Thread: Easy Scale Fitting... Tip from the Bench

I was talking this idea over, with some of the guys last week in the Restore Chat, and I happened to be working on some scales today so I figured I would pop some pics....

This is a quick and easy way to mock up your scales, and finish sanding the wedge in for fitting.... I use a set of adjustable pins to fit everything together to make sure the scales function with the razor, but I don't want to do any sanding or final fitting with the razor in the scales. So I made a tang jig to keep the scales together for final fitting of the wedge without the risk of a cut to yourself, or a chip to the razor... Just a 3/16 or 1/4 in thick piece of wood shaped like the tang of your razor will do.. Honest it just needs to be a piece of wood, you don't have to try and make it look like a tang and tail but hey it's more fun that way !!!

Thanks for the awesome ideas, Glen. You're very generous in your willingness to share your ideas. It's appreciated!!

Chris L

Originally Posted by Chris L

Thanks for the awesome ideas, Glen. You're very generous in your willingness to share your ideas. It's appreciated!!

Chris L

You are most welcome, one of the things that I have really grown to love about this community of ours, is everyones willingness to help each other out...Tricks like these are guarded very, very, closely in the gunsmithing chat I belong to.... But here, it is more like a group of friends, that share their ideas, failures, and triumphs....

That is a great idea Glen. My question is: I notice alot of the razors have differing widths, and sometimes, I'll make a set of scales for a particular razor, then at the last minute decide to put a different one in there, which fits completely differently. I guess one could make differing width jigs, and using calipers determine which jig to use for each blade.What do you think?

Actually I have only really noticed 3 different sizes when it comes to razors... I'm sure there are more, and some are probably slightly thicker or thinner, but for the most part there are just 3...
The big ole' wedges and 8/8 sized razors with a 1/4 inch thick tang, then the medium sized ones that are about 3/16, and a almost dainty tang, that is probably 5/32....
I just made my jig at 3/16 basically the middle size and haven't had a problem either way "SO FAR.....

Awesome Glen!!!!

This should definitely hit the Wiki.

Thanks,

Lynn

That's good to know. Thanks Glen. I'll try it soon!

Great idea!!!
Thanks for posting!

Glen,

Sweet idea. When I'm doing the final assembly on my customs, I always use the actual blade, but I may have to give this a try. I have been protecting myself and the edge by folding tape over it. (The tape thing works pretty well if you have to do post-assembly work and you're worried about damaging it...)

Thanks for sharing!

Josh

Wow Glenn,,, seems so simple and obvious , yet it took you to point it out. I see that even some of the pros here are liking the idea , so what could be said for me...lol. GOOD LOOKING OUT!