Thread: gun stock cut scales??

I've looked around but I can't find the answer to this. Please excuse me if its somewhere obvious.

So I understand how basic scales can be made. But the way I understand it they can only be flat. How do you get scales that are rounded (ie they stick out into the 3rd dimension.) I have heard this referred to as gun stock cut scales but I don't know exactly what this means.

I can't imagine that you just freehand it on a band saw. So how is it done?

As always, thanks for quenching my thirst for knowledge,

robert

Please post a picture/diagram as an example, for I am not certain of what you are describing

Scales don't have to be flat at all. It helps if you drill for the pins when they still are, but after that you can sand them any way you want. I like a bit of a heavier look at the wedge, & more delicate towards the pivot. Is that what you're after?
You can hand sand, belt sand, disc sand, file or whatever to get that look.

Are you asking how you get a rounded profile on the scales, so that when you lay one flat you have kind of a semi circle, or are you asking how do you get the scales to bow out from the spacer so that there is clearance for the tang and the blade fits right? If the former, I've kind of wondered that myself (I'd guess a belt sander with the scales cemented together). If the latter, the wedge is "V" shaped.

Intriguing eh?! I think we need some clarification here, or you'll end up with endless advice as we interpret the question differently!

To answer both:

For half circle profile scales, I just start with thicker wood and hand round the edges with some 220 grit paper, then sand like usual. You can actually get a very uniform curve hand sanding, better than a machine in my opinion.

To get them to bow out you need a properly shaped wedge. There are a ton of threads on the subject so I won't get into it. Just use the search feature.

Problem solved.

You start a touch thicker, 1/8+ maybe 3/16" blank, you contour them to taste on the outside....

Then your final step is to thin them back up from the inside,,,

This is how you achieve the semi-round feel and look with out big chunky scales.... Scales need to be thin enough to still flex...

Gun-stock scales are just that, they are shaped like a rifle-stock it has nothing to do with outside contour...

I guess my question is answered in that you have to hand sand to get the rounded feel to the scales. I just don't understand how you can get both sides of the scales to be evenly rounded. My wood working experience is extremely limited though, so that may be the reason for my not understanding.

Glen, I saw a photo essay you did on where you made some scales from spalted apple. At one point you had the scales glued together...I assume to keep them cut the same shape. Would you sand to get the rounded feel while they are still glue together?

thanks to all,
robert

Think about a sculptor taking a block of wood and only removing the wood chips that he doesn't need. What he has left is the finished piece of art which he envisioned in his mind'e eye......

It really isn't hard at all to get them roughly uniform roundness. Once you get started it just kind of happens by feel, at least in my limited experience.

Rubber Cementing (please God not gluing) the scales together gets them the symmetrical and I have always unstuck them to do the rounding, but I don't see why you couldn't do it either way.