Thread: Split another scale!

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Nifty, I was thinking of the ice cream being the reward.

Well since it is cool and damp here I dismissed ice cream
when I half way thought about it.

Speaking of ice cream, I was having problems with splitting my scales also, I found that a ice cream scoop makes the perfect rivet hammer for me. It has a larger area so you can concentrate on tapping the rivet and not worry about hitting the scale. With a small peening hammer I always seemed to hit the scale to many times.
Also I found that if I make the rivet hole just a shade larger, I don't have to worry about the brass rod expanding to much to cause expansion pressure that may result in splitting.

When you pinned the blade, did you use the washers on the outside of the scales?

I used washers on the inside and outside. I'm not sure that the wedge was too big. Any guidelines on this?

Rich

“Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions.” – Mark Twain

[QUOTE][How are you splitting the scales? What kind of wood are/did you use?/QUOTE]

I was using leopardwood.
Rich

“All good things arrive unto them that wait – and don’t die in the meantime.” – Mark Twain

When did they split as well? While pinning or during use?

If while pinning it could be that your tolerances are too tight between your pin hole and your pin material causing the split. That can be corrected by drilling out just a bit larger than you have been.

It split during the pinning. I think the pin hole and material are the same. I'm using 1/16" brass rods and drilled the hole with the same size bit.

Rich
"There is no native criminal class except Congress,"- Mark Twain

Originally Posted by Richard

It split during the pinning. I think the pin hole and material are the same. I'm using 1/16" brass rods and drilled the hole with the same size bit.

Rich
"There is no native criminal class except Congress,"- Mark Twain

Try lighter taps on the pinning and using less pin stock. The less you have to pin out, the less there is to compress into the scale hole and put the pressure which splits it.

Thanks for all the help guys. I'll try popsicle sticks (after eating the ice cream of course!)

Rich

“You ought never to take anything that don’t belong to you - if you can not carry it off” – Mark Twain

well this may not be any official source but according to the following supplier, leopardwood has a tendency to splinter (but they may be talking about planing with less than sharp tools and not splitting)...

Leopardwood Hardwood Lumber - Your Best Price at the Highest Quality for your wood working needs from Woodworkers Source