Thread: Requesting advice about broken scale:

Well, I broke the bone scale of my Peaso at the pivot pin. I'd like to try to repair it, but thought it would be wise to run the tentative plan by the voices of experience:

Glue the broken scale

Reinforce the inner sides of the scales by gluing on shim brass or large bearing washers

Sleeve the pin holes for more strength

Add a third pin just because


Any constructive criticisms?

And is there anyone out there who will sell me a small quantity of pins, washers and shim stock?

Once its cracked at the pivot hole I think its pretty much a goner, and it looks like there multiple cracks coming away from that hole too.
A brass liner is probably your best bet, but I wouldnt be too confident that it will last.
Grant

I sent you a PM about the pins.

One thing you could do is hollow out the inside of the scale and fill it with epoxy. This would also fill the back side of the crack and the pin hole. After it dries re drill the pin hole and re pin it. Ive done it before. Some hold and some dont.

Looking at how it's spider webbing around the pin I'd say it's probably a done deal What do the entire scales look like? Are they fancy and worth the effort or would you be better off replacing them?

Thanks for the PM, Simpleman, that's exactly what I need. And shipping is only a stamp.

Was thinking to try epoxy and brass liners and sleeved pins. But the consensus seems to be that it's a goner. Well, I'll figure out what to replace them with.

Catrentshaving, they're just plain bone, but I liked them.

No Problem.

I look at it like this. Try to fix it and youll be out a few bucks and some time. If it works cool if not you dont loose much.

Whoa,,,, Bone can sometimes be fixed it allows way better adhesion with Epoxy and Glues then the Celluloid, and Bakelite compounds do...

It is worth trying, you upped you chances of success quite a bit now

Edit: are you sure it's bone??? that looks more Celluloid in the pic then Bone, but pics can deceive us quite easily...

Originally Posted by simpleman

No Problem.

I look at it like this. Try to fix it and youll be out a few bucks and some time. If it works cool if not you dont loose much.

+1

If you can slide some protective plastic wrap between
the steel and the crack you can try some modern glues.
You do not want to glue the scales to the steel but glue
and reinforce only the scale.

I once fixed a Kirby Vacuum with layers of aluminum foil
and epoxy. Kids slurped up a bag of marbles and the
housing was cracked. Being poor I repaired it well
enough to get another ten years out of it. You might be able to
do the same thing. Multiple, very thin layers of foil and epoxy building it
up on the outside bit by bit. If done with care it might look
like it belongs.

Replacement scales might be in order. Scan the sponsors
web sites. I have seen scales of various quality
levels including fancy wood, bone and horn. The
inexpensive plastic ones are very serviceable.