Can stabilized scales be planed?

T

tloskot

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Nov 30, 2015
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Hello everyone. I'm just getting into making my own handles and have recently searched for and purchased a few sets of stabilized spalted maple, sycamore and ash scales. I found it impossible to find these in 1/4" thicknesses which is where I would like them to be. Most common were 3/8" or 5/16", both of which are quite a bit to thick for my application. I feel it will be very difficult to sand these down evenly with the tools I have available since I don't have a multi thousand dollar sanding setup (YET :). So my primary question is can I run these scales through a small planer? If not, what advise do you have for me. Thanks in advance.
 
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My first thought is the snipe that you'd end up with on either end greatly reducing the length of available flat material. Other than that, I haven't tried, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. A thickness sander would be a much better bet, I use one for almost every set of scales I use, stabilized or not. No snipe!

-Peter
 
i think on small scales a planner might have problems i knwo i use a fly cutter on all of my scales to make then the right size and dead flat. i think most makers woudl epoxy the scales and then sand them to size on the grinder
 
Provided it wont hurt the planerblades, you might try hot gluing the scale to a wood board whats suitable size to run thru the machine.
I do this alot to safely run small or odd shapes thru power saws & joiners.
 
Like Lieblad said I would suggest a side clamping jig or hot glue on a long board and then run through the planer


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my main worry with planning is might have grain tearout even tho it is stablized and any vibration coudl cause chatter
 
Just try it. Use a jointer instead if you have one. If not, double sided sticky tape it down and run it through. It will be fine.
 
I'd buy the 5/16 and just pin/glue as normal, then take down to the thickness you want when you shape and profile. Otherwise, you could probably plane them. Use a good double stick tape to a long board. put a sacrificial strip at or above the height of the scales for the feed rollers to grab, and then take light passes until you get close. A light sanding should take out any chatter, though a decent planer shouldn't have a whole lot of issue.
 
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