Having a small issue with my first set of scales could use a bit of guidance.

So I got some acrylic and made a pair of scales for my Shumate razor I restored recently. I set the front pin all went well better than I expected it to go. Anyway I mocked up the razor and it is siting to the left and hitting the scales. I used a dremel drill press set up to drill the hole while the two pieces were still glued together so it should be good and appears so. I'm trying to trouble shoot the problem but cant come up with anything. Could it be my wedge? Is there a way to compensate for this when peining the pivot? I would be great full for any help on the issue that anyone can offer.

Did you mock it up with bolts,nuts and washers,than tighten all down?

No I just put the rod through and pinched it tight and it was pretty far off. So maybe it's just because they are not tight enough?

I feel pretty silly if it's that simple of an overlook.

A couple things may be able to help. I'm just going to ramble.

It may be a warp in the tang, or an uneven grind. So, mock it up with bolts like pixelfixed says, and see what's what. If it centers, you're good to go. If not:

a) double washer on one side. this has some of us twitching, because it does not coincide with OCD.
b) you can use a bit of sandpaper or a dremel bit, very carefully, and sand out the scales on the inside. If your razor, say, is hitting the right scale, then on the left one, sand the scale at the front of the washer and on the right scale sand it at the rear of the washer. This will cause the washers to tilt and the razor to even out.
c) take the scales apart after your mock up, and sand one scale slightly thinner. thinning it out slightly will cause it to bend/bow more, and the other one to stay straighter.

A few thousands of an inch can make a big diff in how the blade centers,if all is perfectally striaght and sq, perhaps you will have no issues.
As you peen the pivot you can make some minor adjustments as the centering,hard to say without seeing it,sorry.

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Originally Posted by Maxi

c) take the scales apart after your mock up, and sand one scale slightly thinner. thinning it out slightly will cause it to bend/bow more, and the other one to stay straighter.

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On which scale would I want thinner the side it's hitting or the opposite? This could be part of the problem anyway as I sanded both sides to thin them and there could be a bit of difference to beguine with.

AS far as mocking up with micro fasteners I haven't got any and kinda don't want to pay for 100 but it will probably be worth it in the long run.

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

A few thousands of an inch can make a big diff in how the blade centers,if all is perfectally striaght and sq, perhaps you will have no issues.
As you peen the pivot you can make some minor adjustments as the centering,hard to say without seeing it,sorry.

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I guess I'll just have to pein it tomorrow and see how it goes after I sand down the wedge.

i'm trying to visualize without anything in front of me, but I'm sure it's the opposite. You want to straighten the one that's touching the scales, and bend the other one over slightly.

send me your address through a PM, and i"ll get an envelope ready tomorrow after work with a couple sets of microfasteners and washers in it for your mock up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maxi

send me your address through a PM, and i"ll get an envelope ready tomorrow after work with a couple sets of microfasteners and washers in it for your mock up.

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And I'll send you a Christmas card with a few dollars from Grandma :bow

The wife is glad I have a new hobby but I keep throwing money at it to get started. It's nickle and dimeing me to death.

Little late now but a hint for all scale makers reading along

Check the straightness of the tang on the razor alone, as soon as it is out of the old scales. Place it on a flat surface on one side and press it flat on the pivot hole, note how far the spine is off the flat surface..
Now flip the razor over and check it again and note the distance of the spine again, they should be close to equal, if not then you know there is going to be adjustments to be made, and that it isn't your scale making abilities that are lacking...

How you do the adjustments are your choice, personally I don't use the double washers or the thinner scale to create a warp, my OCD doesn't allow for those solutions :)

I just checked the straightness and it looks good about 1.5mm each way. I also just watched a video of a guy at Dovo opening the razor all the way setting it down and giving it a little bend while pinning it. As well I can tell now that one side is still a bit thicker than the other so It will have to go back to the sand paper tomorrow. I'm also thinking the wedge might not have an even angle on both sides. So it to goes back to the paper. But my peen job looked good :)

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/t...r/25acc88f.jpg

This might help explain how to help adjust the blade so it doesn't hit the scales. I've done it on some wood scales and it worked very nicely to help center the blade. http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...tml#post905657

What I do is to put the pinning rod through the pivot hole (after pinning the wedge end) and then use fibreglass tape to tape the blade in place, centred, while I pin the pivot. This seems to work for me most of the time. I find that I'm not mocking things up as much as I used to the more experience I get

Peening looks fantastic,when you get the Micro fasteners,will make things far easier.Have Fun.

Thank you all for the help it made all the difference I'll be posting some pictures in the restoration forum later.

Unfortunately my peening on the second go round didn't turn out so nice but functional.

Here is what I was talking about above,,,


this might help in the future http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...tml#post965680

I did a little more sanding on the scales and the wedge then gave the scales a little bend while peening one side straightened it right out.