Thread: I felt like a goon.....sequential order to making scales...

Made a silly blunder today. Word to the wise. When making scales and using 1/4" stock, sand thin before you cut ruff shapes, not the other way around!!! Duh!!!!! much easier when using hand tools.

Originally Posted by Str8Shooter

Made a silly blunder today. Word to the wise. When making scales and using 1/4" stock, sand thin before you cut ruff shapes, not the other way around!!! Duh!!!!! much easier when using hand tools.

While I've only made one set of scales and they were 3/16: or so to start with and made out of Black Walnut/they were already cut out. I didn't have any problems sanding to the 1/8". My holes were drilled already (3/32). What I did was to use a piece of scrap and a couple of wire brads to make a 'Jig' and clamp it down. I clamped the scrap down and I then used the wire brads and tapped them through the holes of one scale (I did really drive them in, probably 3/4") just to make sure they were solid. I then cut the heads of the brads off, and filed the edges to remove any rough edge. I then pulled the scale off. I then cut off the brad just about 1/6 of an inch off of the scrap. I then filed the cut off ends of the brads smooth. This allowed me to keep them in place while I used a palm sander to work them down!

I also used the 'Jig' to hold them while I did the finishing hand sanding!

Worked Great for me!

Originally Posted by cudarunner

While I've only made one set of scales and they were 3/16: or so to start with and made out of Black Walnut/they were already cut out. I didn't have any problems sanding to the 1/8". My holes were drilled already (3/32). What I did was to use a piece of scrap and a couple of wire brads to make a 'Jig' and clamp it down. I clamped the scrap down and I then used the wire brads and tapped them through the holes of one scale (I did really drive them in, probably 3/4") just to make sure they were solid. I then cut the heads of the brads off, and filed the edges to remove any rough edge. I then pulled the scale off. I then cut off the brad just about 1/6 of an inch off of the scrap. I then filed the cut off ends of the brads smooth. This allowed me to keep them in place while I used a palm sander to work them down!

I also used the 'Jig' to hold them while I did the finishing hand sanding!

Worked Great for me!

Wow, that sounds like a bunch of extra work.
If you want to make another set of scales just let me know and I'll have the shop ready in Yakima.

I nearly made the same mistake the other day after a long day in the shop I had two pieces of ebony stuck together when I started cutting before running them through the thickness sander.
The only reason that I stopped before it became a problem is that the scales were cutting at a slower rate, almost like they were twice as thick (because they were)
You have learned how to do it better next time, that is what is so great about failing; you don't learn as much from success.

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

Wow, that sounds like a bunch of extra work.
If you want to make another set of scales just let me know and I'll have the shop ready in Yakima.

I nearly made the same mistake the other day after a long day in the shop I had two pieces of ebony stuck together when I started cutting before running them through the thickness sander.
The only reason that I stopped before it became a problem is that the scales were cutting at a slower rate, almost like they were twice as thick (because they were)
You have learned how to do it better next time, that is what is so great about failing; you don't learn as much from success.

Lord I wish I knew somebody close to here with a scroll saw or band saw!!! Or a disc sander!! The enjoyment for me is in the making but I like my technology!!! Power tools rock!! (when used gently)