Thread: Glass scales....

OK, I'm going to look into this too for fun. I think clear/colorless scales would be wicked.

Major issues I'm seeing right now are a) what to make the wedge out of that won't look ugly with clear glass, will adhere to the glass, and will provide some strength and/or cushion, and b) how to assemble the pins. I'm thinking, from the outside of the razor in:
pin
plastic washer
silicone?
glass scale
silicone
plastic washer
blade
...and then repeat for the other side. But where to obtain such pieces? And who can I convince to assemble this thing for me? Hmm...

I would be mostly concerned about the glass accidentally breaking during stropping or shaving. The last thing I want to be concerned about during shaving is glass shards in my hand.

Originally Posted by sparq

I would be mostly concerned about the glass accidentally breaking during stropping or shaving. The last thing I want to be concerned about during shaving is glass shards in my hand.

Glass shattering while stropping and my hands. I'd be more concerned about the leather!!!!

Behold - The Crystal Wapi

This post was looking old and thought now was the chance to breathe some life back into it. The Crystal Wapi is quite gorgeous, but very modern... So I was wondering about a more traditional take on glass scales that might look as if they'd been dug up along with an early 1900s Bengall razor. My mum has been doing stained glass/ledlights for many years and had the equipment, so I knocked up something in a few hours just to see whether it would work. I bring you a first prototype for thoughts and first impressions...



She's very rough around the edges, but the glass feels like it would be sturdy once properly pinned. Next time I will take my time, find a nice piece of glass, and pop a properly restored blade within.

Interesting indeed...

Glass is on the heavy side, I don't know if this was mentioned. I saw a blade with corian scales and it was beautiful but very heavy and unbalanced imo.

I agree about the weight Bill - in the above case it's not just the glass (which actually isn't that heavy, being quite thin and on the smaller side for scales) but the led as well. The blade is a very small Bengall - the smallest I have... with a larger blade it might be entirely unmanageable.

I haven't given up hope entirely though - with much grinding and time spend hand sanding, I think something special could be born of this. Either that, or we (I) finally come to realise why glass scales aren't at all commonplace.

Interesting thread. The crystal wapi does indeed validate the theory. The copper foil and solder edges will not work because
the soldered foil simply pulls away with the slightest touch regardless of any adhesive used for the foil or the amount of solder used. The foil/solder technique does work superbly as evidenced by glass craftsman L.C. Tiffany on through to todays crafts people, where the cut foiled glass is soldered with joints, as in panels, lamps, etal. Most of todays "art" glass, be it antique on through to cathedral, could certainly be cut and shaped as well as the edges polished. The problem, at least for me, is that in the end it is just glass and will break with the slightest pressure from many possible angles just in handling. Just my 2 cents here. I have done both leaded and foiled glass for over 40 years 10 years of were full time employment with a glass studio.