Thread: balanced scales

ah, natural selection

that is what seems most likely to me, not really knowing any better. When a razor's scales are very light, like the ivory Bruno mentions, I don't mind at all. I will admit the Wapi scales force me to adjust how I shave based on how they feel in my hand

I have to admit, after being at this for almost two years, I still don't understand the importance of balance. I get just as good a shave from my Revisor (scales: very light) as I do from my Wapi (scales: well, you know). Sure, they feel different and I have to make the necessary adjustment but does it matter, if the results in both cases are satisfactory? This is not a rhetorical question, I really would like some insight from the many more experienced members.

Originally Posted by leadduck

I have to admit, after being at this for almost two years, I still don't understand the importance of balance. I get just as good a shave from my Revisor (scales: very light) as I do from my Wapi (scales: well, you know). Sure, they feel different and I have to make the necessary adjustment but does it matter, if the results in both cases are satisfactory? This is not a rhetorical question, I really would like some insight from the many more experienced members.

I don't really think that it is that important from a practical point of view - just important to the individual that feels it is important! You don't shave with the razor balanced on your finger, nor very often with it open at 180 degrees, so what is balancing what when you are shaving with it?

I have disassembled many hundreds of razors and made a fair few scales, and my feeling is that the balance being on the shank when the razor is opened at 180 degrees is purely coincidental and is a consequence of the blade having to be protected by the handle. The blade is made of a heavier material of course, but there is a piece of scale on either side of it, plus the pinnings plus the wedge, so it is not a matter of complete wonder to me that the two balance themselves out, especially when you consider that the toe does not procect as far as the wedge end of the scales and that a fair proportion of shank/monkey tail is actually enclosed by the scales and acting to add more mass to the scale side when the razor is open at 180 degrees.

Like Bruno points out, some designs preclude balancing - very thin scales (ivory for example) will not balance in this way very often. Meatcleavers often overbalance on the blade side, very old straight taper-side scales from thick material often overbalance on the scale side.

I don't pretend to know the answer, but I would put my money on it being a simple process of evolution rather than someone drawing up some rules and others using measurements and measuring weights to adhere to the rules!

Regards,
Neil

light scales = good

heavy scales = bad

balance around tang area = a good ballpark indicator

I have made some brass lined scales that were too heavy, I have never made a set of scales that were too light.


Charlie

Originally Posted by spazola

light scales = good

heavy scales = bad

balance around tang area = a good ballpark indicator

I have made some brass lined scales that were too heavy, I have never made a set of scales that were too light.


Charlie

Yup, exactly.

As you know from my posts in that thread, the balance isn't a big mystery, it's quantifiable exactly with a very simple arithmetics (two additions, two multiplications and one division).
Now the tolerance for off-balanced razor varies by the person, that's where all the subjectivity comes into play.
It is perfectly possible to make a razor that is balanced great in all configurations of the handle, it requires heavy shank and light scales (by the standard of the regular design).

Thanks for all the input guys, it's really appreciated.
I think that I'll probably stop posting the "balance shot" and just make sure that the stuff I work on keeps a nice tight turn in the hand.
I'm also going to start taking a closer look at different vintages that I run across in antique stores to see how each one moves and flows.

Again thanks to all you guys for being so helpfull and free with knowledge and advice.
That's one of the things that makes this a wonderful forum!

Cheers!