Cheap scale material?

I was at Ikea today and came across some pant hangers. The wood is smooth and unlike other IKEA products, the wood is actually solid not a veneer. I think after removing the metal and cutting in half lengthwise I will have 1/8" left for each side of the scales. The length is 12" long. Each hanger should be enough 4 razors. What do you guys think? Is it worthwhile? I wish I knew what kind of wood this was. Pine perhaps. Anyone know?

Edit: By the way it only costs 99 cents to buy each hanger so that's 25 cents per razor.

Rubbish materials, rubbish results. You'll be safer, better equipped, and get a better result to just shell out the, oh, $7 for a nice big piece of pre-thicknessed exotic hardwood in your favorite specie.

There are a lot of places where you can just buy 1/8 pieces of wood. Seems like a much better idea to me.

I see you have a Lee Valley catalog in the background. Don't they sell wood?

I'm cutting up pieces of Oak and Manzanita from my folks place for my scales, first set is done and awaiting for me to put them together.

The oak is a test bit, I have a big chunk of burl in the rafters drying :) See what happens with that in a year or so :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

There are a lot of places where you can just buy 1/8 pieces of wood. Seems like a much better idea to me.

I see you have a Lee Valley catalog in the background. Don't they sell wood?

---

Yes Lee Valley sells quite a few exotic woods. Some of my favourites that I've purchased are cocobolo, bocote, padauk, bubinga and zebrawood. They have precut and sanded 3/16" blanks that I normally use for scale material. Unfortunately they are expensive with prices ranging from $10-$19 per blank. I usually get 6 pairs of scales out of one blank. They also sell many pen blanks and burls.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

I'm cutting up pieces of Oak and Manzanita from my folks place for my scales, first set is done and awaiting for me to put them together.

The oak is a test bit, I have a big chunk of burl in the rafters drying See what happens with that in a year or so

---

How long does it take to dry out the burl?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salsa

How long does it take to dry out the burl?

---

No clue, it's been up there a year so far and still quite heavy, figure I'll cut it open next year sometime, see whats going on in there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salsa

I wish I knew what kind of wood this was. Pine perhaps. Anyone know?

---

Ikea webpage shows them as solid eucalyptus. Eucaluptus has been used as flooring and irrigation stakes, to name but a few, so it might not be a bad choice for scale material.

Depending on how many razors you intend to rescale, it might be worth buying square turning stock and cut yourself. You could get nice woods like bubinga, sapele, oak or walnut at around the same price as those hangers. Shipping charges may apply :)

I highly recommend Rockler; they have a line of lumber pre-cut to 1/8 and you can request the size of your feet. Prices are very reasonable, too... and the lumber I have bought from them this way has all been very nice. VERY nice, actually.

I think they are rockler.com, look for their "thin lumber."

What type of wood are the hangers, looks like birch. I say if ya see a set of scales in those hangers go for it, I would like to see what ya come up with.
I have seen all kinds of odds and ends used for scales, circuit boards, aluminum corner bead, scrap stainless steel from a candy factory. Heck the first set of scales I made were from paint sticks. Its all what in your imgination......

I say give it a go...you'll never know unless you try. Who knows, might be a diamond in the rough you've found there :) Be sure to post what you come up with!

Yes I will give it a try one day. The only problem now is that I don't have a table saw. I have a scroll saw only but I don't know if I"ll be able to cut a straight line with it. Has anyone had luck cutting a straight line with a scroll saw? I guess I'll need to build a guide of some sort first.

Many times you can find the main cross piece in palettes are oak.

you got just about no chase of ripping the stock with a scroll saw
A regular hand saw or better a japanese type pull saw will work much better

Cheapest (FREE) Scales can be made from window shutters or blinds. I found some at Home Depot. They were shutter samples and were to be discarded. They are perfect for making quick and easy scales. Cutting them out is a snap and they are 1/8 inch thick. After I make them and assemble the complete razor, I dip completely the scales in a can of clear wood sealer. let sealer harden by hanging scales outside in the sun or somewhere warm & dry.

If for nothing more, these simple scales can be made as a prototype or experimental shape for some really exotic and expensive-materialed scales.

