diff --git a/samples/bar-stacked.html b/samples/bar-stacked.html
index 5c03e4aa1..3248365ec 100644
--- a/samples/bar-stacked.html
+++ b/samples/bar-stacked.html
@@ -13,57 +13,57 @@
     </div>
     <button id="randomizeData">Randomize Data</button>
     <script>
-    var randomScalingFactor = function() {
-        return (Math.random() > 0.5 ? 1.0 : -1.0) * Math.round(Math.random() * 100);
-    };
-    var randomColorFactor = function() {
-        return Math.round(Math.random() * 255);
-    };
+        var randomScalingFactor = function() {
+            return (Math.random() > 0.5 ? 1.0 : -1.0) * Math.round(Math.random() * 100);
+        };
+        var randomColorFactor = function() {
+            return Math.round(Math.random() * 255);
+        };
 
-    var barChartData = {
-        labels: ["January", "February", "March", "April", "May", "June", "July"],
-        datasets: [{
-            label: 'Dataset 1',
-            backgroundColor: "rgba(220,220,220,0.5)",
-            data: [randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor()]
-        }, {
-            label: 'Dataset 2',
-            backgroundColor: "rgba(151,187,205,0.5)",
-            data: [randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor()]
-        }, {
-            label: 'Dataset 3',
-            backgroundColor: "rgba(151,187,205,0.5)",
-            data: [randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor()]
-        }]
+        var barChartData = {
+            labels: ["January", "February", "March", "April", "May", "June", "July"],
+            datasets: [{
+                label: 'Dataset 1',
+                backgroundColor: "rgba(220,220,220,0.5)",
+                data: [randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor()]
+            }, {
+                label: 'Dataset 2',
+                backgroundColor: "rgba(151,187,205,0.5)",
+                data: [randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor()]
+            }, {
+                label: 'Dataset 3',
+                backgroundColor: "rgba(151,187,205,0.5)",
+                data: [randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor()]
+            }]
 
-    };
-    window.onload = function() {
-        var ctx = document.getElementById("canvas").getContext("2d");
-        window.myBar = new Chart(ctx, {
-            type: 'bar',
-            data: barChartData,
-            options: {
-                responsive: true,
-                scales: {
-                    xAxes: [{
-                        stacked: true,
-                    }],
-                    yAxes: [{
-                        stacked: true
-                    }]
+        };
+        window.onload = function() {
+            var ctx = document.getElementById("canvas").getContext("2d");
+            window.myBar = new Chart(ctx, {
+                type: 'bar',
+                data: barChartData,
+                options: {
+                    responsive: true,
+                    scales: {
+                        xAxes: [{
+                            stacked: true,
+                        }],
+                        yAxes: [{
+                            stacked: true
+                        }]
+                    }
                 }
-            }
-        });
-    };
+            });
+        };
 
-    $('#randomizeData').click(function() {
-        $.each(barChartData.datasets, function(i, dataset) {
-            dataset.backgroundColor = 'rgba(' + randomColorFactor() + ',' + randomColorFactor() + ',' + randomColorFactor() + ',.7)';
-            dataset.data = [randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor()];
+        $('#randomizeData').click(function() {
+            $.each(barChartData.datasets, function(i, dataset) {
+                dataset.backgroundColor = 'rgba(' + randomColorFactor() + ',' + randomColorFactor() + ',' + randomColorFactor() + ',.7)';
+                dataset.data = [randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor(), randomScalingFactor()];
 
+            });
+            window.myBar.update();
         });
-        window.myBar.update();
-    });
     </script>
 </body>
 
diff --git a/samples/bar.html b/samples/bar.html
index 526fd8e5a..d3d864c0b 100644
--- a/samples/bar.html
+++ b/samples/bar.html
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 </head>
 
