Thread: Scales questions!

Hello all,
I have a couple of questions to ask and hopefully, all you erudite folks on here will be able to help me out!

1) What is the resin that I need to use to make my own scales (micarta)? I have watched a number of vids on YouTube and they are mainly from guys that are stateside and they use a product called "Bondo". What is the UK equivalent of this? I found a place locally (well about 10 miles away) that formulates resins and I went in and had a chat and they supplied me with a polyester resin. I duly took this home and set out to make some denim micarta. The resin did not set properly at the recommended ratio of resin to hardener so I doubled it and still it wasn't great. I have spoken to the guys and they have said that it may be because it needs to be set in a thicker section cos it's a casting resin, which made sense because the resin that I left in the mixing jar set had set as solid as a rock. They have put aside a different one for me, for free, to pick up and try. Which is good of them but no use to me if it's the wrong stuff.
I initially tried DIY stores and found nothing and then tried automotive stores. All the auto stores stock a product called "Davids Fastglass". I didn't buy this cos when I asked if it was clear I was told that it is not so I reckoned that that would not do. It is an opaque resin. So, what do I need to buy and if any of you fella's are here in the UK and make your own scales, what product do you buy?

2) I have just bought a second hand band saw. It's a Black and Decker DN330. I paid £15 ($23.64) which I was happy about! Now the blade that is on it is too big for cutting scales. It measures about 10mm from the back of the blade to the teeth. I cannot get hold of a manual for this saw so I would appreciate it if anybody could tell me which blade I need to buy for scale cutting purposes and where to buy it because right now I have no idea!!!!!

Thanks in advance

Pete (Pdav)

(I just wrecked a really nice Puma blade as I was polishing it with a Dremel, a good lesson in the need for safety glasses!!)

Sorry to hear about the Puma blade, Pete - glad you are OK though.
I have a product called 'glasscote' and I have to admit I haven't tried it yet.
Str8raz0r (Stu) was the one who put me onto it as he has used it and gotten good results.
I have a bandsaw whose blade is about the same size as yours and have no trouble using it for scales.
The only issue is that I have to make a couple of cuts sometimes to get the curve I need (I just cut the waste off to get the best angle)
There are also plenty of blades available on the bay along with various resins.
I hope this helps.
Hang on and enjoy the ride

Originally Posted by Pdav

Hello all,
I have a couple of questions to ask and hopefully, all you erudite folks on here will be able to help me out!

1) What is the resin that I need to use to make my own scales (micarta)? I have watched a number of vids on YouTube and they are mainly from guys that are stateside and they use a product called "Bondo". What is the UK equivalent of this? I found a place locally (well about 10 miles away) that formulates resins and I went in and had a chat and they supplied me with a polyester resin. I duly took this home and set out to make some denim micarta. The resin did not set properly at the recommended ratio of resin to hardener so I doubled it and still it wasn't great. I have spoken to the guys and they have said that it may be because it needs to be set in a thicker section cos it's a casting resin, which made sense because the resin that I left in the mixing jar set had set as solid as a rock. They have put aside a different one for me, for free, to pick up and try. Which is good of them but no use to me if it's the wrong stuff.
I initially tried DIY stores and found nothing and then tried automotive stores. All the auto stores stock a product called "Davids Fastglass". I didn't buy this cos when I asked if it was clear I was told that it is not so I reckoned that that would not do. It is an opaque resin. So, what do I need to buy and if any of you fella's are here in the UK and make your own scales, what product do you buy?

2) I have just bought a second hand band saw. It's a Black and Decker DN330. I paid £15 ($23.64) which I was happy about! Now the blade that is on it is too big for cutting scales. It measures about 10mm from the back of the blade to the teeth. I cannot get hold of a manual for this saw so I would appreciate it if anybody could tell me which blade I need to buy for scale cutting purposes and where to buy it because right now I have no idea!!!!!

Thanks in advance

Pete (Pdav)

(I just wrecked a really nice Puma blade as I was polishing it with a Dremel, a good lesson in the need for safety glasses!!)

You ideally want a 1/4" blade this will let you do tight curves, having said that a10mm blade should be OK for scales, if it is sharp! Yours may well be blunt! The tightest curves will be at the ends of the scales, don't try and cut a small curve like that in one go, remove the material in a series of small cuts, think of a 50p piece, several short straight cuts around the curve and finish to the line by filing, or sanding.

A good place for band saw blades here Axminster Power Tool Centre : Power Tools to your door,
this site stocks the right blade for your saw Band Saw Blades at PagesDIY.com - UK DIY Store
or do a search on e bay, the size you want is fifty nine and a half inch long x whatever width you want.

Yours is a three wheel band saw, and a 10mm blade is probably the biggest it will take, personally I think 10mm is too big, small band saws like yours struggle to tension a blade like that properly, a 1/4" or 6mm would suit it better.

Do yourself a favour, before you try to change the blade, or do anything to the saw come to that, do a search for setting up a bandsaw on the internet, there are loads of woodworking sites out there, with instructions on how to change the blade, set up the guides, correct tension etc, if you don't get the saw set up properly it won't perform and you will be in for a frustrating time.

Take your time, learn how to use the machine SAFELY, a band saw is capable of removing one or more of your fingers with surprising ease, trying to shave using a razor taped to a stump is a learning curve too far!