Some Can and Some Try......

My hat goes off to all the men & women who can refurbish razors and share their work with the rest of us.
Today, I tried to cut my first set of scales.
Before you shake your head; I did not rush this experience. I have spent the last 4 months learning , by reading and watching all the videos I could find. I bought the tools (scroll saw, grinder/buffer, drill press, sander) by recommendations on this forum. I cut a wedge, but it flew off the scroll saw( I live in a condo, off the balcony it went. I think it is too small to injury someone if it hit them on the head. It is somewhere lost in the yard.).
I know that it looks like I used a machete, but it took 45 minutes to cut it out. I have all my fingers and did not break a blade.
Tomorrow it is on to the sander.

Attachment 72034

What a great start!! It's lightyears ahead of what I could do.. ANd the sad part is I have everything but the scroll saw. :)

ah, but that must wait for another day!!

Show us when they are done!!!

M

Nothing to be embarrassed about AT ALL. I have weighed my scroll saw abilities against the shaping power of the belt sander and decided it's much easier and much more productive for me to do my rough cuts VERY rough and deal with the shaping on the 80 grit on the belt sander. And when I was using a coping saw... forget it - I was pretty much aiming to cut out rectangles (not that I could cut straight with a coping saw to save my life...).

Thank you, for the inspiration. I hope that I am more agreeable with the sander. I learned one thing for sure with the scroll; don't try to follow a line, not for me, at least.
Looks like I'm going to need a lot of sand belts.

i use a coping saw, but in shop class in high school teacher taught us a great technique for cutting rounded shapes. takes a lil while longer but makes a cleaner cut.
Attachment 72035

works on a scroll saw or band saw...cut your piece of wood a little bigger than your pattern, then cut towards your pattern, almost to the line drawn. (the green lines)
then cut around your pattern as normal (the blue line) the wood falls away making it easier to turn your work, and letting you see your shape better as you work.
yes it is a little more work, and can take longer making extra cuts in wood. but in his words it allows you to progress with results and you can see, and stop and start the piece easier if the need arises, and wear your goggles kids
I am not a wood worker. I have made three things...a clock in shop class. pistol grips, and one set of scales. Hopefully this helps someone.
p.s. sorry for my picaso....i mean kid art. but i do know how to draw that was a quick example

You're making good progress. I think all of us while working on a small part has had it spat out by a power tool. Thanks for the colorful description, bringing me a chuckle.

I agree with holli4pirating. Rough cut with the saw. Don't worry that it is rough. As long as you didn't cut of too much, you did fine. I too do most of my shaping on the belt sander. 80grit works great, but takes material off fast. Just because you're just getting the feel, and likely have brand new belts(fresh grit) maybe start at 150 or 220 to help slow it down as you start. A belt sander cleaning stick is helpful to remove the impacted dust too.

Even 220 will still take material of maybe too fast for you until you get the feel, so start with light pressure. Shaping on the sander, for me, is one of the highlights of the project. It's a kick taking that rough blank you made, and seeing it evolve into respectful shape.

Looking forward to see further progress!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

it's much easier and much more productive for me to do my rough cuts VERY rough and deal with the shaping on the 80 grit on the belt sander.

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I do the same with my band saw. My rough cut scales look similar to the picture in the first post.
From there I do most of the shaping on a belt sander, and any final or fine shaping is done with sandpaper by hand.
I'm just not that good with the saw.

John, it's a good thing you didn't jump into your scales mission with G10! Not the wedge but probably the scroll saw would have found its way through the balcony :o. Glad to see you're having fun.

Hirlau, Do not let it discourage you. My first scales worked, but many flaws. Each one will get better. Post questions - you'll get great help.

Bravo for trying - seriously. With some sanding, they may be alright yet. Even if they don't make it - you got your first taste and now have more questions you can get help with. I respect the effort, and hope you keep going with them.

You made the first step, it looks great.

