Scales salvaged from the dumpster

[fast14riot]

So in my thead of praise for Tap Plastics, I mention salvaging scraps from their dumpster. This set of smoke acrylic is some of the salvaged material. I did buy several sheets of their scraps and cutoffs after I had started these and used some of the red for the wedge.

Specs:
5/8 blade
Dixie Mfg. Co.
Union City, GA
Smoke acrylic scales
1/16" copper pins hand hammered
Red acrylic wedge, glueless assembly
Brass tubing bushed pivot

I need to remove the frown from this blade and reset the bevels and then it is off to get honed.

Comments and critiques are encouraged.

 

[Prince]

Nice color combo.

 

[Obiwan]

Nice job Xander.

 

[jred]

I dig the smoke, and the red sets it off nicely.

Something about the shape makes me want to say it's too flat/straight, but when I try to analyze that impression, the scales aren't really flat at all. Maybe it's an angle/picture thing.

Still, I wouldn't kick that razor out of the rotation Good job!

 

[Kentos]

I like it!

 

[fast14riot]

Thanx everyone. I based th shape of these scales roughly on the Union Cutlery Spike brand razors. The original scales were really cool, but had a nasty warp and burn spot, surprising they didn't ignite! I still have them and may try to salvage them on something else.

I dig the smoke, and the red sets it off nicely.

Something about the shape makes me want to say it's too flat/straight, but when I try to analyze that impression, the scales aren't really flat at all. Maybe it's an angle/picture thing.

Still, I wouldn't kick that razor out of the rotation Good job!

Is there a different angle you would like to see it from? I can use a white background to show the outline more. Thanx!


-Xander

 

[jred]

Ah! That's it. It looks fine in the top picture, it's the dark background in the bottom picture that was throwing me off.

I mean, um, you really need a special backdrop. Like perhaps plaster & lathe walls. It just so happens I have the *exact* walls you need in my bathroom. So, you could just send it my way, and I'll take pictures for you! You'll get it back... eventually

 

[UKRob]

Xander - your original post made me want to try something in smoked acrylic but I can't find any in the UK - the nearest I guess would be grey. Seeing the finished job just reinforces what a great material and colour it is for scales. As you can gather, I really like your work.

One question - the brass tubing bushed pivot - was this necessary because the pivot hole was too big?

 

[fast14riot]

Ah! That's it. It looks fine in the top picture, it's the dark background in the bottom picture that was throwing me off.

I mean, um, you really need a special backdrop. Like perhaps plaster & lathe walls. It just so happens I have the *exact* walls you need in my bathroom. So, you could just send it my way, and I'll take pictures for you! You'll get it back... eventually

Well I just so happen to have the lathe and plaster walls in my whole house, so I'll becovered there.

Xander - your original post made me want to try something in smoked acrylic but I can't find any in the UK - the nearest I guess would be grey. Seeing the finished job just reinforces what a great material and colour it is for scales. As you can gather, I really like your work.

One question - the brass tubing bushed pivot - was this necessary because the pivot hole was too big?

Good luck on finding the smoke acrylic, if not let me know and I can send a sheet your way. Yes the pivot was oversized, it was roughly 7/64".


-Xander

 

[Khay]

Really good work Xander, I like the contrast of the smoke vs red - very nice choice

 

[fast14riot]

Thanx, I really like how the wedge turned out. This is my first time doing a glueless assembly and it was difficult shaping the wedge as it kept turning, but once I put the bow in the scales by pinning the blade it locked in nicely. I didn't want there to be glue visible through the scales and this worked out well.

I will be using more of this acrylic in other colors once my pile of GD's arrive. I have a sheet of clear amber that I think would be cool. We'll see.


-Xander

 

[Khay]

This is my first time doing a glueless assembly and it was difficult shaping the wedge as it kept turning, but once I put the bow in the scales by pinning the blade it locked in nicely. I didn't want there to be glue visible through the scales and this worked out well.

I know what you mean - I've never done acrylic scales but the ones I have done in wood, I usually glue the wedge so I can shape it more easily. It also helps that the epoxy fills in any imperfection I might have left in between the scale-wedge area. Without glue, it's more difficult to pull off a really good fit but you've done it, congratulations

 

[rickboone1]

looks good to me. if i had the materials and know how i'd do the same thing!