Warped Scales

[colu41]

Are these fixable? Or is it a lost cause. They were for most part straight before I epoxied the liners on. Even clamped them in my aluminum quench plates to keep them straight because they are thin. They bend with slight finger pressure, so some good epoxy and Corby bolts I figured would do the trick but. Wanted some info first.

 

[Frank Niro]

As I see those scales they were cut across the grain. You will never keep them flat attaching to thin micarta or G-10. Even in thick material cross grain cutting is often a disaster after finishing down. Tough, but just something you had to know or learn.
Frank

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

What Frank said.

 

[colu41]

Thanks guys.

 

[Frank Niro]

I perhaps should have added that if the wood is stabilized in over sized thickness pieces it should be okay.
Frank

 

[colu41]

I perhaps should have added that if the wood is stabilized in over sized thickness pieces it should be okay.
Frank

Were not stabilized. They were really thin though too. Must have been really humid that night. Oh well. I couldn't throw them out so I put them aside. Maybe use them for bolsters or something someday. Couldn't throw away nicely figured box elder. :foot:

 

[lorenkinzel]

I've run into this before (or it ran into me).
On dry wood epoxy will act like water but to a lesser degree. Wood swells on 1 side & hardens that way. "perma-warp"; even if clamped flat.
My workaround being to epoxy a piece of construction paper to the other side & grind it off later.
(both sides glued at the same time).
Only works if the scales are thick enough to allow for removing all the epoxy so as stain can work on the good side.
I never stain (scales) so no issue to me.