Canadian restorers - Acrylic blanks source?

**bmc1979** · 07-28-2010, 08:30 AM

For all those up here in the great white north, is there anywhere you get acrylic blanks from or can recommend. I did have Nerdman send me some that he was offering to members here but unfortunately the postal gods (whether the US or Canadian side) have claimed them and are now lost forever. I've done some searching online and have found sources that have pen blanks but they all seem to be only 5" long and my understanding is that you want something at least 6" long. Can be an online source, or even better, a local source here in Calgary if anyone is from around here. If it is an online source, I'd like for it to be Canadian if possible to take minimize shipping and conversion. Although I won't turn down any suggestions. Thanks for any help.

**dmcconnell** · 07-28-2010, 09:35 AM

I am interested in this as well. As for wood, I was in Lee Valley the other day and they have a decent assortment of exotic wood (http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/pag...at=1,250,43217). The flatter pieces may be suitable for making scales.

**RobertH** · 07-28-2010, 09:44 AM

A member on straightrazorplace.com posted some photos of a restore he did using the acrylic pen blanks from Lee Valley.

http://www.straightrazorplace.com/fo...n-restore.html

They have all kinds of patterns.

**bmc1979** · 07-29-2010, 07:17 AM

Guess I'll have to check out Lee Valley. Maybe head over there during lunch one day.

**Munxcub** · 10-19-2010, 10:45 AM

So are pen blanks that are 3/4"x3/4"x5" big enough for scales?

**dmcconnell** · 10-19-2010, 11:09 AM

Nope. Not for most 5/8+ blades anyway.

**dakotaev** · 10-19-2010, 01:21 PM

I've used the LeeValley wood pen blanks successfully for two 5/8 re-scales. There is not much room for error, but its possible as long as the scale's don't have a large curve.

Both of these were made from a single blank.

**dmcconnell** · 10-19-2010, 06:26 PM

Those look great - I stand corrected!

**dakotaev** · 10-19-2010, 07:26 PM

Thanks dmcconnell.

Just to point out the LeeValley blanks are 3/4" square by 6" long not 5".

**spindlecone** · 10-19-2010, 07:28 PM

Do They have TAP plastics In canada?

**Munxcub** · 10-19-2010, 07:44 PM

My wife has some liquid acrylic she is using to bury some items into a table top for our son's room. (a treasure map and pirate gold coins). Basically covering them in clear acrylic.

I am thinking I might just pour some into a mold of some kind and give that a shot. Anyone have any ideas on how I might try to colour it? Clear could be just fine for a first shot at scale making eh?

**dmcconnell** · 10-20-2010, 06:38 AM

Oh that's why they don't look short . . . I was referring to the acrylic pen blanks at Lee Valley that are only 5" in length -> http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/pag...50,43243,53784

**Munxcub** · 10-20-2010, 07:22 AM

So the pen blanks here should work as long as I'm not trying to build scales for some 8/8 meat cleaver?

http://penblanks.ca/home.php

They also have blanks for wine bottle stoppers that I think might work for brush handles.

Thoughts on these? I already emailed asking if he had bigger ones and he said no.

Oooo what about laminating a couple together with a strip of something in between?

**Hair apparent** · 11-03-2010, 03:43 PM

I went into a local plastics supply company in Ottawa today. They have a variety of acrylic, and will sell it by the sq ft. I asked if their product line was online, was told due to problems with gettig the colours to show correctly they do not list their products online. Perhaps there is a plastics supply company in Calgary.

**dakotaev** · 11-03-2010, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Munxcub

So the pen blanks here should work as long as I'm not trying to build scales for some 8/8 meat cleaver?

http://penblanks.ca/home.php

They also have blanks for wine bottle stoppers that I think might work for brush handles.

Thoughts on these? I already emailed asking if he had bigger ones and he said no.

Oooo what about laminating a couple together with a strip of something in between?

8/8" would be impossible. I'm finding it nearly impossible to scale anything over 5/8" in the 3/4" x 3/4" x 6" pen blanks. 5/8" works perfect, 6/8" will not without having ultra straight scales (Which are not good looking in my opinion) the heel of the blade will come too close/be poking out the bottom of the scales.

If ONLY they were a bit wider.