Thread: First set of scales

Thanks Glen. First coat is on, now impatiently waiting for it to dry so I can sand and add the 2nd, 3rd and 4th coats.

First coat is drying.

I started to pin the wedge end of the scales together but I made my wedge pin too long. The ends have completely mushroomed over but I still have a considerable gap between the wedge and the scales. is this salvageable, or do I have to cut this pin off and start over?

I would think you can keep hitting the pin with smaller taps on each side but it may flatten out the head to a point where it covers the whole washer. I did this with rivets on some items I made and it ended up weakening the hold and the rivet popped off. Not sure if there would be enough wear and tear on the wedge pin to worry about it but you could always try and if you don't like it grind it off and try again.

I would personally remove the pins and start again to get a clean appearance. Be slow and careful removing the old pins. If you enlarge or elongate the hole, the scales can come out uneven with each other and the blade won't center. Learned that one the hard way on some nice Paduk scales I made.

Goog

Great work so far!!! Way to go, getting into scale making!

I say remove the pins, and consider it practice for the next time you want to take apart a razor for restoration.

As it stands, with that much space between the scales and wedge, you're not allowing the angled wedge to do what it's supposed to do, which is to direct the scales and flex them in a bow shape to let the blade through when you open and close the razor.

It seems to me every time I see a set of scales for sale they're pinned at the wedge only and the tang end remains VERY widely open, in a "V" shape. Your pictures show the wedge-pinned scales able to sit open almost parallel to one another at rest, which isn't right. I think you are supposed to "squeeze" them together to pin them at the tang side, right?

KnowhutImean?

T'hell if I know, though. Your wedge itself looks good (if thin). I usually prefer wider wedges myself...

Good luck!

(I don't have a whole lot of experience with this, so take the following with a grain of salt...)
IMO, your issue may still be the thickness of the scales, not so much the length of the pin. I've had the same problem on wooden scales that I've made... Your scales might be a little too thick yet. When you get them thin enough, they'll flex into the wedge as you peen. If that is the case, I'm not sure what would be the best means of salvage at this point, as they are already finished; perhaps someone with more experience can comment.