What is your favorite source for scales?

[JamesBlades]

Well I just broke a second set of vintage scales, this time in the re-pinning process. The last time I did this I bought a set of nice spanish oak scales from The Superior Shave. With this current razor, I don't want to spend too much, so I think I'll just go with plastic scales like the ones I broke. I was thinking of these:

Dovo Straight Razor Replacement Scales Celluloid 5/8 Size | The Superior Shave

I'd like to know where y'all like to buy replacement scales and what your preferred material is (celluloid, G10, wood). I'd also like to know if anyone has a source on the brass pins like the one pictured in the link. I find it much easier to pin razors with those than with plain brass rods.

 

[JamesBlades]

To clarify on my last question, I already have plenty of the necessary washers for pinning straights. I ordered them from microfasteners. But I'd like to order some 1/16" inch brass "nails" like what's provided from the Superior Shave to use for pinning instead of a straight brass rod.

 

[psfred]

I make my own, using the set of templates from the web (quite a variety of styles copied from production razors).

I'd be happy to send you a few pair to play with, roughly 1/8" thick, finished on the inside with polyurethane and held in pairs with double sided tape. I sort of got carried away, have several dozen more pairs than I will ever use.

Brass rod is available in hobby stores and on eBay, as is nickel silver infill rod (in the welding supplies). I've also used stainless in 1/16" infill rod (any of the 300 series alloys will work). I'd recommend pinning a few razors with brass before trying the stainless, it's much much harder and takes both a heavier hammer and more skill to prevent bending the rod while riveting.

 

[JamesBlades]

@psfred Thank you so much! I'd love to take you up on that offer. I'll send you a PM with my address.

I've got some 1/16" brass rod, but I've had difficultly pinning vintage razors with it. I usually either bend the rod or break the scales. I've noticed that all the guys on YouTube that are demonstrating how to pin razors using brass rods have small anvils with a shallow 1/16" hole drilled in it. That would be real handy! Absent one of those, the "nails" like I referred to above are the easiest to use. Something like this:

Ralf Aust Razor Pinning Kit for 2 Razors | Maggard Razors Traditional Wet Shaving Products

If anyone knows of a source where those type of pins could be bought in bulk, I'd appreciate it!

 

[Ice-Man]

I use an A4 acrilic sheet 3mm thick colour of choice, brass pin stock and washers or nickel silver same with washers. dont use brass washers with nickel silver rod try to keep the same, peen to suit.....

 

[RumpleBearskin]

dont use brass washers with nickel silver rod

Why is that? I have seen some "contrasting" pins and think they can look really spiffy on the right scales.

 

[mycarver]

+1 on using brass pins stainless washers or nickel pins and brass washers. Looks neat.

What doesn’t look neat , in my estimation , are the brass “nail” pins. They look awful.
Done correctly ,conventional pinning is pretty easy , looks correct and has worked well for over a century. A wire cutter, file and small hammer is pretty basic .

 

[sanch]

My preference is wood a(stabilized) at this particular moment. Although it's been a while since I've done it I do like hand laying micarta various colors and materials. Pins have all been plain brass with #0 brass washers and SS spacers between blade and scales. As far as contrasting pin to washers I think it would depend on the scale color.

 

[ClemsonTigerz]

I’m having a hard time finding scales for my 13/16…..where do you find THOSE unicorns?

 

[neiasden]

Well I just broke a second set of vintage scales, this time in the re-pinning process. The last time I did this I bought a set of nice spanish oak scales from The Superior Shave. With this current razor, I don't want to spend too much, so I think I'll just go with plastic scales like the ones I broke. I was thinking of these:

Dovo Straight Razor Replacement Scales Celluloid 5/8 Size | The Superior Shave

I'd like to know where y'all like to buy replacement scales and what your preferred material is (celluloid, G10, wood). I'd also like to know if anyone has a source on the brass pins like the one pictured in the link. I find it much easier to pin razors with those than with plain brass rods.

if you don't like using the traditional brass, nickel or stainless you can always try using a welders brazing rod lol. they are 1/16"

 

[mycarver]

No real reason to need some “special” anvil. I’ve done several hundred without one. Always thought they were nonsense. All you need is a vise, a file and a small hammer. You can pin anything with scales.

 

[Legion]

if you don't like using the traditional brass, nickel or stainless you can always try using a welders brazing rod lol. they are 1/16"

This. And brass welding rod a lot cheeper than buying 1/16 rod in a hobby store.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/10pcs-Welding-Sticks-Repair-Brazing/dp/B079B5LDRD/ref=asc_df_B079B5LDRD/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=272040849262&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16362888089553809436&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9044965&hvtargid=pla-487455989254&psc=1

 

[mycarver]

It’s been a while but my last purchase of brass rod, 3 pieces 3 foot long was around $10.00. Didn’t seem too bad. Some sell a “kit” to pin a couple of razors for more than that. I can pin several dozen. Brass rod is cheap.
A few hundred brass washers . Also cheap.

By the way. You imagine the company Microfasfeners as some big machine type shop.
They’re 20 minutes from my home. It’s two elderly women in a non descript shop about the size of my kitchen selling nick-nacks and hobby type supplies. In the back corner is a peg board wall covered in little envelopes with different size washers on them. That’s Micrifasteners. You place an order and they pluck an envelope off the wall and ship it. A helper sits with a pile of washers and bags them 100 at a time. I was dumbstruck. Really, that’s Micrifasfeners?
Yup. Cool. Go for it ladies.

 

[Legion]

It’s been a while but my last purchase of brass rod, 3 pieces 3 foot long was around $10.00. Didn’t seem too bad. Some sell a “kit” to pin a couple of razors for more than that. I can pin several dozen. Brass rod is cheap.
A few hundred brass washers . Also cheap.

By the way. You imagine the company Microfasfeners as some big machine type shop.
They’re 20 minutes from my home. It’s two elderly women in a non descript shop about the size of my kitchen selling nick-nacks and hobby type supplies. In the back corner is a peg board wall covered in little envelopes with different size washers on them. That’s Micrifasteners. You place an order and they pluck an envelope off the wall and ship it. A helper sits with a pile of washers and bags them 100 at a time. I was dumbstruck. Really, that’s Micrifasfeners?
Yup. Cool. Go for it ladies.

Last lot of welding rod I got was nearly 10' for about $2 US, off Aliexpress. As usual, it took a while to arrive, but I wasn't in a rush.

That's cool about microfasteners. Such a niche shop, that doesn't surprise me so much. But I was kind of imagining little old men, who were selling those bits and bobs to fund their model train hobby.

 

[DrStrange]

I only ever rescaled one razor.
I used rosewood.
I like it.

The World's Worst @Pinning the Straight Razor.

And one more thing, I dont use any washers when pinning, perhaps when you miss a hit the washers gap is causing the scale to snap at the end due to flex. Use brass instead of nickel and dont use washers inside next to the blade. All my vintages never had them so why start now. You will get a...

www.badgerandblade.com