Would it help you to know that I have a scale embedded in the wall behind my buffer?
What about the other day when I was ripping sapele scales when a veneer got stuck in the table saw eventually catching and throwing the small piece of wood into my chest?
We've all thrown things, sanded past a line or through a finish before. What may be surprising is that most of us still do it on occasion. I like to get a little mini revenge on those pieces if they are ruined by burning them in my stove, its all part of the healing process.

Actually, I think you are tracking. That is the usual result with a scroll saw..I like using band saw though, it is easier for me to control. And as for the wedge...I have gone as far as to not notice that I was no onger holding the wedge and sanded throughout my fingernail...of course you may also notice that there is nothing from me in the restorations folder either....I am Darwin's argument when it comes to art and engineering...

Those scales look exactly like they're supposed to (unless you posses crazy woodworking skills!)....a rough cut. Well done.

I'm also with Holli - it took me at least a dozen sets of scales before I could keep a coping saw straight.

Belt sanders work miracles - watch the finger tips.

I'm looking forward to more progression pics.

Hirlau, looks fine to me. I have a set of scales that are waiting for some pins that looked just like those and now look great (IMHO). I used a hacksaw and a hand-held belt sander clamped in my bench vice for shaping.

Keep up the great work, I am also looking forward to seeing some more pics soon.

Happy sanding,
Stu

Enjoy the next step as the basic shaping on the belt is quite rewarding and progress is quick and obvious.
The hand sanding feels like it takes years though!

Please keep us up to date

Cheers
P

That's pretty much what my scales look like after step one. I use rubber cement to glue them together and a template on top. Then sand with a belt sander until everything matches up. Keep Going!!

Just an update on the first set of scales that I cut.
The set that you see in the opening post, where destroyed by me in about five seconds of "Free Hand Drilling" with the dreaded Straight Razor Tool of Death (Dremel). I sanded them a little, then decided it was time to drill the pin holes. I was too lazy to use the new drill press that I had just purchased. (Why use a drill press for two little holes, when the Dremel is so handy?). After sliding a rod through the entry hole, the angle of the exit hole, was as sharp as the 110, Pasadena Freeway. The scales became samples to draw other blanks.
I cut out another set of bubinga scales and two more maple wedges. I applied the finished scales to this Boker that I found in an antique store about 4 months ago.
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/x...okerCO2266.jpg
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/x...kerCO22611.jpg
The razor was hand sanded, the scales & wedge were finished with tung oil over a peroid of 12 days. Brass washers & nickel rod.
The edge almost hits the inside of the scales, but does miss them.
Tonight I will hone her.

http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/x...kerCo32262.jpg
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/x...okerCo3226.jpg
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/x...kerCo32266.jpg
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/x...kerCo32267.jpg
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/x...kerCo32265.jpg

Any comments on how to improve, are greatly welcome.
Thanks for looking.

Darn good for a first or second or third attempt!:tu

Very nice. Excellent pinning job, and the scales ended up turning out really well. Well done.

Great scales, and lovely pins, those look go-o-od!
Only comment is your wedge looks straight, more like a spacer than a wedge?
Anyways, nice job indeed.

Far and away better than anything I could do but I think str8fencer raises a good point, I'd try to add a little more "wedge" to the wedge. Gives the scales a flex from what I understand. Btw I love the finish on the wood and the pin job is a work of art by it's self!

Thank you, Guys.
I hate those little wedges; two flew off the sander and one was so thin that I had to get rid of it. That is the fourth one. It does look like a spacer, now that you mention it. I'll spend this week studying wedges.

To echo everyone else, you've done a fantastic job on your very first restore. Starting with no knowledge of the tools or their uses. I am totally impressed....Kudos sir!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

I hate those little wedges; two flew off the sander

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Forgive me if I am accrediting the wrong person, but I do seem to recall it was Undream that recommended using 2-sided tape on your fingertip to hold it. I have done that, other times I just leave enough material to get a firm grip on the piece while shaping.

SRP Wikis have a lot of sometimes overlooked information:
Category:Scale Making - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Another Wiki for wedges:
Making_Wedges