Thread: My first attempt at scales

I'd posted this during the server upgrade, but it looks like it got lost in the ether...so here goes again.

This past weekend (after about 8 hours pressure washing the house and driveway) I got to spend a few precious hours in my woodshop. I finished my paddle strop (available for viewing on the Strops forum) and made some progress on my first set of scales.

The wood is water oak. For those of you still following the saga, I milled this from a tree that fell in my yard about six months ago...the majority of the tree is split and ready to spend time in my fireplace this winter. The wood is quarter sawn and shop dry, very stable. I used my bandsaw to resaw the boards to 3/16; used double sided scotch tape to keep matching faces together, traced the outline of the scales I wanted to replace, and cut the pair to rough shape. With the pair of scales still taped together, I epoxied 36 gage copper to the outside on either side of the pair. This ensured that the preferred (and matching) faces of the scales would end up on the outside when finished. After clamping and finish shaping the scales, I separated the two halves and began to contour them.

The attached pics are getting close to finished. I still have to finish sand the wood and even out the satin finish on the copper. I plan to finish them with shellac and wax.

Bill, before you ask, the scales as you see them are just over 3/32 thick.

I'll post pics when they're finished and again when attached to the razor (it still needs substantial work).

Cheers,
Ed

They look very nice, Ed. I've got some bog oak coming from Scotland that's highly patterned. I always thought oak would make awesomely durable scales. I like the copper liners, too, although it would seem they'd be a b*tch to keep polished.

They look pretty good to me ED. Post pics as you go along.

Gary

I have the feeling these pictures don't do them justice. Keep us posted, Ed

Redwoood

Applause Applause! Well done, Sir.

X

Thats a very nice, clean look!