Old horn scales

I have some old horn scales on a Wade&Butcher that I'm trying to keep rustic the scales are a bit rough and I'm not particularly fond of them. They pinch inwards and the blade hits the side at the toe. I carefully dipped the scales into boiling water so the blade didn't get into the water and then shoved chopsticks in-between them to spread them apart while they cooled. It worked to spread them but they are still very uneven. So what I was wondering is would it be bad for the blade to be dipped into boiling water? If it's ok to put the razor directly into boiling water I plan on putting shims along the entire length of the blade on both sides then use close pins or something to lightly clamp it till it cools.
The reason I'm going through all this trouble to save the scales even though I'm not particularly fond of em is It's my best shaver and I only have three usable razors right now so I don't want to tare it down and make new scales for it right now.
So rely long story short is it OK for the blade to be put into Boiling water?

I have heard of people boiling the blade to sanitize it, although it is nothing I have ever practiced myself. The thing to watch out for is that it could ruin the temper of the blade, but as long as you don't go any where near 200 degrees C you should be fine. Water boils at 100 so you've nothing to worry about.

As to the scales allow me to recommend that you buy some neats foot oil and a fine rubbing compound such as emery. If you lightly sand them, then coat them in neatsfoot oil overnight, they should darken to their original colour and completely rejuvenate more or less. Then if you rub them under pressure with the emery compound, they will buff to a fantastic high shine. You would not believe the difference. They come out virtually brand new looking again.

If you like the razor that much, treat the scales. You'll be very happy.

As I'm a big fan of Butchers, I'd really like to see some pics.

Yeah sorry about forgetting the pics. I'm trying to keep an eye on my daughter while typing and intended on posting them originally but she distracted me.
I know how every one loves razor porn. And of corse it helps to see things to give advice. I think these scales may be beyond the help of neetsfoot oil. although I do need to get some. I've never used it but heard it's good for conditioning strops to.

If you went to that much effort on the blade, do the scales also. You'll notice a fair difference.

You mean new scales right. I was thinking about that I have the wood to make them And I guess I could just get them made up and finished then shave with it as is one last time then switch the scales that night and it wouldn't be out of commission long. I just am not sure I can keep myself from polishing the blade if I'm making Nice new scales for it and I like the patina on the blade.
What a dilemma. Oh well I guess I could have much worse decisions to have to make.

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Originally Posted by gandrw

You mean new scales right. I was thinking about that I have the wood to make them And I guess I could just get them made up and finished then shave with it as is one last time then switch the scales that night and it wouldn't be out of commission long. I just am not sure I can keep myself from polishing the blade if I'm making Nice new scales for it and I like the patina on the blade.
What a dilemma. Oh well I guess I could have much worse decisions to have to make.

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No I mean keep the originals, but give them the treatment that I recommended. I personally hate wooden scales. Rescales are a last resort, and there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the ones you have. You'll lose all the character if you rescale.

Yeah miss understood there. I'll have to pick up some neetsfoot. The problem with them is there made to look like tortes shell and they are also delaminating I am not a fan of torte but will keep them this way. I tried sanding them lightly to remove the torte look but it seems to be in between the layers hopefully the neetsfoot darkens them considerably.

Thank you for the advice I will post results here.

Intrigued to see how this project turns out.

Hope it turns out great for you!

If you depin the razor, you could sand the original scales up through 2000 grit, higher if you have it. Then buff them with some white rouge and chromium oxide to shine them up. If the de-lamination is on the inside of the scales, you can take some thin CA and put a drop on the crack. It will wick into the crack, sealing it and often doing away with that bubble look, or minimize it.

If you do decide to submerge the blade into boiling water..you should take care to ensure that the blade does not make contact with the bottom of the pan. if this happens, it could take on additional heat that would far exceed the 100C that the water is boiling at, and could lose temper.

