Thread: My first set of scales

Originally Posted by Maxi

Looks good so far. The inlaid washers are a nice touch. May I provide a "next step" for your next set of scales....because I'm assuming there will be a next set since these are turning out well.

All advise is welcome. I am still too new at this to turn down any. Thank you.

Ok....here you go.

G10 is an incredibly rigid material, as I'm sure you now know. It can withstand being thinned down considerably before you shape your final scale. The thinnest I've done them to this point is 0.81 per scale. It was for a set of jade ghost, so that you could clearly see through them. What I'm basically saying, is that due to the density of the material, coupled with its rigidity, you'll want to thin them down to maintain the balance of the razor.

Another way to lose weight on a set of scales is to bevel all the edges, so that the outside of the scale is almost a full contour, with no flat spots.

I find both work well for me. Hope this helps a bit.

Regardless, your first set look awesome.

Originally Posted by Maxi

Ok....here you go.

G10 is an incredibly rigid material, as I'm sure you now know. It can withstand being thinned down considerably before you shape your final scale. The thinnest I've done them to this point is 0.81 per scale. It was for a set of jade ghost, so that you could clearly see through them. What I'm basically saying, is that due to the density of the material, coupled with its rigidity, you'll want to thin them down to maintain the balance of the razor.

Another way to lose weight on a set of scales is to bevel all the edges, so that the outside of the scale is almost a full contour, with no flat spots.

I find both work well for me. Hope this helps a bit.

Regardless, your first set look awesome.

This is something I have learned.. I honestly thing this set might get re done as they are too hefty. My next set of scales will be for a satinedge I have and I want to make them tan with a white wedge. I will buy thinner stock for those before to cut down on work time.

Thinning this material is not easy as it is so tough it ate 4 copping saw blades to cut 5"... I now have a different method of working with this material.

They look great man, especially for a first attempt! can i ask what tools you used to do this? I wanna start making my own scales too, I'm looking for a cheap bandsaw for cutting the blanks and hopefully I can find a cheap used belt/disc sander too.

Most excellent job on the scales! You had me until that big old nut. I personally prefer pins, but it's a preference thing.

Thanks for posting all the updates. I'll be referring back to this later.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Most excellent job on the scales! You had me until that big old nut. I personally prefer pins, but it's a preference thing.

Oh shooter the screw and nut is for test fitting. I like the concept but the scales are a little to thick so they might get re-done. I will post up a pic of the finished razor in a few.

Ok here is the final update for this set of scales. It will inevitably be reworked but for now they are a learning process..

Here is the razor.


Here is the pin. I am still a total noob at pinning...


And for those interesting in what was used to work the G10 which is very abrasive to saws and such.. I used my drill press forced the quill to stay down with the depth stop and raised the table with a carbide burr in the center hole. This allowed me to use it as a router table which took material off quickly and kept things parallel. Also this stuff is messy..

Remember to wear a respirator. G10 is no good for the lungs.

Yeah my respirator was on.. It stays near and ready..