Thread: what to buy im a new to this

on making the scales should i buy a band saw or a scroll saw opinions please!

If you are going to buy 1/8" thick slabs of scale material and saw your scales from those then a scroll saw is fine.

If you intend on buying wider or bigger pieces and cut or rip 1/8" slabs for making scales then you need a bandsaw.

A bandsaw will give you more options to play with then a scrollsaw in that regard.

thanks i just am trying to find out what all i need

Neither. For only a few pairs of wood (ugh, see my organization ASS's website for more information) "scales" I suggest:

• Safety glasses and disposable face masks,
• a pencil,
• a fretsaw and blades,
• hand drill and drill bits,
• an instrument maker's or finger plane,
• fine sandpaper,
• tools and supplies for chosen finishing method,
• a goldsmith's or watchmaker's riveting hammer, and
• an anvil.

Unless you're making a lot, power tools are not necessary. If you must use power tools then I would purchase a band saw, a scroll saw, a drill press, and a belt sander. You might purchase a belt grinder instead of a belt sander if you plan on making or re-grinding razors at some point in the future. None of these tools are limited to this craft, obviously, and would find a place in any well equipped home workshop. Which you should have anyways if you are a man.

You might also add a miniature spoke-shave if you're wanting to make very rounded scales.

Don't forget to buy brass rod for the pins.

Everybody does it differently, though, and so everybody uses different tools. You should read around here a bit more, figure out how you'd like to do it, and then go from there.

Have fun!

And it starts this is how I started it would have been cheaper to have all my razors restored by Max than go into what the stuff has cost me. You will need a 1/16th brass rod and washers if you are going to make your own pins as well. Most used by me is a set of needle files and wet and dry sand paper of different grit and a bench grinder with polishing mops on it.

Originally Posted by Whiggamore

Neither. For only a few pairs of wood (ugh, see my organization ASS's website for more information) "scales" I suggest:

Whiggamore,
What's the URL for your web site?
Thanks,
Kent

I tend to agree with some of the opinions above. If you are not sure about what you want to do and how much, then don't get wild about investing in power tools for this sort of thing until you are a bit more certain.

Truth to tell, the power tools will speed up some processes, but the actual percentage of time saved tends to be small since one spends so much time on hand work.

Whatever...

If you were dead set on getting a saw for this sort of work then my particular vote goes for a scroll saw. A scroll saw is not fast, and it isn't so good for ripping stock, but for small detail work and cutting out small curved forms (like scales) it is very handy.

So, OK, that was my two cents worth... But if you DO decide to spend money on either sort of power saw, do yourself a favour and get something of quality.

Originally Posted by keenedge

Whiggamore,
What's the URL for your web site?
Thanks,
Kent

Kent, ASS is a fictional organization.