The restoration of a straight razor often includes replacing the hard bone, shell, wood or plastic cover of the blade, known as the scales. The scales protect the edge of the razor from damage and the razor's owner from inadvertently cutting himself. Replacement scales can be purchased or made by hand to suit the craftsman. Brass pins in the ends of the scales hold the razor together. To rescale a razor, you must remove the old pins and replace them with new ones. This requires careful handling of the power and hand tools used to assemble the razor.
Step 1
Drill a hole through the wood block and create a slight depression into the metal block with the drill fitted with the 1/4 inch bit.
Step 2
Grind off the rounded head of one of the metal pins that hold the old scales together with the rotary tool. Place the scales over the wood block and align the pin with the hole with the ground end facing up. Place the point of the punch onto the ground end of the pin. Tap the end of the punch with the flat side of the ball peen hammer to remove the pin from the scales. Repeat this step with the other pin.
Step 3
Insert the brass rod through the end hole in the new scales with the scale wedge in place between the ends of the scales. Cut the rod with the wire cutters to form a new pin. Sand the cut ends of the new pin flat with the bench sander so that the rod protrudes 1/16 of an inch from either side of the scales.
Step 4
Place a small metal washer that fits into the depression in the side of the scale over each end of the brass pin. Place one end of the pin over the depression in the metal block, facing downward. Lightly and repeatedly tap the upward facing end of the pin with the round side of the ball peen hammer to round the end of the pin into a mushroom shape. Flip the scales over. Place the rounded end of the pin into the depression on the metal block. Tap the upward facing end of the pin to round it over until the scale ends and wedge fit together tightly.
Step 5
Insert the remainder of the brass rod through the end hole in the new scales with the blade in place between the ends of the scales. Cut the rod with the wire cutters and sand the ends flat to protrude 1/16 inch from either side of the scales.
Step 6
Place a small metal washer over each end of the pin. Position one end of the pin over the depression in the metal block. Lightly and repeatedly tap the end of the pin with the hammer. Round the end of the pin. Flip the scales over. Place the rounded end of the pin in the metal block. Tap the upward facing end of the pin. Round it over until the scale ends and the blade fit together slightly tighter than normal. As the razor is used, the blade will loosen.
Things You'll Need
- Hand-held power rotary tool with grinding wheel
- Wood block
- Drill with 1/4 inch bit
- Center punch
- 4 oz. ball peen hammer
- Brass rod
- Wire cutters
- Bench sander
- Metal washers
- New scales
- Hard metal block
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