ShavingUniverse.com

Register a free account now!

If you are registered, you get access to the members only section, can participate in the buy & sell second hand forum and last but not least you can reserve your preferred username before someone else takes it.

Scale Finishing Project - Step 3

rayman

Well-Known Member
In this step, 3rd and final, we will finish the handle,mount the blade and set the pins.

Here is what the wedge end of the scales looked like after the glue set over night.

2Endreadytocut.jpg


The first step is to cut off the excess wedge material so we can sand and finish the end.

3Cuttingtheend.jpg


4EndCut.jpg


First we will machine sand the wedge as close as possible to the scales, without damaging the scales.

5Sandingtheend.jpg


6Sandingtheend.jpg


This is what it looked like before the hand sanding for final finish.

7Endsanded.jpg


We then take 600 and 1500 grit sandpaper to polish the end for final finish.

8Sandpaperforfinish.jpg


I will be doing a writeup on how to apply a CA finish in the future, but for now, here is a list of the items we will use here. Since this had 12 coats of CA, we will apply an additional 8 coats to match up the end with the rest of the scales.

The primary items are the CA, of course, and Boiled linseed oil. The linseed oil is used as an accelerator to set the CA faster. Also, not shown in the photo is a piece of T-shirt used for spreading the CA and the linseed oil.

9Productsforfinish.jpg


After the CA is set, we need to sand it with the 1500 grit sandpaper and the final polishing is done with a good furniture polish.

10Productsforfinish.jpg


Put a drop of CA on the surface of the end and spread it using the t-shirt, only in one direction, on the end and sides. After 4 coats, put just a drop or two of the linseed oil on a new spot on the rag, and spread it on the CA. As soon as you start to wipe it on, the CA will setup. Wait a minute or so, wipe it off, with a clean rag, and you can apply the balance of the CA coats.

11CAfinish.jpg


This is what the end looks like after the CA has been applied.

12CAfinal.jpg


Put a washer on the pin you have rounded and push it through the wedge hole.

13Readytopin.jpg


14Readytopin.jpg


Put a washer on the other side and cut the pin. After the pin is cut, file it down close to the washer and peen the head on it. Finish both sides.

15Cutpin.jpg


After the wedge end is finished, prep the end of a new pin and mount the blade with it. Make sure you put a large washer on each side of the blade between the blade and the liner. Before you finish the other side, check and make sure you have the blade mounted the correct direction. Put a washer on the other side, cut the pin, file and peen the ends over checking for tightness as you go.

16readyforpivotpin.jpg


When you are finished setting the pins, wax the scales with 3 or 4 coats and polish after each coat dries.

17Pinnedandreadytopolish.jpg


Finally the finished product.

18Polished.jpg


Enjoy!

Ray
 
Great stuff, your work is awesome. Truly a standard for we newbies to aspire to...

Is the black material lining the wood scales a nicety or a necessity?
 
Big up, fantastic post again. Several more like this and half of SRP folks will enroll here... :lol:

kind regards,
Matt
 
standardgewehr said:
Great stuff, your work is awesome. Truly a standard for we newbies to aspire to...

Is the black material lining the wood scales a nicety or a necessity?

Great question. In some instances, liners are used as an asthetic balance for beauty only. In others, you will see some use very thin brass or aluminum. This is not only for looks but used to balance the blade properly. When working with exotic woods, I feel it is almost a necessary just to hide the grain on the inside, and to reinforce the wood itself. Grains in woods are sometimes very unpredictable and backing can eliminate premature cracking.

GSsixgun had a great article, over on SRP, about the balance of the scales. Basically what he said was that you can tell if the scales are made correctly by the feel of the balance when you hone the razor.

This was very true, and one of those things overlooked by even experienced honers. If the balance doesn't feel right when you hone a finished installation, something went wrong.

Enjoy!

Ray
 
matis said:
Big up, fantastic post again. Several more like this and half of SRP folks will enroll here... :lol:

kind regards,
Matt

Thanks Matt, and no comment!

Ray
 
my bad, i think the 0.064 is the inner diameter? which makes the size #0 the correct size for the pins? Is this right?

Thanks, James
 
Sorry guys, here are the numbers for the washers and screws.

Flat Washers

FWB0 #0 .064
FWBW0 #0 wide .064

Slotted round head machine screws Brass

RMB0016 0-80 x 1"

You can use smaller if you like.

Hex Nuts

HNB080 0-80

Ray
 
Awesome Ray, many thanks Amigo
now if the temp outside ever crawls back above freezing I must try my hand at this custom scale making stuff :thumbup:
 
Back
Top