Thread: Help on making custom scales

I want to start making my own scales because I see everyone's beautiful work that they post here and it makes me want to create my own beauties. I just don't know where to start. I have a few questions for anyone that has experience doing this and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

First, where can I buy the wood needed to make scales? Is there a particular website that is good to buy rosewood, bloodwood, and other types of wood?

Next, is there a how-to or a tutorial video that you recommend for someone getting started in this? I just want to know a good method to completing a set of scales.

What is involved in pinning the scales? Is there a good how-to on this?

Finally, what kind of tools would be required to do this? Is it just whatever you think can get the job done? Or are there certain tools that are needed?

Thank you for any help!

Take a gander at this plethora of info right here.
It will answer all of your questions, and there's even videos to explain parts

Best of luck.

Originally Posted by str8fencer

Take a gander at this plethora of info right here.
It will answer all of your questions, and there's even videos to explain parts

Best of luck.

dang that is a lot of good info. i started wanting to make some scales on my own this will help

I recommend going outside and finding a nice piece of wood to use for the first few attempts. Its free and you are going to want to practice a little. There is no sense in buying $20-40 Amboyna burl slabs just to waste them on the learning curve. Good luck to ya!

It is all in the Workshop sticky also, but let me give you a good hint here even though it is in there.. Unless you have a ton of wood working expierience you want to start with planed, dry, ready, to use wood... You want to get some 1/8 by 1.5 by 6 inch slabs you need 2 of these, or a piece like this -------->

Thin Stock Lumber | Exotic Wood, Birdseye Maple, Curly Maple, Tiger Maple

If you have no way of bringing the thickness down to 1/8 to start, you will end up with big thick clunky scales...

There are many other places that sell planed blanks that is just one that likes SRP and they keep a good selection on hand for us

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.

Right now I don't have any power tools. Are they really vital to the operation? How hard would it be to us a hand saw to cut the rough shape and sand the rest?

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Power tools arent a must - but they are a quick help.

A GOOD dremel used correctly can help save you lots of time, but at the same time it can be extremely damaging if a "slip up" occurs. I use my dremel for many things, but I use a buffer for bad blades, and good ole elbow grease for more detailed projects.

I also work out of a walk-in closet that is packed with sports memorabilia, video games (hundreds), and a computer desk. I basically have a 36" x 36" space to work. Thankfully I own a pivot style chair.

watch the video I linked to. He used only hand tools very effectively. I haven't used a Dremel since my very first scale project (which admittedly was crap).

I made a set of scales out of a hardwood paint stir stick, some dark walnut stain and ca glue for a finish. Pinned it with brass micro fasteners. I didn't post any pics because it looks like crap, but the important thing is I learned a lot from it. Now I want to get some decent wood and do a nice set. I did it all by hand except for some sanding with a Dremel. I sanded the stick to make it thinner by hand. That part sucked but with 60 grit it went surprisingly fast. Didn't cost me anything because it was all things I had on hand except the fasteners but those were given to me when I got the razor.