 <body>
-    <div id="container" style="width: 50%; height: 25%; display:none;">
+    <div id="container" style="width: 50%; height: 25%;">
         <canvas id="canvas" height="450" width="600"></canvas>
     </div>
     <button id="randomizeData">Randomize Data</button>
@@ -69,13 +69,6 @@
                 data: barChartData,
                 options: {
                     responsive: true,
-                    scales: {
-                        xAxes: [{
-                            // So that bars fill the entire width of the grid
-                            categorySpacing: 10,
-                            spacing: 0
-                        }]
-                    }
                 }
             });
 
diff --git a/src/charts/Chart.Bar.js b/src/charts/Chart.Bar.js
index 26db4ada0..314d45182 100644
--- a/src/charts/Chart.Bar.js
+++ b/src/charts/Chart.Bar.js
@@ -9,6 +9,6 @@
 		config.type = 'bar';
 
 		return new Chart(context, config);
-	}
-	
+	};
+
 }).call(this);
diff --git a/src/controllers/controller.bar.js b/src/controllers/controller.bar.js
index 6f9724e8b..80b0ff9d6 100644
--- a/src/controllers/controller.bar.js
+++ b/src/controllers/controller.bar.js
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@
 		scales: {
 			xAxes: [{
 				type: "category",
-				categorySpacing: 10,
-				spacing: 1,
+
+				// Specific to Bar Controller
+				categoryPercentage: 0.8,
+				barPercentage: 0.9,
 
 				// grid line settings
 				gridLines: {
@@ -57,7 +59,7 @@
 			return this.chart.data.datasets[this.index];
 		},
 
-		getScaleForId: function(scaleID) {
+		getScaleForID: function(scaleID) {
 			return this.chart.scales[scaleID];
 		},
 
@@ -116,7 +118,7 @@
 			// Make sure that we handle number of datapoints changing
 			if (numData < numRectangles) {
 				// Remove excess bars for data points that have been removed
-				this.getDataset().metaData.splice(numData, numRectangles - numData)
+				this.getDataset().metaData.splice(numData, numRectangles - numData);
 			} else if (numData > numRectangles) {
 				// Add new elements
 				for (var index = numRectangles; index < numData; ++index) {
@@ -130,8 +132,10 @@
 		},
 
 		updateElement: function updateElement(rectangle, index, reset, numBars) {
-			var xScale = this.getScaleForId(this.getDataset().xAxisID);
-			var yScale = this.getScaleForId(this.getDataset().yAxisID);
+
+			var xScale = this.getScaleForID(this.getDataset().xAxisID);
+			var yScale = this.getScaleForID(this.getDataset().yAxisID);
+
 			var yScalePoint;
 
 			if (yScale.min < 0 && yScale.max < 0) {
@@ -154,16 +158,16 @@
 
 				// Desired view properties
 				_model: {
-					x: xScale.calculateBarX(numBars, this.index, index),
-					y: reset ? yScalePoint : yScale.calculateBarY(this.index, index),
+					x: this.calculateBarX(this.index, index),
+					y: reset ? yScalePoint : this.calculateBarY(this.index, index),
 
 					// Tooltip
 					label: this.chart.data.labels[index],
 					datasetLabel: this.getDataset().label,
 
 					// Appearance
-					base: yScale.calculateBarBase(this.index, index),
-					width: xScale.calculateBarWidth(numBars),
+					base: this.calculateBarBase(this.index, index),
+					width: this.calculateBarWidth(numBars),
 					backgroundColor: rectangle.custom && rectangle.custom.backgroundColor ? rectangle.custom.backgroundColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(this.getDataset().backgroundColor, index, this.chart.options.elements.rectangle.backgroundColor),
 					borderColor: rectangle.custom && rectangle.custom.borderColor ? rectangle.custom.borderColor : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(this.getDataset().borderColor, index, this.chart.options.elements.rectangle.borderColor),
 					borderWidth: rectangle.custom && rectangle.custom.borderWidth ? rectangle.custom.borderWidth : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(this.getDataset().borderWidth, index, this.chart.options.elements.rectangle.borderWidth),
@@ -172,6 +176,113 @@
 			rectangle.pivot();
 		},
 