Photo shows a 3-pin set (maple) I made in about 30 minutes with a hand scroll saw, pocket knife, and some 100 grit sandpaper. Some samples are made of wood, others are of a PVC-like plastic material. There are many wood species and colors to choose from. FREE and easy! Really some fun. Do it and prosper. RRR

nothing wrong with eucalyptus wood grain etc varies with variety but it's great for anything i like it for knife handles and i will be rescaling a couple razors with it when i get around to it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by timberrr59

Cheapest (FREE) Scales can be made from window shutters or blinds. I found some at Home Depot. They were shutter samples and were to be discarded. They are perfect for making quick and easy scales. Cutting them out is a snap and they are 1/8 inch thick. After I make them and assemble the complete razor, I dip completely the scales in a can of clear wood sealer. let sealer harden by hanging scales outside in the sun or somewhere warm & dry.

If for nothing more, these simple scales can be made as a prototype or experimental shape for some really exotic and expensive-materialed scales.

Photo shows a 3-pin set (maple) I made in about 30 minutes with a hand scroll saw, pocket knife, and some 100 grit sandpaper. Some samples are made of wood, others are of a PVC-like plastic material. There are many wood species and colors to choose from. FREE and easy! Really some fun. Do it and prosper. RRR

---

I think you idea is better! I guess my wife gets the pant hangers afterall lol.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salsa

Yes I will give it a try one day. The only problem now is that I don't have a table saw. I have a scroll saw only but I don't know if I"ll be able to cut a straight line with it. Has anyone had luck cutting a straight line with a scroll saw? I guess I'll need to build a guide of some sort first.

---

I've done it with mixed results.

Set up a fence and clamp it down (I used a peice of pine that had been cut down, but if it's relatively solid, and straight...). I couldn't get it perfect, and had to sand down after, but when it's all you've got... I suppose with practice I could have improved. I also don't know the size of what you want cut, but that probably has some bearing on how it turns out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salsa

Yes I will give it a try one day. The only problem now is that I don't have a table saw. I have a scroll saw only but I don't know if I"ll be able to cut a straight line with it. Has anyone had luck cutting a straight line with a scroll saw? I guess I'll need to build a guide of some sort first.

---

If your trying to rip your stock to 1/8 in thick, here is an alternative you can do with a palm or belt sander

• Palm sander fixture for scale slabs

I just want to reiterate:

You can cut a lot of corners, you can save a lot of money, but there is no cheapskate way to make nice scales. Scales made from blinds, paint stir-sticks, and clothes hangers will always look like what they are. For just a few dollars you can get lumber from people who have the proper tools, and then you can make something nice.


Or, to save $5, you can reinvent the wheel. Your choice.

Agreed. You sometimes get what you pay for; HOWEVER, having FREE material to experiment with and to modify is wise. My first frameback undergoing honing is sporting new shutter slat sample scales (which have not yet been dipped in sealer). I might just whittle and sand on them more before they take the final plunge. Spacer/counterweight is a penny. (earned but not saved)

Tell ya what, Re-Invented Wheels do roll all the way to the bank! Later top quality stuff can be bought for ready CASH. Have fun with all this and plan for better and shiny times. Merry CHRISTmas, RRR

Quote:

---

restore breathing
control bleeding
treat for shock

---

Your post shave instruction seem a bit on the exessive side
Didnt you notice the "no" before sideways motion and pressure?
:p :p :p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salsa

I was at Ikea today and came across some pant hangers. The wood is smooth and unlike other IKEA products, the wood is actually solid not a veneer. I think after removing the metal and cutting in half lengthwise I will have 1/8" left for each side of the scales. The length is 12" long. Each hanger should be enough 4 razors. What do you guys think? Is it worthwhile? I wish I knew what kind of wood this was. Pine perhaps. Anyone know?

Edit: By the way it only costs 99 cents to buy each hanger so that's 25 cents per razor.

---

Creative idea. I do not know if it works but it's worth trying. And surely the best you can do with any Ikea (=so close it's scary) material :)

I'd recommend rockler too, also you can check
Exotic Wood, Birdseye Maple, Curly Maple & Tiger Maple | Bell Forest Products
ask the guys if they have precut 1/8" of any wood you like they usually are very accommodating .