Thread: Fixing broken scales

Sad to see... (see pic)

These scales have next to no wear on them... save for the broken tips at the pivot pin. What I'm wanting to do it squar off the ends, attach new tips and line the back of the scales with a thin liner to suport the attachment.

One thought was to thin the full sacle and line it so they are somewhat even, but worry that may eat up the sides of the scale. I'm at a loss for what to line the scale with at the moment. Looking for something thin and strong enough to suport the new piece at the pivot. I may just toss the back scale and put a generic, matching color scale to the tip, and go with a two tone job...

Just seems a shame to loose suck a nice scale

Ideally, you'd probably want to use a noble metal as a liner, but the reality is that most are too maliable and all are expensive. I would just go with standard brass sheet from the hobby store and line the entire back side of the scale. If you're concerned about the strength, you can sand the brass and the back of the scale prior to cementing them together to increase the mechanical bond.

I was planning on doing just enough sanding on the inside of the scales to flatten as well as give a better grip on liner. Would 5 min epoxy be to brittle for a scale? What are good adhisives for these materials?

I've never had to peen, hammer a glued item before I wonder about stability...

thats a shame that there broken , I hope you can update this thread with the finished repair I would like to see how they turn out brass liners sound like a good way to go ...Baz

Are the scales celluloid ? If so, I believe they will weld with Acetone. IIRC Charlie (Spazola) has done this. Shoot him a PM
The epoxy for the liners is a good idea but personally I'd use 24 hour rather than 5minute.
Heck, I'd use 2:1 marine epoxy

The tips are lost, don't recall where one went and the other was gone before I got it.

Slow cure better than fast, ok will look into it. Marine better? On the list as well.

I'll check later if they are celluloid would make attaching the new tips easier if I use the same material, thats for sure

What a shame . Thought you had the broken bits.
I like 2:1 marine epoxy as it even sticks to Gel-Coat so most plastics are easy

Without the original part that fell off, those scales have the potential for looking - how do I say this delicately - crummy. Personally I'm more of a "replacer" than "repairer" for scales.

+1 on the brass liner and using at least 24-hour epoxy. I've also seen nickel sheet at Metalliferous, which might be cool.

As for peening a glued scale, I would suggest that you make sure the hole you drill isn't tight on the pin. Give it just enough play that when you peen the force doesn't get directly pushed sideways. (If that makes sense.) IME with recon stone, which is mostly epoxy I think, shatters easily during peening if the hole is snug around the pin. If there's play you still have to be careful, but it's a little easier.

You know what, I just thought of something based on Onimaru's post about marine epoxy... What about using a thin sheet of fiberglass like you'd use to repair a boat? I've never used it, so I'll just leave it at that.

I agree with brass or nickel silver or even sterling sheet. I also agree with long set epoxy. I think those scales could look pretty cool if you cut them back a ways, but you would have to determine how far so you don't ruin the decoration, this will be a compromise. When you cut them back; maybe at an angle? I would also use a wood for the replaced portion it would just look cool. I don't know that recon stone would be a problem if the pin is entirely surrounded. Provided there is enough material around the pin.