+		calculateBarBase: function(datasetIndex, index) {
+
+			var xScale = this.getScaleForID(this.getDataset().xAxisID);
+			var yScale = this.getScaleForID(this.getDataset().yAxisID);
+
+			var base = 0;
+
+			if (yScale.options.stacked) {
+
+				var value = this.chart.data.datasets[datasetIndex].data[index];
+
+				if (value < 0) {
+					for (var i = 0; i < datasetIndex; i++) {
+						if (this.chart.data.datasets[i].yAxisID === yScale.id) {
+							base += this.chart.data.datasets[i].data[index] < 0 ? this.chart.data.datasets[i].data[index] : 0;
+						}
+					}
+				} else {
+					for (var j = 0; j < datasetIndex; j++) {
+						if (this.chart.data.datasets[j].yAxisID === yScale.id) {
+							base += this.chart.data.datasets[j].data[index] > 0 ? this.chart.data.datasets[j].data[index] : 0;
+						}
+					}
+				}
+
+				return yScale.getPixelForValue(base);
+			}
+
+			base = yScale.getPixelForValue(yScale.min);
+
+			if (yScale.beginAtZero || ((yScale.min <= 0 && yScale.max >= 0) || (yScale.min >= 0 && yScale.max <= 0))) {
+				base = yScale.getPixelForValue(0);
+				base += yScale.options.gridLines.lineWidth;
+			} else if (yScale.min < 0 && yScale.max < 0) {
+				// All values are negative. Use the top as the base
+				base = yScale.getPixelForValue(yScale.max);
+			}
+
+			return base;
+
+		},
+
+		calculateBarWidth: function() {
+
+			var xScale = this.getScaleForID(this.getDataset().xAxisID);
+			var yScale = this.getScaleForID(this.getDataset().yAxisID);
+
+			if (xScale.options.stacked) {
+				return xScale.ruler.categoryWidth;
+			}
+
+			return xScale.ruler.barWidth;
+
+		},
+
+
+		calculateBarX: function(datasetIndex, elementIndex) {
+
+			var xScale = this.getScaleForID(this.getDataset().xAxisID);
+			var yScale = this.getScaleForID(this.getDataset().yAxisID);
+
+			var leftTick = xScale.getPixelFromTickIndex(elementIndex);
+
+			if (yScale.options.stacked) {
+				return leftTick + (xScale.ruler.categoryWidth / 2) + xScale.ruler.categorySpacing;
+			}
+
+			return leftTick +
+				(xScale.ruler.barWidth / 2) +
+				xScale.ruler.categorySpacing +
+				(xScale.ruler.barWidth * datasetIndex) +
+				(xScale.ruler.barSpacing / 2) +
+				(xScale.ruler.barSpacing * datasetIndex);
+		},
+
+		calculateBarY: function(datasetIndex, index) {
+
+			var xScale = this.getScaleForID(this.getDataset().xAxisID);
+			var yScale = this.getScaleForID(this.getDataset().yAxisID);
+
+			var value = this.getDataset().data[index];
+
+			if (yScale.options.stacked) {
+
+				var sumPos = 0,
+					sumNeg = 0;
+
+				for (var i = 0; i < datasetIndex; i++) {
+					if (this.chart.data.datasets[i].data[index] < 0) {
+						sumNeg += this.chart.data.datasets[i].data[index] || 0;
+					} else {
+						sumPos += this.chart.data.datasets[i].data[index] || 0;
+					}
+				}
+
+				if (value < 0) {
+					return yScale.getPixelForValue(sumNeg + value);
+				} else {
+					return yScale.getPixelForValue(sumPos + value);
+				}
+
+				return yScale.getPixelForValue(value);
+			}
+
+			return yScale.getPixelForValue(value);
+		},
+
 		draw: function(ease) {
 			var easingDecimal = ease || 1;
 			helpers.each(this.getDataset().metaData, function(rectangle, index) {
diff --git a/src/controllers/controller.line.js b/src/controllers/controller.line.js
index 608b5d704..c56e2e2ac 100644
--- a/src/controllers/controller.line.js
+++ b/src/controllers/controller.line.js
@@ -192,8 +192,8 @@
 
 				// Desired view properties
 				_model: {
-					x: xScale.getPointPixelForValue(this.getDataset().data[index], index, this.index),
-					y: reset ? scaleBase : yScale.getPointPixelForValue(this.getDataset().data[index], index, this.index),
+					x: xScale.getPixelForValue(this.getDataset().data[index], index, this.index),
+					y: reset ? scaleBase : yScale.getPixelForValue(this.getDataset().data[index], index, this.index),
 					// Appearance
 					tension: point.custom && point.custom.tension ? point.custom.tension : (this.getDataset().tension || this.chart.options.elements.line.tension),
 					radius: point.custom && point.custom.radius ? point.custom.radius : helpers.getValueAtIndexOrDefault(this.getDataset().radius, index, this.chart.options.elements.point.radius),
diff --git a/src/core/core.helpers.js b/src/core/core.helpers.js
index c4ea7940f..fa51ad68f 100644
--- a/src/core/core.helpers.js
+++ b/src/core/core.helpers.js
@@ -104,6 +104,24 @@
 
