Do it yourself scales

Chain Gang · **on:** September 16, 2011, 05:09:00 PM

I had an old beat up Vic laying around so I thought I would experiment by making some new scales.The scales were cut out of aluminum sheet and polished.I think it turned out ok for my first time.Now I'm going to try my luck with various woods.

Farmman · **Reply #1 on:** September 16, 2011, 05:42:54 PM

Looks good. How do you think the scales will deal with all the other things that lurk in the average pocket?

Neil · **Reply #2 on:** September 16, 2011, 05:44:43 PM

Quote from: Chain Gang on September 16, 2011, 05:09:00 PM

I had an old beat up Vic laying around so I thought I would experiment by making some new scales.The scales were cut out of aluminum sheet and polished.I think it turned out ok for my first time.Now I'm going to try my luck with various woods.

I think they tuned out very well indeed! Top job

Chain Gang · **Reply #3 on:** September 16, 2011, 05:57:00 PM

Quote from: Farmman on September 16, 2011, 05:42:54 PM

Looks good. How do you think the scales will deal with all the other things that lurk in the average pocket?

Not well at all.Touch it and you leave a big nasty finger print.Although it doesn't show well in the pic,it is a mirror finish and the soft aluminum will scratch very easy.This was only an experiment and unless I make it a shelve queen it may go on the belt sander for the "brushed look".

Sparky415 · **Reply #4 on:** September 16, 2011, 06:13:46 PM

Nice job CG

Dexter · **Reply #5 on:** September 16, 2011, 06:42:29 PM

Very nice!

thebullfrog · **Reply #6 on:** September 16, 2011, 06:52:35 PM

I wish I had the skillset for making custom scales. I love wood scales, but I gotta say, those shiny guys you got there look simply fantastic.

captain spaulding · **Reply #7 on:** September 16, 2011, 07:11:17 PM

Looks awesome. Great work.

edap617 · **Reply #8 on:** September 16, 2011, 10:07:00 PM

Very nice.

Chain Gang · **Reply #9 on:** September 16, 2011, 11:27:02 PM

Better pic of the polish job.

Neil · **Reply #10 on:** September 16, 2011, 11:48:11 PM

Would be a shame to lose that polish but I do understand $:-\$

As an alternative, perhaps you could lacquer them.

enki_ck · **Reply #11 on:** September 16, 2011, 11:55:02 PM

That looks great, great job. How did you attach the scales? As for the scratches, you could wear it in a leather or suade pouch. Like the ones the CRK Sebbies come with.

Chain Gang · **Reply #12 on:** September 16, 2011, 11:56:50 PM

Quote from: Neil on September 16, 2011, 11:48:11 PM

Would be a shame to lose that polish but I do understand $:-\$

As an alternative, perhaps you could lacquer them.

I decided to keep it as is.It is a lot of work to hand polish aluminum.I have too many other carry knifes so this sak will be for display only.

Chain Gang · **Reply #13 on:** September 17, 2011, 12:03:55 AM

Quote from: enki_ck on September 16, 2011, 11:55:02 PM

That looks great, great job. How did you attach the scales? As for the scratches, you could wear it in a leather or suade pouch. Like the ones the CRK Sebbies come with.

I used a product called JB Weld,the quick set type.JB is very strong stuff.If I wanted to remove the scales I would probably have to beat them off.As I said before,I won't be carrying this knife.

thebullfrog · **Reply #14 on:** September 17, 2011, 05:08:12 AM

Yeah, jb weld is pretty much eternal

evil510 · **Reply #15 on:** September 17, 2011, 04:27:31 PM

Great job on the scales. Do you know what grade of aluminum you used? Some grades are a lot more resilient to scratches etc than others. I have been fabricating things out of billet aluminum for cars and motorcycles for over two decades. If your scales are of a softer grade, you can use a good quality clearcoat and then wetsand and polish them afterwards. You'll retain your high polish and protect it as well. It'd be a shame not to use it. But then again, I am not a collector.....

~ evil ~

Chain Gang · **Reply #16 on:** September 17, 2011, 04:38:30 PM

The scales were cut from a piece of angle aluminum purchased fro Lowes.I'm sure it not the highest quality.As I said before I used a not so pristine SAK for this project so it's no big deal.I did learn that I would rather work wood than aluminum.

Metropolicity · **Reply #17 on:** September 17, 2011, 04:59:32 PM

Quote from: Chain Gang on September 17, 2011, 04:38:30 PM

The scales were cut from a piece of angle aluminum purchased fro Lowes.I'm sure it not the highest quality.As I said before I used a not so pristine SAK for this project so it's no big deal.I did learn that I would rather work wood than aluminum.

Yah usually hardware store alu stock isn't 6160, which is pretty hard as far as alu goes. I typically only buy alu rod for prototyping on my lathe before getting some real stuff.

Chain Gang · **Reply #18 on:** September 17, 2011, 06:12:04 PM

I don't have access to anything but a table top jigsaw and a belt sander along with various files and a Dremel tool.My neighbor supplied me with some beautiful thin pieces of Walnut and Ash.It is the correct thickness so all I have to do is cut out some blanks and fine tune it with sandpaper.That will be much easier than the aluminum for the tools I have to work with.

Metropolicity · **Reply #19 on:** September 17, 2011, 06:20:04 PM

Quote from: Chain Gang on September 17, 2011, 06:12:04 PM

I don't have access to anything but a table top jigsaw and a belt sander along with various files and a Dremel tool.My neighbor supplied me with some beautiful thin pieces of Walnut and Ash.It is the correct thickness so all I have to do is cut out some blanks and fine tune it with sandpaper.That will be much easier than the aluminum for the tools I have to work with.

mmmmmmm Walnut! my favourite! can't wait to see it!

Sparky415 · **Reply #20 on:** September 17, 2011, 06:23:41 PM

Quote from: Metropolicity on September 17, 2011, 06:20:04 PM

Quote from: Chain Gang on September 17, 2011, 06:12:04 PM
I don't have access to anything but a table top jigsaw and a belt sander along with various files and a Dremel tool.My neighbor supplied me with some beautiful thin pieces of Walnut and Ash.It is the correct thickness so all I have to do is cut out some blanks and fine tune it with sandpaper.That will be much easier than the aluminum for the tools I have to work with.

mmmmmmm Walnut! my favourite! can't wait to see it!

+1

And I would try some spray lacquer on the Aluminum scales myself

Chain Gang · **Reply #21 on:** September 17, 2011, 06:54:31 PM

I think I can make several scales now.Solid Walnut and Ash.

Neil · **Reply #22 on:** September 17, 2011, 08:20:36 PM

I think you might just be able to squeeze one or two out of that

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