Thread: Help on making custom scales

you can a variety of wood that is 1/8 in thick at woodcraft. For my first few sets I used a piece of pine I got for about $3 made about 6 sets from it to see where I could improve on my wood working.

Thank you so much for the info! I haven't read through it yet, I will get to after work today, but what do you think is the hardest part to learn? I feel like the pinning would be the most difficult thing to get right. Im not that concerned with shaping the wood, I feel lilke I won't have any trouble there. Can't wait to start my first one!

Originally Posted by ladavis89

Thank you so much for the info! I haven't read through it yet, I will get to after work today, but what do you think is the hardest part to learn? I feel like the pinning would be the most difficult thing to get right. Im not that concerned with shaping the wood, I feel lilke I won't have any trouble there. Can't wait to start my first one!

OK one more hint hehehe learning pinning is easy and delicious get a couple of Popsicle sticks and practice on them before you try scales if you don't crack them the scales should be safe..

5/64 inch holes NOT 1/16 it allows for percussion swelling
How hard to hit the pins: Put your finger on the anvil (hard surface) tap your finger with the ballpeen hammer right there at the cuticle, that really senitive spot if it hurts your hitting too hard for the pins, No really I am being serious...

Check out this video for making scales by hand, I follow it to the letter and have been getting better results than when I attacked it on my own. Spazola also has a video on using power tools you can search for if you have those handy...

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...and-tools.html

You might think shaping the scales are the easy part...Until something goes wrong and then the fix comes in. Start with nice smooth blanks before you go cutting into them (not perfectly smooth, but not jagged either). Make sure that your scales are flat and do not curve upward or inward, warped, or uneven. This will make the whole process go BOOM in your face.

I dont find pinning to be that hard really. Be patient with a light hand and they will turn out good. I personally find making a wedge the hardest part. Spacers are easy, but getting the right angle on a wedge can be tough. Second to that difficulty I would claim PATIENCE to be the hardest part, especially with pinning and clear coat finishes.

Again this is just personal opinion. Everybody is different and the areas that we excel at vary. Best thing to do is get right in the water and start swimming. Make sure your first razor isnt a prized one - if you ruin a 8/8 W&B you will regret it