Thread: Holding Blanks/Scales Together

I purchased a piece of S--t razor to practice on as far as 'Cleaning up' the blade, making scales and learning how to pin the scales.

With the help of my old friend 'Ski' I had a beautiful pair of Black Walnut 3/16" blanks that were cut out on his table saw. Ski didn't feel comfortable trying to plane them down to 1/8", and recommended that I sand to 1/8". (Which I did)

When he brought the blanks over, at first, I thought that he had mis-understood my request, as the Blanks looked more like 5/16""!

He had simply used common double sided Scotch Tape to bind the 3/16" blanks together!! I couldn't see a gap between the two pieces!!

When I started to form the blanks into the shape I wanted for my scales, the two pieces never, ever moved!

When I was done with all of my shaping and sanding, I went to separate the two scales.

I was actually afraid that I would break/split one of the scales! There were joined that well!!

He tells me that he often uses the two sided tape on much larger projects! For example, I was at his home/shop/garage and he was working on a very nice coffee table. It had an oval top and four legs that had a lot of detail cut out on his band saw.

He tells me that he used the tape trick to bind all four (4) of the 3/4" thick blanks together so he could cut them out on his band saw so that they would all be Exactly The Same!!

This 'Trick' may have been posted before, but I couldn't find it!

I hope it will help !

i use double sided carpet tape for the same purpose.

I drill the holes, and then hold the scales together using 1/16" screws. This way I can easily make the rough shape, and then mount the blade to see if the shape is ok, and fine tune it where needed.

Whatever you do, don't use mounting tape. I've still got a nice set of cherry wood scales that won't come apart. Even tried breaking one to save the other to no avail.

Originally Posted by Bruno

I drill the holes, and then hold the scales together using 1/16" screws. This way I can easily make the rough shape, and then mount the blade to see if the shape is ok, and fine tune it where needed.

Bruno,

The beauty of this system (double edged Scotch Tape) is that there isn't any hardware in the way! Sanding and shaping is easy!

Originally Posted by cudarunner

He had simply used common double sided Scotch Tape to bind the 3/16" blanks together!! I couldn't see a gap between the two pieces!!

That's what I use. 2 one inch pieces at each end. ezy-pezy.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

That's what I use. 2 one inch pieces at each end. ezy-pezy.

Ski had applied the tape along the entire surface. "He's very 'Particular and Picky!!'!"

Rubber cement here... then just twist and them come apart after, stubborn stuff gets a twist and a utility knife blade...

Then just rub the cement off the backside with a finger

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Ski had applied the tape along the entire surface. "He's very 'Particular and Picky!!'!"

Particularly picky & sticky
That'd take some unsticking

Originally Posted by Theseus

Whatever you do, don't use mounting tape. I've still got a nice set of cherry wood scales that won't come apart. Even tried breaking one to save the other to no avail.

Have you tried soaking the scales in acetone or methylene chloride? I know for a fact that methylene chloride is a destroyer of adhesives (I work with it in a lab and rarely is there ever anything that can continue to stick to our containers).

On the original topic, I glue my blanks together with rubber cement, and then before even cutting them out I drill the holes for the pins. I had bought some aluminum 1/16" rod in the hopes of giving it a shot, but it's too malleable so I cut off about 3/8", tap it into the pin holes, and then cut/file off flush to the scales. The nice thing is that when you are sanding the scales the aluminum is soft enough that it just gets sanded away with the wood. The scales are VERY secure in this manner, but come apart very easily with a little punching and sliding! Also, you've drilled the holes (the sketchiest part for me) early so if you mess up there is still time to make the scales work, or scrap them.