Thread: First scales: me so stupid

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.

Oh don't worry, a first one is not easy.
I've chosen acrylic then to make things easier but its far from perfect.

The next one will be better!

You had to start somewhere! When you're calmer you can have another go, having learned from mistakes, & absorbed tips from the forum. Just try to be more patient & realise that there are only so many shortcuts that pay off.
And anyway, they look absolutely fine in that little thumbnail!

Doesn't even look that bad when you enlarge it.
I'd even say its great for a first.

hey you think that is bad you should see my first, on a zeep no doubt,

I find it best to drill the pin holes before you even cut out or shape the blade. The wood is easier to hold (I use a milling vise) when it's still square and, if you screw it up, at least you haven't already put a lot of work into it. Of course, the electric drill is a good idea too...

I hope that you learn well from this experience. It took me about 6 months of screwing things up by jumping ahead or being impatient.

But, definately the one thing that I have learned from straight shaving and restoration is to not rush things.

I think everyone will make a crack mistake like that at least once

The pivot pin looks a bit off centre. The shape looks nice. I would have probably rounded the edges more because of the thickness but that's just personal preference. I also would have put both nuts at the other side, but that may be nit-picking

Hey,

You are doing great.

The only people I know who don't make mistakes are doing nothing.

You might try pinning and fitting the blade in the scales before any pretty type work is done.

Hang in there.

Rick

Thanks fellows, you're very kind.

I was a little angry with myself yesterday, Today I'm more optimistic. The scales aren't a beauty, but at least they're usable. In a couple of weeks I'll try to get some more wood an make another set.

Now, the pictures of the botch.

Made the scales too thick. Next ones will be at least 1/3 thinner.

The hole was crooked, so the blade wasn't centered, and would not close. Needed more space between the scales, so I throw the wooden spacer I had made, and put many extra washers as spacer.

Also, in the tang pin, had to put 3 washers in one side, and none in the other, to center the blade.



See also the dirt and scratches in the vernish.



Next ones shall be better