Thinning scales

[RandyFew]

When thinning bone scales, how do you guys hold the scale on the sander to keep it from going airborne or leaving your fingerprints and blood on the sander? I am going to try double sided foam tape. Some of the bone scales need just a bit of thinning, while the layered wood scales need a whole bunch of thinning. Any tips will be appreciated.
Thanks, Randy

[muskrat man]

usually for me it's the latter. I rarely have to trim my fingernails and my left thumb lacks a fingerprint most of the time

[Joe Dirt]

Jewelers "dob sticks" would be a good way to save your fingerprints.
There nothing more than a wooden dowel used with a hard setting jewelers wax.
Just use a Bunsen burner (alcohol burner) to heat the wax.

http://www.inlandlapidary.com/singlepro ... =&source=1

..... Joe

[Iron Hoarder]

Silly putty on a stick might work too.

[whitebuffalo58]

Hot melt glue them to a board slightly bigger then the scales. As long as you don't heat 'em up beyond the release point it works great. They'll pop right off and clean-up easily when you're done.

WB

[Joe Dirt]

Silly putty on a stick might work too.

Silllllllly Putttttty!!!!
I've never had by butt whipped so hard as when that stuff got into the shag carpet.

...... Joe

[glennbad]

For thinning scales (wood, bone, etc), I use my tabletop belt sander. It has a stop on it that the material can rest against, and I can bring the material down onto it from above. I can put pressure on it if needed, or just let it lightly ride over the belt.

I do use mechanics gloves sometimes, and the fingertips are pretty well sanded off.

Glenn