 			return base;
 		},
+		extendDeep = helpers.extendDeep = function(_base) {
+			return _extendDeep.apply(this, arguments);
+
+			function _extendDeep(dst) {
+				helpers.each(arguments, function(obj) {
+					if (obj !== dst) {
+						helpers.each(obj, function(value, key) {
+							if (dst[key] && dst[key].constructor && dst[key].constructor === Object) {
+								_extendDeep(dst[key], value);
+							} else {
+								dst[key] = value;
+							}
+						});
+					}
+				});
+				return dst;
+			}
+		},
 		scaleMerge = helpers.scaleMerge = function(_base, extension) {
 			var base = clone(_base);
 
@@ -724,7 +742,7 @@
 		getMaximumWidth = helpers.getMaximumWidth = function(domNode) {
 			var container = domNode.parentNode;
 			var padding = parseInt(getStyle(container, 'padding-left')) + parseInt(getStyle(container, 'padding-right'));
-			
+
 			var w = container.clientWidth - padding;
 			var cw = getConstraintWidth(domNode);
 			if (cw !== undefined) {
@@ -736,7 +754,7 @@
 		getMaximumHeight = helpers.getMaximumHeight = function(domNode) {
 			var container = domNode.parentNode;
 			var padding = parseInt(getStyle(container, 'padding-top')) + parseInt(getStyle(container, 'padding-bottom'));
-			
+
 			var h = container.clientHeight - padding;
 			var ch = getConstraintHeight(domNode);
 			if (ch !== undefined) {
diff --git a/src/core/core.scale.js b/src/core/core.scale.js
index 1159a9050..b9fdbbb47 100644
--- a/src/core/core.scale.js
+++ b/src/core/core.scale.js
@@ -5,313 +5,281 @@
 		Chart = root.Chart,
 		helpers = Chart.helpers;
 
-	// The scale service is used to resize charts along with all of their axes. We make this as
-	// a service where scales are registered with their respective charts so that changing the 
-	// scales does not require 
-	Chart.scaleService = {
-		// Scale registration object. Extensions can register new scale types (such as log or DB scales) and then
-		// use the new chart options to grab the correct scale
-		constructors: {},
-		// Use a registration function so that we can move to an ES6 map when we no longer need to support
-		// old browsers
-		// Scale config defaults
-		defaults: {},
-		registerScaleType: function(type, scaleConstructor, defaults) {
-			this.constructors[type] = scaleConstructor;
-			this.defaults[type] = defaults;
+	Chart.defaults.scale = {
+		display: true,
+
+		// grid line settings
+		gridLines: {
+			show: true,
+			color: "rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)",
+			lineWidth: 1,
+			drawOnChartArea: true,
+			drawTicks: true,
+			zeroLineWidth: 1,
+			zeroLineColor: "rgba(0,0,0,0.25)",
+			offsetGridLines: false,
 		},
-		getScaleConstructor: function(type) {
-			return this.constructors.hasOwnProperty(type) ? this.constructors[type] : undefined;
+
+		// label settings
+		ticks: {
+			show: true,
+			minRotation: 20,
+			maxRotation: 90,
+			template: "<%=value%>",
+			fontSize: 12,
+			fontStyle: "normal",
+			fontColor: "#666",
+			fontFamily: "Helvetica Neue",
 		},
-		getScaleDefaults: function(type) {
-			return this.defaults.hasOwnProperty(type) ? this.defaults[type] : {};
+	};
+
+	Chart.Scale = Chart.Element.extend({
+		isHorizontal: function() {
+			return this.options.position == "top" || this.options.position == "bottom";
 		},
-		// The interesting function
-		fitScalesForChart: function(chartInstance, width, height) {
-			var xPadding = width > 30 ? 5 : 2;
-			var yPadding = height > 30 ? 5 : 2;
+		calculateTickRotation: function(maxHeight, margins) {
+			//Get the width of each grid by calculating the difference
+			//between x offsets between 0 and 1.
+			var labelFont = helpers.fontString(this.options.ticks.fontSize, this.options.ticks.fontStyle, this.options.ticks.fontFamily);
+			this.ctx.font = labelFont;
 
