Thread: Fixing warped scales

After reading Glen's guide for Fixing warped scales ,I decided to give it a try. I have been trough many many razors with some degree of warp in the scales, some of those scales were really beautiful and I wish I could save them but no luck.

Here is my version of the method.
I made a set up consisting of two 8x3x0.5 " aluminum plates(from eBay), 4x 10-32 screws and 4 nuts.
I drilled 5 trough holes in one of the plates and in the other plate I had 4 threaded and one trough holes made for me. The screws are screwed in the threaded holes then the plate with trough holes fits on top and clamps down with the nuts. This allows to control how much pressure there is on the scales to be straightened. The set up can also be used to straighten horn scales and blanks for scales. I had the 5th hole made to fit a wire to lift from the hot water but I found a different way of doing that as the pics will show. The reason I chose the plates on the thick side is to avoid any possible warping when they are heated and clamped tight with scales/horn between them.

Here are some pics:

As you can see the two scales are not straight , not too bad either but perfect for the demonstration.
I clamped them between the plates and put them in my pan with hot water. I brought the water to boil first, then reduced to medium, and dipped the plates for 20 seconds for a total of 3 times. I used my spatula to put the plates in and out of the water.
After I was done using the hot water I put the plates in the freezer till cold. The result is shown in the pics, the scales are nice and straight. I did several sets of scales this way, all with varying amounts of warp and all came out straight as new.

One important thing to keep in mind, do not tighten the clamps all the way down. My initial set up is to tighten the nuts till I feel resistance then each time I take the plates out of the hot water I tighten a little bit but. I was careful not to tighten past the point of most resistance felt. If one goes further the scales will pancake, since the celluloid will get soft from the hot water and deform easily.

PS.
The image attachments do not seem to work the way they used to so I can't add text between the pics, also the images got somewhat mixed even though I arranged them carefully. I apologize for those small issues.

Stefan, Thank You!

NICE !!!!!

Works pretty easy once you have a system

Originally Posted by gssixgun

NICE !!!!!

Works pretty easy once you have a system

I am glad I took a random set to test first Glen.
I used boiling water, soaked them in it for minutes, tightened them all the way...ended up with pancaked scale- like objects.

Idea. After seeing your set up I was wondering I'd a 'Flower or Leaf" Press would work the same?? Have a few somewhere. Will try them , if and when I find them!

Originally Posted by Johnus

Idea. After seeing your set up I was wondering I'd a 'Flower or Leaf" Press would work the same?? Have a few somewhere. Will try them , if and when I find them!

May be it will work, I personally do not like wood interacting with boiling water and then sitting in the freezer. It could lead to warp in the wood I think.

Glen has a different way of using wood planks for that purpose. I can't find the thread but basically he drilled multiple holes in two wood planks. Then he uses steam trough the holes to soften the scales while clamping on the planks gradually.

Thanks, Mainaman. Small suggestion to add to a great process - how about using wing nuts to make adjusting tension easier?

Stefan,
Thanks for the technique and the incentive! I have at least 3 sets of scales that need this and I just kept putting it off. I'll practice on some broken scales this weekend and then give it a go. Thanks!!

Best Regatds,
Howard

Stefan, Thank you! Great system.

Originally Posted by skipnord

Thanks, Mainaman. Small suggestion to add to a great process - how about using wing nuts to make adjusting tension easier?

I think they will get too hot to touch, I use a wench to tighten the nuts.