Thread: 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.

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.

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

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

Originally Posted by Theseus

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?

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

I'd pick a very light wood, like white oak, ash, cherry, etc and then dye it.
Paint can flake.

Originally Posted by Bruno

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?

Have you thought about using stabilized wood? That will give you amazing patterns in the handle. Looks like wood, acts like plastic. I don't know where you can get it in the states. Your local knife tools supply should have it.

I have never used this shop, but maybe they have got the right thing for you? I saw that you are from Texas, and as far as I know, the biggest knife supply store in the states is this one: Water Buffalo

Maybe THIS is what you are looking for:
Polypearl, Inlace and Synthetic
They MUST have something you can use

This is also stabilized wood but it comes in all sizes :http://www.maddogburlsource.com/

I hope this helps

Kristian

Thanks, but I've looked at Texas Knifemaker supply, and bought a few G10 sheets. Great site, but almost all their materials are only 5 inches long. Too Short for full length razor scales. Unless you buy large sheets at over $30 each. That could get expensive very quickly.
I'll check the other sites too.