-			if (chartInstance) {
-				var leftScales = helpers.where(chartInstance.scales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					return scaleInstance.options.position == "left";
-				});
-				var rightScales = helpers.where(chartInstance.scales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					return scaleInstance.options.position == "right";
-				});
-				var topScales = helpers.where(chartInstance.scales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					return scaleInstance.options.position == "top";
-				});
-				var bottomScales = helpers.where(chartInstance.scales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					return scaleInstance.options.position == "bottom";
-				});
+			var firstWidth = this.ctx.measureText(this.ticks[0]).width;
+			var lastWidth = this.ctx.measureText(this.ticks[this.ticks.length - 1]).width;
+			var firstRotated;
+			var lastRotated;
 
-				// Essentially we now have any number of scales on each of the 4 sides.
-				// Our canvas looks like the following.
-				// The areas L1 and L2 are the left axes. R1 is the right axis, T1 is the top axis and 
-				// B1 is the bottom axis
-				// |------------------------------------------------------|
-				// |          |             T1                      |     |
-				// |----|-----|-------------------------------------|-----|
-				// |    |     |                                     |     |
-				// | L1 |  L2 |         Chart area                  |  R1 |
-				// |    |     |                                     |     |
-				// |    |     |                                     |     |
-				// |----|-----|-------------------------------------|-----|
-				// |          |             B1                      |     |
-				// |          |                                     |     |
-				// |------------------------------------------------------|
+			this.paddingRight = lastWidth / 2 + 3;
+			this.paddingLeft = firstWidth / 2 + 3;
 
-				// What we do to find the best sizing, we do the following
-				// 1. Determine the minimum size of the chart area. 
-				// 2. Split the remaining width equally between each vertical axis
-				// 3. Split the remaining height equally between each horizontal axis
-				// 4. Give each scale the maximum size it can be. The scale will return it's minimum size
-				// 5. Adjust the sizes of each axis based on it's minimum reported size. 
-				// 6. Refit each axis
-				// 7. Position each axis in the final location
-				// 8. Tell the chart the final location of the chart area
+			this.labelRotation = 0;
 
-				// Step 1
-				var chartWidth = width / 2; // min 50%
-				var chartHeight = height / 2; // min 50%
+			if (this.options.display) {
+				var originalLabelWidth = helpers.longestText(this.ctx, labelFont, this.ticks);
+				var cosRotation;
+				var sinRotation;
+				var firstRotatedWidth;
 
-				chartWidth -= (2 * xPadding);
-				chartHeight -= (2 * yPadding);
+				this.labelWidth = originalLabelWidth;
 
+				//Allow 3 pixels x2 padding either side for label readability
+				// only the index matters for a dataset scale, but we want a consistent interface between scales
 
-				// Step 2
-				var verticalScaleWidth = (width - chartWidth) / (leftScales.length + rightScales.length);
+				var tickWidth = this.ruler.tick - 6;
 
-				// Step 3
-				var horizontalScaleHeight = (height - chartHeight) / (topScales.length + bottomScales.length);
+				//Max label rotation can be set or default to 90 - also act as a loop counter
+				while (this.labelWidth > tickWidth && this.labelRotation <= this.options.ticks.maxRotation) {
+					cosRotation = Math.cos(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation));
+					sinRotation = Math.sin(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation));
 
-				// Step 4;
-				var minimumScaleSizes = [];
+					firstRotated = cosRotation * firstWidth;
+					lastRotated = cosRotation * lastWidth;
 