Another thing that could work... is rigging up a clamping contraption with some small 2" metal c-clamps and various spacers, to get the scales where you want them, and using an oven at 200-225 degrees for 15 minutes or so, again ensuring your scale or blade doesnt contact any metal wires or sides, etc in your oven.... Dry heat sometimes works well with horn. after they are done, run them under some cold water or toss them in the freezer. it seems to "set" a little better and you get less bounce back! maybe I'm just crazy though ;) lol.

I tried things out yesterday and only brought the water to a simmer and had it clamped with cloths pins and spacers holding the scales where I wanted them the cloths pins also held the hole thing off the bottom so none of the razor or scales came in contact with the pot, Then I removed from the water put into cold water to help set the scales. Dried real good replaced the spacers and cloths pins with dry ones oiled the blade really good and set in a safe spot to let the scales dry still clamped up with the spacers holding them in position. Now I just have to wait and see what happens when I unclamp them. I figure 24 hrs should do it. I also sanded the scales down a bit and got rid of almost all of the Fo torte look and almost all the bad scratches. I will see how the scales react to all this craziness then decide wether to keep messing with them, Leave them as is or replace them. Thanks every one for the advice. And I'll keep you posted.

OK I got the razor out of it's storage spot today and all the hard work has for the most part paid off. the scales are no longer pinching inwards and hitting the blade. It doesn't center perfectly so I have to still close it carefully and I'll have to tighten the pins tomorrow if I get a chance but over all it's a huge improvement from what it was. The second pic isn't the best but you can see that the blade bevel isn't hitting the inside of the scales any more. It used to dig into them a little at the toe end. Of corse I should have taken pics before during and after Sorry.

Good job at saving the scales :) Soon I'll be doing the same to a VERY abused Pipe razor, the blade is toast nearly rotted away. But the scales, while warped and slightly scaley, has a very good deep pressing into it and may be salvageable :)

Gandrw, great job. Now polish them up and they'l look the part. So much better than putting on aftermarket scales. The worst is when someone takes a blade like that and whacks on some illuminous kryptonite coloured G-10 or something similar. It happens though!

Dwarvenchef I'd like to see a Pic of the razor you are referring to even if it's really rough I love the pipe razors. I hope to get a decent one soon. You can post the pic in this thread.

Howdy gandrw I can only echo the guys who say good on you for trying to save the scales, I also have a W&B I'm currently restoring with horn scales, and although they have a few little chips along the edge I'm trying all I can to clean them up and keep them on, to be honest I've grown attached to the little chips as I've gone on with it lol, add character. I'd love to see a better shot of that inlay on your scales.

Geek

Here you go and a little clearer pic of the whole razor to.

That's a purdy razor, I have no inlay on mine, but i do have a barbers notch :p

Geek

Here is that Pipe razor... So far it has only been cleaned of debree and soaked in neetfoot oil, wiped off and set aside. I just rediscovered my dremil so I may start wire brushing the blade soon to see whats left. All else fails it will turn into a patch knife for muzzleloading :p I got it for a buck plus shipping and only for the scales :)

Shucks Dwarven chef that there razor is worth at least $300 bucks haven't you been paying attention to the bay lately the worse they look the more there worth that big chunk of the heal missing makes it Ultra Rare sorta like a 3 legged buffalo nickel when something is missing it's more valuable. At least that seems to be the general consensus between several sellers.

But on a serious note. Thats a shame the blade is gone, that had to have been a beautiful razor in it's day. But like most things some age better than others.

So you are trying to save the scales. Those are just a little worse than mine where when I started. If you unpin that and clamp them to a nice straight black of wood or something and put them in water then simmer I bet you could get them pretty straight and possibly save them for use on another Wosty.

I used wooden cloths pins and just put enough of them on that the whole length of the scales was covered completely it worked pretty good but would probably work even better when unpinned and clamped to something perfectly straight.

Ya I'm on the lookout for a blade to stick in there, if they survive the torture treatment :p This blade will end up on my muzzleloading bench for a patch knife :) so it will still see service, just not it's original use :p