1st attempt

[vgod]

okay all, here is my 1st attempt. old W&B 7/8. broken scales. antique store find for $5. used red oak, with 7 coats of olympus merlot stain, followed by 7 coats of tung oil. i have no machines except for a drill. thank goodness christmas is coming. maybe hello belt sander!? anyway, all shaping done by hand, and all sanding on the blade as well. tired fingers. i need to tighten the pins a little more, but otherwise they are pretty done. i know i will end up changing these out next year, but i think not bad overall. any comments are apreciated. i learned a lot, but know that there are other improvements to come.

vgod

[IsaacRN]

Nice first scaling

[Queen of Blades]

Very nice looking!

[SSLSTudio...]

it can only become better from here on, impressive attempt.

[Bill]

I think it's great when someone tries his hand at keeping straight razors a part of active history. With attention to restoration and maintenance, maybe these things will be around for another 200 years. I think your efforts are to be commended.

Here are some things to help on the next set you do.


Try to use the old scales as a template when you design new ones.
Tape them together with carpet tape when you work on the outlines so that both sides wind up being identical.
Put the pivot pin hole in first, insert a temporary pivot pin in one of the scales, set the blade on it, mark where the end of the blade swings on the inside at the bottom with a pencil or fine-line sharpie.
Use the old butt spacers when you can. Line the flat side of the spacer up a 1/32nd of an inch away from the line you drew at the arch of the blade swing so the blade doesn't hit the spacer when it's being closed.
Pick a spot that looks good for the butt pin. Don't go too close to the end. I usually try for about 3/8ths of an inch. Make sure the spot you pick is in the centerline of the scale profile. Make sure the hole will go through the spacer, even if it's near the flat part of the edge. Drill the hole in the first scale, using masking tape on the opposite side to prevent hole chipping. Then match the scales up, use the running drill bit to just mark the second scale, separate the scales, and drill the second one. Super glue the spacer to that one side of the scales. Re-drill the hole. Then pin the scales together. Don't forget the super glue on the other side of the spacer.
Always... always... always... pin the butt of the razor first.Using a washer over the top of the star molly is a good idea because those things are so soft and getting a snug fit at the pivot is difficult without one. You can straighten out some of the waves of the profile with those popsicle stick things the ladies use on their fingernails. You could also glue whatever grit sandpaper you want to a popcicle stick to contour the scales.

[bg42]

very good first attempt ,especially with no tools ,you have shown a great deal of determination ,maybe Santa will make it a bit eaiser for you next year
Kind regards Peter

[Sejanus]

Wow, that is a great first job! Looks good to me, and easily much better than I could ever pull off ;)

[Michael]

Bill, you are to be commended - again. You could have said, "nice job" and let it go at that, but instead, you took the time to offer some excellent pointers. Helpful not only to the op, but to any of us who may one day decide to give this a shot.

Your posts are always helpful and informative. I especially liked the photo essay on how to file the decorative edges on the spine. A great deal of time, effort and thought goes into that sort of post and, while I may never try my hand at new scales, I can certainly appreciate the work that goes into it. We are all grateful for your unselfish sharing.

And of course, there's Rich's "loaner" ;)

Thank you, Sir.

[Padron]

Nice job! :D

[vgod]

i agree. bill, you could have said 'nice job,' 'good attempt,' 'don't quit your day job,' but you didn't. and i appreciate that. you gave me some good advice and it will help a lot for the future. your cd is on my christmas list, and i know that will be a great help as well.

i thank you all for the kind words. i don't ever aspire to be a 'bill,' 'joe c.,' or one of the many other restorers, but know that you all inspire us all.

vgod

[Bill]

Bill, you are to be commended - again. You could have said, "nice job" and let it go at that, but instead, you took the time to offer some excellent pointers. Helpful not only to the op, but to any of us who may one day decide to give this a shot.

Your posts are always helpful and informative. I especially liked the photo essay on how to file the decorative edges on the spine. A great deal of time, effort and thought goes into that sort of post and, while I may never try my hand at new scales, I can certainly appreciate the work that goes into it. We are all grateful for your unselfish sharing.

And of course, there's Rich's "loaner" ;)

Thank you, Sir.
http://home.comcast.net/~cherylellis01/forums/geek_sitting_on_park_bench_md_clr.gifI've never been comfortable with genuine compliments, but they are appreciated at the same time. Most of the time I think I have the ability to slip under the radar by using what I consider to be humor and then just wish the best to those who may get something from what I may have said. When I see someone use what I've offered and it comes out good, that's when I feel the best.

[Padron]

The wealth of knowledge you share Bill is always very appreciated. I have never attempted to make my own scales but would be pleased if they came out as nice as vgods 1st attempt. :D

One of these days though :)

Keep up the great work!!

[Michael]

http://home.comcast.net/%7Echerylellis01/forums/geek_sitting_on_park_bench_md_clr.gifI've never been comfortable with genuine compliments, but they are appreciated at the same time. Most of the time I think I have the ability to slip under the radar by using what I consider to be humor and then just wish the best to those who may get something from what I may have said. When I see someone use what I've offered and it comes out good, that's when I feel the best.

Then, never mind... :D

[PalmettoB]

Very nice....I gotta get some nice wood and start a few of my own...I only have mostly hand tools too, like a drill and a Dremel, so I'm glad to see someone doing hand work like this!

[CatMan]

I don't know if this has been posted before on this forum, - I found it somewhere, maybe SRP? -, it's intended to help people with simple tools to create scales:
http://simianstats.com/monkey2/page1.htm

[TOB9595]

Vgod, wonderful work. The time and effort spent BY HAND was well worth it.
How does it shave?
I keep getting called by the Straight Razor Siren calls
Tooooom oh Tooooooooom

Bill good info on restoration. I have to try my hand at this.
Tom

[Kenrup]

Sweet, does it shave as good as it looks?