I put the pin, the blade is not centered, and it will not close.

Removed some wood, did a little sanding, put some extra washers to center the blade, twisted the pin a little...

Well, they are "finished". Dirty, scratched, and poorly adjusted. Ugly work. At least I think I can use them some time, until I'm in the mood to start over again. I'll show you only the "nice" side of them, I don't want you to laugh of me.



All the hard work, screwed in the last step, just because I'm lazy and impatient.

Lesson learned. It's a shame I always have to learn them the hard way.