Thread: The BIG!!!! Re-scale Secret

I'm so glad you gave out this wise advice, Glen. How true! Scale design using the parameters dictated by the blade itself, can still be limited only my the imagination. However, it's always been more important to me how a razor strops and feels in the hand more than how it looks.. For me a razor has to be a performer first and a looker second.

Thanks for bringing this up.

Chris L

Originally Posted by claytor

Thanks for the tip. I never considered to check this out. Personally I prefer holding the tang when I strop mainly with two fingers and the scales pressed against the edge of my pinky-side palm. Do you gents hold at the scales?

NO I hold at the tang too, I think most everyone does...
You have to feel a bad set to understand what I mean here...
The flow just falls apart...

Here is a for instance on a factory razor, a TI made for AOS with the SS scales, by far the worst set of scales ever put on a Factory razor (at least that I have touched)...

http://www.theartofshaving.com/taos6...68022&group=10

Your dead right with this thread Glen. My second set of scales looked cool but were an absolute PITA to strop and to shave with. These things need to be considered before tools are even picked up
Grant

This is one of the reasons that I always cut out a sample set of the scale design in paper, and see where the scales are popping out when in the fully open (stropping) position.

I have one set of scales I've made that I need to alter because they come to a point, and the point sticks out and interferes with your thumb during the rolling motions of stropping.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Here it is guys, the big secret to a successful set of scales......

Here is the test, the one that tells you if all that work you did is right or wrong...

STROPPING the razor !!!, that's right, the fastest way to know if that set of scales you made were worth the time you put into them....

Other than finish this really is the true test of your scales, it tests the balance, the contour, the function, and the durability of the scales...
Little tiny things become very important and show up here, small things like the design of the pivot end of the razor... Do you realize that putting an angle on there the wrong way can make the razor uncomfortable to strop or even mis-sizing the end of the pivot, the width of the scales at the pivot, should match, or be pretty darn close, to the size of the tang.. Curves are beautiful but some of them do not fit right when stropping the razor... No curves are not good either, ever wonder why the edges on scales are beveled or rounded??? that is so it rotates correctly when stropping....
I always suggest for your first few sets make them out of simple tried and true designs, then branch out from there... However if you strop the razor and it doesn't feel comfortable and smooth then it really doesn't matter how pretty the acrylic is, or how beautiful the grain is, or even how perfect the finish is, those scales are not any good....

That is the re-scale secret....

I had the priviledge of viewing some of Glens work on some other forum I located in the deep dark bowls of the net, I'm sure there would be some on this site but I just haven't found them yet. As I am an absolute newbie to restoring razors and as yet to make a set of scales, from what I saw of his work, if he suggested I'd make good scales wearing pink frillies, I'd do it!!

your post confirms what I suspected and the problems I had, which is why I sent you that last razor to fix

Jim you don't know how bad I want to do a Vid of that razor, when I get it on the bench...

That's the exact reason I had to get rid of my Dovo Micarta. It was a pretty good shaver, but the heft and odd shape of the scales made it ""uncomfortable" to strop. I thought about having it rescaled, but opted for selling it and buying another poorly pinned TI instead...

As is typical when first starting restores, I botched a set of scales I thought looked "cool" , but when it came time for stropping it was one finger fumble after another, being somewhat determined (hard headed) I not only scarred the strop but a couple of fingers as well before I trashed the scales and started over. When first starting out I recommend the classic designs until you get the hang of it. Scales to a razor are like a steering wheel on your car. You have got to have control. Great thread Glen!

I made two sets of scales today and, armed with my new awareness of strop-affinity I used a piece of cardboard as a 'strop' and checked the stropping motion during one of my dry test-fits. Thanks again Glen!