Thread: How to stabilize a crack in a scale using CA glue without making a mess?

Hey guys,

I have a Wostenholm 7/8 near wedge that has some pretty pressed horn scales but one side has a crack on the wedge end, running from the end up to the pin and beyond. I have heard about stabilizing cracks in scales using CA (superglue) and would like to give it a try on this one. I also want to avoid any excess glue coating the scale outside of the crack and making it look ugly or amateurish. I would also like to do this repair without depinning the razor as I don't have much (any) experience doing that and don't want to risk any further damage to the razor/scales.

I picked up a pair of these nifty looking Irwin mini quick grip clamps. I've experimented with putting the clamp on the scale and it will close the crack quite nicely though I think there might be a small bit of horn missing from the wedge end where the crack originally begins. I have some small tubes of Original Super Glue that I got in a multi-pack a year or two ago. It's a pretty thin viscosity, not the thick gel variety.

Do you guys have any advice on how to apply the glue into the crack so that I just get a little bit of glue, enough to keep the crack from extending any farther without getting an excessive amount that squeezes out onto the surface of the scale? I was thinking of maybe using a needle and just dipping the point into the glue and then trying to swab it into the crack. If they sold some glue in a syringe I'd probably buy that lol. If I get glue on the outer part of the scales is there any good way to clean it off? Is there anything I can do to the scales before I start to keep the glue from coating it like apply some coating onto the scales... I don't know... wax or something?

I looked through this sub-forum and also the wiki section on scale repair but didn't see anything that looked relevant to my situation. Any advice/tips/hints you can give would be greatly appreciated!

For anyone who might find this thread seeking the same advice as me, I found this page with some good advice on applying superglue.

I used the sewing needle trick to apply tiny amounts of glue into the crack and it worked great. I cut the end of the need off with some side cutters I had for cutting electrical wire. I also had some of the blue shop towels which when torn into pieces had a great fibrous edge which really sucked up any excess glue. I used the Irwin mini clamp to hold the crack shut and let the glue dry overnight. In the morning when I took the clamp off the glue seemed to hold quite well and I hope that the crack will not extend any farther.

Sorry for no after photo, I was rushing out the door this morning to catch a plane.

Not generally advised but after your cosmetic repair you could also glue the wedge to the scales on the cracked side for a little reinforcing..

Don't use "super glue" it will haze after drying...
Gorilla glue works well your best bet if your scales are horn or wood is to sand collect the dust and apply it liberally on the glue and sand lightly to make it as seamless as possible also pop the pin get a number 1 washer after repairing the crack glue that to the inside of scale then sand wedge down to seat scale where the washer is.

The old school fix is to wrap it with a thin wire. Not the most appealing, I'll admit...

I usually use something real thin, such as a wire, and apply a SMALL amount of superglue on the inside.

Originally Posted by MAW76

Don't use "super glue" it will haze after drying...
Gorilla glue works well your best bet if your scales are horn or wood is to sand collect the dust and apply it liberally on the glue and sand lightly to make it as seamless as possible also pop the pin get a number 1 washer after repairing the crack glue that to the inside of scale then sand wedge down to seat scale where the washer is.

That gorilla sheeeeeit will expand and he will have to sand the thing.
Don't misinterpret, I love Gorilla but it is not the glue for this job.

Gorilla makes a CA also in fact a very very good one

http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Glue-7.../dp/B001IY82FM


Has better than average flex

Ah I didn't know that, here in France we only have the brown one.

I think superglue will work fine. I would use a brush to apply it to the crack for a good coating all the way. It is on the non moving part of the scale so I see no reason why you would need to repin it at all. As for making it hard to see when you are done, I would use a very light grit sandpaper after it is dry to remove any excess glue that might have been squeezed out and then polish the scales. If the scales are bright and shiny, it will hardly be noticeable.

I just got a couple of these and haven't tested them too much. I used it to CA glue some leather covering a thread on an expensive purse. It kept the mess down to zero and wiped right off when the glue set. http://http://www.rockler.com/produc...FUuCQgodanAA9g

The shipping is more than the brushes but I bought mine at the store.

I think the clamping is the critical part of your fix. The mess will sand or scrub off later.