-				var verticalScaleMinSizeFunction = function(scaleInstance) {
-					var minSize = scaleInstance.fit(verticalScaleWidth, chartHeight);
-					minimumScaleSizes.push({
-						horizontal: false,
-						minSize: minSize,
-						scale: scaleInstance,
-					});
-				};
-
-				var horizontalScaleMinSizeFunction = function(scaleInstance) {
-					var minSize = scaleInstance.fit(chartWidth, horizontalScaleHeight);
-					minimumScaleSizes.push({
-						horizontal: true,
-						minSize: minSize,
-						scale: scaleInstance,
-					});
-				};
-
-				// vertical scales
-				helpers.each(leftScales, verticalScaleMinSizeFunction);
-				helpers.each(rightScales, verticalScaleMinSizeFunction);
-
-				// horizontal scales
-				helpers.each(topScales, horizontalScaleMinSizeFunction);
-				helpers.each(bottomScales, horizontalScaleMinSizeFunction);
-
-				// Step 5
-				var maxChartHeight = height - (2 * yPadding);
-				var maxChartWidth = width - (2 * xPadding);
-
-				helpers.each(minimumScaleSizes, function(wrapper) {
-					if (wrapper.horizontal) {
-						maxChartHeight -= wrapper.minSize.height;
-					} else {
-						maxChartWidth -= wrapper.minSize.width;
+					// We're right aligning the text now.
+					if (firstRotated + this.options.ticks.fontSize / 2 > this.yLabelWidth) {
+						this.paddingLeft = firstRotated + this.options.ticks.fontSize / 2;
 					}
-				});
 
-				// At this point, maxChartHeight and maxChartWidth are the size the chart area could
-				// be if the axes are drawn at their minimum sizes.
+					this.paddingRight = this.options.ticks.fontSize / 2;
 
-				// Step 6
-				var verticalScaleFitFunction = function(scaleInstance) {
-					var wrapper = helpers.findNextWhere(minimumScaleSizes, function(wrapper) {
-						return wrapper.scale === scaleInstance;
-					});
-
-					if (wrapper) {
-						scaleInstance.fit(wrapper.minSize.width, maxChartHeight);
+					if (sinRotation * originalLabelWidth > maxHeight) {
+						// go back one step
+						this.labelRotation--;
+						break;
 					}
-				};
 
-				var horizontalScaleFitFunction = function(scaleInstance) {
-					var wrapper = helpers.findNextWhere(minimumScaleSizes, function(wrapper) {
-						return wrapper.scale === scaleInstance;
-					});
+					this.labelRotation++;
+					this.labelRotation = Math.max(this.labelRotation, this.options.ticks.minRotation);
+					this.labelWidth = cosRotation * originalLabelWidth;
 
-					var scaleMargin = {
-						left: totalLeftWidth,
-						right: totalRightWidth,
-						top: 0,
-						bottom: 0,
-					};
+				}
+			} else {
+				this.labelWidth = 0;
+				this.paddingRight = 0;
+				this.paddingLeft = 0;
+			}
 
-					if (wrapper) {
-						scaleInstance.fit(maxChartWidth, wrapper.minSize.height, scaleMargin);
-					}
-				};
+			if (margins) {
+				this.paddingLeft -= margins.left;
+				this.paddingRight -= margins.right;
 
-				var totalLeftWidth = xPadding;
-				var totalRightWidth = xPadding;
-				var totalTopHeight = yPadding;
-				var totalBottomHeight = yPadding;
+				this.paddingLeft = Math.max(this.paddingLeft, 0);
+				this.paddingRight = Math.max(this.paddingRight, 0);
+			}
 
-				helpers.each(leftScales, verticalScaleFitFunction);
-				helpers.each(rightScales, verticalScaleFitFunction);
+		},
+		getPixelForValue: function(value, index, datasetIndex, includeOffset) {
+			// This must be called after fit has been run so that 
+			//      this.left, this.top, this.right, and this.bottom have been defined
+			if (this.isHorizontal()) {
+				var isRotated = (this.labelRotation > 0);
+				var innerWidth = this.width - (this.paddingLeft + this.paddingRight);
+				var valueWidth = innerWidth / Math.max((this.data.labels.length - ((this.options.gridLines.offsetGridLines) ? 0 : 1)), 1);
+				var valueOffset = (valueWidth * index) + this.paddingLeft;
 
