Thread: Custom scales on the cheap!

I like them, well done.

Originally Posted by 32t

I like your idea of the stir sticks and design but think that the scales are to large for the blade. How far it the edge from the bottom? I would keep the same shape but shrink it until the edge was just protected.






I guess it would depend on ones idea of "nice wood"! Some of my favorite scales are homemade from what was on hand and could get the job done. I am now going to be looking at rulers for scales. Even the "modern" plastic ones have potential. The trick to me would be to make them comfortable and keep enough of the ruler to show what they are made of.

Tim

Thanks Tim! Now I never thought of using a ruler for scales...that is !
The blade is an 8/8 so it is close to the bottom. I wanted to have bigger scales on it to kind of balance it out.

Originally Posted by TwistedOak

or perhaps something a little more like this...
Attachment 123588

Good visual presentation. I would move the wedge pins closer and shorten it a little more. I bought a cheap set of French Curves and they helped me a bunch with nice outlines.

Originally Posted by 32t

Good visual presentation. I would move the wedge pins closer and shorten it a little more. I bought a cheap set of French Curves
and they helped me a bunch with nice outlines.

I like the idea of being able to SEE what the end product will look like with very themlittle time. If something needs to be fixed (shorter wedge end) I can do that and then use them as a template for the "real" ones!

All great ideas and suggestions! I appreciate them all

If you're looking for cheap material to do scales just look around at those big home improvement stores around you. I found some strips of "hardwood" (think it's bankirai but it was sold as hardwood) and oak that were around 40mm wide, 4 mm thick and 270cm long for €3,50 (around $4 or $4,50). They also had thin aluminum strips that would make some nice scales.
They make chairs and fences from bankirai for outside use and those survive without finish for many years so it's very durable stuff. I put some on a (modified, heel removed) gold dollar and finished with only shellac, looks like this:

Other then what others have mentioned about making it a hair shorter to ensure a glove fit, I actually really like it. I surf so as it was said earlier in the post looks similar to an early 60s surfboard. But not to sound like a broken record, its yours as long as you like it, thats all that matters. Makes me want to go watch a surfing movie, or think about how you could actually make those scales look just like a surf board with multiple colors some sort of inserts to look like fins. Imagination at its best.

I have used tongue depressors to make mockup scales a few times.

I definitely need to move the pins in closer. I did shorten it up some. Here are some more pics to give a better idea of blade width and such:

The idea of using the stir sticks is a great idea regardless of the design.

I also found that bigger paper clips are pretty darn close to 1/16" so you can use them to help hold the scales together instead of cutting up your brass or nickle silver rod.