Thread: Making scales

Hi guys. I want to eventually learn to make some scales. I picked up an antique from the 1830-50s that is a near wedge and a very good shaver but the scales are broken. I have a ton of bamboo in the back yard and would like to do something with it. I realize its not the best around water but when I was a teenage I used to make "things" out of it that held water. Where do I start? Are there templates? General sizes in relation to the blade? where do I get the pins? Any videos out there that might be helpful? I know NOTHING about this so any help would be appreciated.

you can start here
http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html

have fun

As Stefan said the workshop sticky is the place to look.
As for templetes, the easiest way may be to just trace out the shape of the old scales
Grant

There's a lot info and also videos to find in the workshop sticky Stefan linked to.

For templates, if you don't want to use the original design or design your own, you can find a few here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...dd-chasses.pdf

Good luck

Originally Posted by Zephyr

There's a lot info and also videos to find in the workshop sticky Stefan linked to.

For templates, if you don't want to use the original design or design your own, you can find a few here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...dd-chasses.pdf

Good luck

Thank you! That answers a lot. I don't have many tools but I am sure I can piece something together. I used to make bows and got pretty good at it so maybe I will find out I can do this too.

I don't have a lot of tools either and all my scales started out as wooden blanks 6"x1"x 1/8" but if you have/buy a drill, small ball peen hammer, a coping saw and sandpaper that's about all you need.

A good way to design your scales is to tracing out the original scales on a piece of paper and then modify that for any changes you want to make for visual appeal.

You really don't need a lot of tools to make scales. The right tools can make it easier, but they aren't necessary. The first set I made was with a coping saw, sandpaper, hand drill, sidecutters, and a little ball-peen hammer. You don't even really need the hammer if you have a tablespoon lying around. I won't lie - I find it is easier and faster with a scroll saw, bench sander, drill press, etc., but it is entirely possible to make great scales with no specialized or power tools whatsoever.

Those templates that Rune posted are great and I have used them several times. But don't forget that these are your scales, so feel free to customize them as you see fit. Add a bit here, take away a bit there... make them your own.

Good luck!

Another good trick is to trace the blade on a piece of construction paper w/ a pencil, then draw your scale designs. Next come back over the scale design w/ a 1mm ball point pen so it's clearly visible. Cut out your template, and use double sided tape to stick it to your wood then cut around the design and you have a template for when you start to sand. I sand up to the template so the two pieces match, drill out my wedge and pivot holes through both blanks at the same time so you don't have alignment issues later, then take it off and do the final shaping and thinning from there. Kind of gives you an idea of where to STOP before you go too far. Took me ruining two sets of my first attempt to figure that one out lol!

A great video by a member that sums up much of what has been said:

That .pdf file is great, the pic.'s are actual size. It's great to make one like the original or tweet it a little for a nice custom.