Bolster Opinions

Lets start with saying I had to do a bolster transfer after wrecking the original scales. The original scales were a yellowish orange with reddish orange highlights in the bolsters. I thought I would see what everyone thinks of a few ideas for the new scales I have to make. The scales are ebony and wasn't sure if I should go with red highlights or no highlights for the bolsters. The scales are far from done so bare with me. Was also thinking about going with white highlights. The red is alittle bright I might try a lighter red. I like the extra color in the bolsters since it seems to bring them out more. What does everyone think? Sorry for the bad pictures.

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I like the Red, it really brings out the bolsters, reminds me of the Green in some of the FWE razors..

Great Idea :tu

Ya , red is bold and does look better then nude. but perhaps acid lime green would look really cool.


Shayne

I need to remember to have really clean hands when I go to finish the scales. This is the first time working with ebony and lightly touching it after sanding would leave fingerprints and smudges all over the place. Not sure if it was the oils in the wood or from my hands. Also those are my little wrenches I had to make for the microfasteners since I got them from a hobby shop near me and they didn't have any wrenches. I didn't feel like paying for a wrench and waiting for it to be delivered.

Thanks for the ideas. I was also looking at some MOP veneer and thought that might work since I don't have the skill or the equipment to attemp an inlay. The veneer would just sit underneath it.

I'm a sucker for the black, red combination. I like it
Grant

Another vote to go with the colour. That does makes the bolsters pop.

Bob

Just for a contrasting opinion, I like the ebony showing through. Don't see a need for color - maybe if the scales were colored---

I like the black and red too. Looks sharp.

Another vote for just the ebony. Looks classy.

I like the ebony showing through.

Regards,
Neil

Well I decided to go with the red. The scales turned out better than I expected, but still just doesn't look right to me. I might try and sand them down again cause the finish looks like it is thicker near the wedge end bolster and doesn't look as smooth. Will have to decide how I am going to sand that close to the bolster if I do go that route. I still have to finish the blade, but trying to worry about the scales first since this is the first time doing a transfer. I do have to say however they turn out in the end this was fun and informative. I was thinking of going with jet black ebony, but this turned out nice with some streaks of brown sapwood. Hard to see in the pictures. I am look forward to another razor that I have waiting that needs a wooden tang. Here is what they look like so far. Sorry for the bad lighting. Will post the finished razor when I get done with it.

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The red looks fantastic! Good choice.

Great work! Red was a good choice. Hard to tell from your picture - did you varnish the ebony so that the bolsters are 'flush' with the timber or are they still raised?

They are still raised, but the finish made them look closer to flush. I kind of made the scales around the bolsters and then forced the bolsters to sit better where they were raised to much. I was thinking of trying to cut out the shape of the bolsters so they would sit flush, but I think I will leave that for next time.

Another vote for the red with the bolsters. Are you going to polish the bolsters so they gleam?