Kingwood scales -- Fit for a king?

I was getting the kingwood plank sized in preparation for resawing and really liked the side grain pattern when I saw it. So I resawed some with the side as face grain for scale blanks.

Just made these to see if the large grain works on scales as I thought it might and I like the look but I have a soft spot for purple and violet tones in a wood.

These are only sanded to 600 and sealed with tung oil. I will sand them up to 1500 and give them the royal CA treatment when the tung oil dries. The CA finish will make the grain sharper. The color will not be affected.

I want to hear your honest opinion about the look of these scales. Do you find this wood attractive and would you want to see it used on future projects?

http://straightrazorpalace.com/image...woodScales.jpg

Vlad,

Those are beautiful scales. The colors and the grain look really exotic. It might look good with a slightly blued razor or some creative etching to bring out the dark parts of the grain. (just my 2 cents)

Ed

Vlad,
Those scales are very nice looking. I can see the drool factor coming up when you put the CA on them. Nice job.

Vlad,

Beautiful work. The benchmark just keeps getting higher and higher.

RT

Nice stuff Vlad but not my taste. Looks like colonial furniture. Well you did say honest opinion. :D

Gary

I really like the grain pattern.

Thanks for the responses. I will post pics when they are finished to see if some will change their mind.

Yes, I did say honest and meant it. I liked the grain and knew it wasn't for everyone. It is bold. I had to make sure that it wasn't just for me.

P.S. I was writing a reply when my desktop's C drive crashed. I have all my data on a separate drive so that is not lost but I can't get to it until I get that machine to boot up. So I might be a bit preoccupied tomorrow instead of finishing these scales with CA. :(

I love them. But it looks to me like cocobolo??

Nenad

Gary must be smoking crack ......... AGAIN!

They're stunning Vlad, at least I think they are. Maybe you should send them to me for personal inspection. Could take a while though. Couple of years? ;)

X

Hey Xman, Vlad did say honest opinion :D

They are very well done and striking in appearance and it's the usual stratospheric high standard from Vlad but just not to my taste.

Gary

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by garythepenman

They are very well done and striking in appearance and it's the usual stratospheric high standard from Vlad but just not to my taste.

---

Must be the brain damamge form all that CRACK. ;)

Seriously though, most must think I'm weird 'cuz I don't fancy the framebacks. To each his own.

X

Those are gorgeous! I really like the accentuated grain that you got out of them, but then I've always been a fan of seeing the grain of the wood.

Have you got any cuts that you could get a birds eye pattern out of?

I can see these are raising some controversy amongst the members :). I am glad Gary posted his opinion. That's feedback.

I think that most who replied like them and either Gary is the only one who does not like the grain or more likely, people who did not like the wood or the shape did not bother posting.

After having a lousy day I decided to finish the scales with CA to see how they look all glossed up. I used a flash for the photos trying to give a bit more light and get closer to the real color.

If you did not like the grain before, then you won't like it with CA which only increases sharpness and contrast of the pattern. The CA and the fact that I sanded the wood up to 1500 grit help bring out some luminescence in the grain.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/image...KingwoodCA.jpg http://straightrazorpalace.com/image...woodScales.jpg

Overall, the finish is glossy and tough. In both of these qualities it is better than a tung oil finish. It is also easier and faster to apply than equivalent thickness of tung oil finish.

Tung oil on the other hand has a warm and natural feel to it while CA feels like plastic. I was warned by Robert Williams to expect this when he first brought CA finish to my attention.

Nenad, kingwood has a bit of blue/violet in it unlike cocobolo which is very yellow/red in tone.

Shark, this wood has a little luminescence in the grain but there are no bird's eyes to be found in this plank. I do have two patterns: this large grain, and one with very fine almost straight stripes. Same wood but cuts are at 90 degrees giving a different cross section of the grain. The stripes look like the TI Kingwood handles.

I like the grain but I have mixed emotions about the gloss finish. Then again it could just be the result of having a bad day. :D

To make a real evaluation you really need to see a blade in these. Most scales don't look impressive until they are dressing sharp metal.

Vlad those are awesome scales. I love the way the grain just shines through, but then again i am a fool for lovely grain. Very nice job.


Jmy. Ellis

As you said, the scales really have to be viewed with a specific blade installed ( or mocked up). Those scales will (do!) appeal to a number of people. I may be the only one who did not like the yellow wood all that much!:)

Make the scales Vlad, people will buy them.:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vladsch

Nenad, kingwood has a bit of blue/violet in it unlike cocobolo which is very yellow/red in tone.

---

I like them, though, even better with the crazy glue on...

Nenad

I love them. I liked them before the crazy glue and I love them now.

-- Gary F.

Thanks for the encouragement. It is much appreciated. They look better to me today too. Must have been the crappy day I had yesterday affecting my view of the CA finish. :)

They need a blade that is at least 6/8. 7/8 and 8/8 would look best in them.

If anyone wants these they can be yours for $35 + shipping ($4 Canada & US, $6 Europe). Add $20 if you want me to pin your blade into these beauties with my hand minted brass pins. Of course you'll need to send me the razor. I can't make house calls. :D

Hey Vlad, do you supply a finished wedge / spacer ?.

Gary

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by garythepenman

Hey Vlad, do you supply a finished wedge / spacer ?.
Gary

---

With these scales or in general?

In general no.

With these scales depends:

If I pin the blade I'd go with a brass wedge to match my pins/collars. A bit of a pain to shape and bevel but makes a nice contrast to the wood.

I could supply a dark grey clear plexiglass wedge beveled but not shaped for $3, same as classicshaving for dovo wedges. End user adds the shaping and drilling the hole.

I would direct everyone to classicshaving for the wedge but I am not sure that one would be big enough for these scales. The wedge end is flared out on these and the standard wedge might be a bit narrow. Never bought one so I can't be sure.