Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 19
Like Tree3Likes

Thread: Are painted scales a good idea?

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Austin, Texas
    Posts
    280
    Thanked: 39

    Default Are painted scales a good idea?

    I'm having a hard time finding colors or designs of plastic materials for making scales. The options with a lot of variety all consist of knife handle or pen blanks that are only five inches long. That's a bit short. Sheets of material are expensive and are offered in very limited colors. So I thought of maybe making some maple or poplar scales, then priming and painting them, and finally finishing with a clear coat.

    Does anybody have advice on doing this?
    What kind of clear coat of sealant would work best? Automotive clear coat? Some kind of resin?

    FInally,
    Does anybody know of a source for horn or bone? All the sites online only have five inch pieces for knife handles. And they tend to be expensive.

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Senior Member medicevans's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    768
    Thanked: 99

    Default

    Look at Masecraft supply for bone and horn. I know Phil has 6" in both for around $20. I'm still looking for a good place for the fancy type of acrylics. No one wants to divulge their sources it seems.

  3. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth Theseus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    2,786
    Thanked: 421

    Default

    You could always go to Hobby Lobby or other hobby store and get some acrylic resin and dye and make your own material.

  4. #4
    Lookin like a crim baldy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Coffs Harbour Australia, Home of the Big Banana
    Posts
    2,706
    Thanked: 1072

    Default

    These guys Monster 1 x 6 Inch Acrylic Blanks have 6 inch acrylic blanks. Glen (gssixgun) or Bruno put them in the workshop Sticky http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html
    Grant
    Last edited by baldy; 11-18-2011 at 02:38 AM.
    "I aint like that no more...my wife, she cured me of drinking and wickedness"
    Clint Eastwood as William Munny in Unforgiven

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Austin, Texas
    Posts
    280
    Thanked: 39

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Theseus View Post
    You could always go to Hobby Lobby or other hobby store and get some acrylic resin and dye and make your own material.
    I've never used that stuff before. Have you ever seen the results of that approach? Would epoxy resin be good enough to make a really fine set of scales, or would it turn out looking like a low grade plastic toy?

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts
    1,377
    Thanked: 275

    Default

    If you want to put in the time, epoxy-impregnated cloth ("G20" is one variety) is accepted as a high-class material. Tough, waterproof, and quite pretty for razor scales and knife handles.

    I think there are instructions in the Wiki. And you can buy it.

    Only problem is the glass fibers dull tools quickly.

    Charles

    PS -- I speak from reading, not first-hand experience.

  7. #7
    Senior Member blabbermouth spazola's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Burkburnett TX
    Posts
    3,095
    Thanked: 2392

    Default

    Paint is just a clear coat with a pigment or dye in it. I think if it is ok coat with film forming clear coats (CA, varnish, epoxy, shellac, lacquer) it is ok to cover with paint. Thats my two cents on the subject.

    Charlie

  8. #8
    Luddite ekstrəˌôrdnˈer bharner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Timberville, VA
    Posts
    1,319
    Thanked: 211

    Default

    Have you considered using wither dyed wood or a colored semi transparent stain that would still let the wood grain show through?

  9. #9
    Heat it and beat it Bruno's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Belgium
    Posts
    15,132
    Thanked: 5229
    Blog Entries
    10

    Default

    I'd pick a very light wood, like white oak, ash, cherry, etc and then dye it.
    Paint can flake.
    Til shade is gone, til water is gone, Into the shadow with teeth bared, screaming defiance with the last breath.
    To spit in Sightblinder’s eye on the Last Day

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Austin, Texas
    Posts
    280
    Thanked: 39

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bruno View Post
    I'd pick a very light wood, like white oak, ash, cherry, etc and then dye it.
    Paint can flake.
    I'll probably dye some. I have a lot of scales to work on. But I'd like to have some solid colors too, that's why I'm considering paint. Lots of possibilities.
    I thought about the paint cracking or flaking off, so I,m interested in finding an effective sealant that would fit this application (razor scales).

    I've never used epoxy as a sealant and I was wondering if that material, or some other, would prevent the paint from cracking underneath.

    Any thoughts?

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •