Thread: ready made wedge material on the cheap

let me first explain that as many of you know, haveing a family that includes 3 kids ages 10,13,14 all on a single income, puts monies on the tighter side of things, so going after exotic woods can be out of range. so i have decided to use some local wood, to be more exact, it was a tree that i cut down beside my vegetable garden a few winters ago. now most of the wood went into my wood stove last winter, but i rescued some of the black walnut, and had a friend plane it down to size. the past few days i have been getting ready to start working on the scales, and have been racking my brain for what to use for the wedge. i had an epiphony this evening while sitting here at the computer earlier, and i went to my building to retrieve, what i can only say is ready made wedge material. (wait for it) a construction shim out of a pack i bought to level out my wood stoves pad, its light enough to give me the contrast i need, and i dont have to do any sanding to get it narrowed down on one end. i know that its cheating, but i am lazy that way.

Glad to meet another lazy, cheap guy, What ever works! good luck

classic redneck engineering. it works

thank you thank you

Love it Always looking for a way to use stuff like that

I agree, I'm one of the laziest guys I know and it sounds pretty good to me. Should look nice with the dark scales.

A little ways back someone did a whole set of scales using paint sticks from HD. I'm not sure how durable they are, but they certainly were cheap and accessible.

You can also try cutting up a plastic clipboard from Walmart (~$1) to make acrylic scales or wedges. If you put your noodle to it for a little bit, I'm sure there are plenty of things around that'll work. Also, most lumber yards sell scrap for a dollar or two (or give 'em away if you're nice enough) that could work. The lumber yard near me even has Lexan and Plexiglas which would make a nice set of freebie scales.

I recently went to a flooring store and asked for a piece of bamboo flooring. Store owner gave me a piece of flooring that will make a stupid amount of scales...it's at least 1/2" thick, 4" wide & at least 3' long. All he asked is that I bring in a razor that I have finished or restored using that bamboo...