Reforming scales?

[Finnigan]

I was given a number of vintage straights this last weekend for my birthday/Christmas. A couple of them have scales (I believe they are celuloid) that are a bit warped or disfigured. Is there any way to reform them? I thought I read somewhere that spoaking them in warm water makes them a bit maleable. I was also thinking about hot sand like optomitrists use to shape glasses might work.

Any tried and true methods?

[60CycleHum]

It may be better to make your own scales, rather than try to straighten the ones in question. The StraightRazorPlace did have some nice threads on making scales, but lost them during the server crash. (I think that I saved some of these threads on my machine, if you would like for me to post them here.)

Anyway, I know that ClassicShaving does carry scales for restoration. http://www.classicshaving.com/page/page/523001.htm

Good Luck,

Bob

[Thebigspendur]

You can try some gentle heat but celluloid is funny stuff. Too much of anything and they will self destruct and too much ain't much with them. But if you want to experiment try some hot water or even some steam but only enough until you can deform them.

[kenrup]

I have restored a number of celluloid scales by carefully heating them in hot water and then GENTLY shaping them closer to the desired shape. I do this repeatedly and a little bit of movement at a time. Returning them to perfect doesn't happen very often. would hesitate to use hot sand as heating celluloid is not unlike somebody smoking while putting gasoline in their car.

[BillEllis]

I use a heat gun, but you have to be careful because, before you know it, you will be staring at some thick black smoke and a blob of soot on your work table.

[Kees]

This really sounds very reassuring!:eek:


I use a heat gun, but you have to be careful because, before you know it, you will be staring at some thick black smoke and a blob of soot on your work table.

[Finnigan]

This really sounds very reassuring!

Indeed! :bored:

Hmmm. Well, in the worst case I suppose I ruin the scales and need new ones.

I COULD leave them deformed as they are for the time being I suppose. It just happens that the two best blades I have are in warped scales. It's annoying.

[jlander]

I have been following this thread closely as I have a DD Goldedge taht the scale are warped inwards. I would like to restore them rather than replace them.