-				// Figure out how much margin is on the left and right of the horizontal axes
-				helpers.each(leftScales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					totalLeftWidth += scaleInstance.width;
-				});
-
-				helpers.each(rightScales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					totalRightWidth += scaleInstance.width;
-				});
-
-				helpers.each(topScales, horizontalScaleFitFunction);
-				helpers.each(bottomScales, horizontalScaleFitFunction);
-
-				helpers.each(topScales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					totalTopHeight += scaleInstance.height;
-				});
-				helpers.each(bottomScales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					totalBottomHeight += scaleInstance.height;
-				});
-
-				// Let the left scale know the final margin
-				helpers.each(leftScales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					var wrapper = helpers.findNextWhere(minimumScaleSizes, function(wrapper) {
-						return wrapper.scale === scaleInstance;
-					});
-
-					var scaleMargin = {
-						left: 0,
-						right: 0,
-						top: totalTopHeight,
-						bottom: totalBottomHeight
-					};
-
-					if (wrapper) {
-						scaleInstance.fit(wrapper.minSize.width, maxChartHeight, scaleMargin);
-					}
-				});
-
-				helpers.each(rightScales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					var wrapper = helpers.findNextWhere(minimumScaleSizes, function(wrapper) {
-						return wrapper.scale === scaleInstance;
-					});
-
-					var scaleMargin = {
-						left: 0,
-						right: 0,
-						top: totalTopHeight,
-						bottom: totalBottomHeight
-					};
-
-					if (wrapper) {
-						scaleInstance.fit(wrapper.minSize.width, maxChartHeight, scaleMargin);
-					}
-				});
-
-				// Recalculate because the size of each scale might have changed slightly due to the margins (label rotation for instance)
-				totalLeftWidth = xPadding;
-				totalRightWidth = xPadding;
-				totalTopHeight = yPadding;
-				totalBottomHeight = yPadding;
-
-				helpers.each(leftScales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					totalLeftWidth += scaleInstance.width;
-				});
-
-				helpers.each(rightScales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					totalRightWidth += scaleInstance.width;
-				});
-
-				helpers.each(topScales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					totalTopHeight += scaleInstance.height;
-				});
-				helpers.each(bottomScales, function(scaleInstance) {
-					totalBottomHeight += scaleInstance.height;
-				});
-
-				// Figure out if our chart area changed. This would occur if the dataset scale label rotation
-				// changed due to the application of the margins in step 6. Since we can only get bigger, this is safe to do
-				// without calling `fit` again
-				var newMaxChartHeight = height - totalTopHeight - totalBottomHeight;
-				var newMaxChartWidth = width - totalLeftWidth - totalRightWidth;
-
-				if (newMaxChartWidth !== maxChartWidth || newMaxChartHeight !== maxChartHeight) {
-					helpers.each(leftScales, function(scale) {
-						scale.height = newMaxChartHeight;
-					});
-
-					helpers.each(rightScales, function(scale) {
-						scale.height = newMaxChartHeight;
-					});
-
-					helpers.each(topScales, function(scale) {
-						scale.width = newMaxChartWidth;
-					});
-
-					helpers.each(bottomScales, function(scale) {
-						scale.width = newMaxChartWidth;
-					});
-
-					maxChartHeight = newMaxChartHeight;
-					maxChartWidth = newMaxChartWidth;
+				if (this.options.gridLines.offsetGridLines && includeOffset) {
+					valueOffset += (valueWidth / 2);
 				}
 
-				// Step 7 
-				// Position the scales
-				var left = xPadding;
-				var top = yPadding;
-				var right = 0;
-				var bottom = 0;
+				return this.left + Math.round(valueOffset);
+			} else {
+				return this.top + (index * (this.height / this.labels.length));
+			}
+		},
+		getPixelFromTickIndex: function(index, includeOffset) {
+			// This must be called after fit has been run so that 
+			//      this.left, this.top, this.right, and this.bottom have been defined
+			if (this.isHorizontal()) {
+				var innerWidth = this.width - (this.paddingLeft + this.paddingRight);
+				var tickWidth = innerWidth / Math.max((this.ticks.length - ((this.options.gridLines.offsetGridLines) ? 0 : 1)), 1);
+				var pixel = (tickWidth * index) + this.paddingLeft;
 
-				var verticalScalePlacer = function(scaleInstance) {
-					scaleInstance.left = left;
-					scaleInstance.right = left + scaleInstance.width;
-					scaleInstance.top = totalTopHeight;
-					scaleInstance.bottom = totalTopHeight + maxChartHeight;
+				if (includeOffset) {
+					pixel += tickWidth / 2;
+				}
+				return this.left + Math.round(pixel);
+			} else {
+				return this.top + (index * (this.height / this.ticks.length));
+			}
+		},
+		getPixelFromDecimal: function(decimal, includeOffset) {
+			// This must be called after fit has been run so that 
+			//      this.left, this.top, this.right, and this.bottom have been defined
+			if (this.isHorizontal()) {
+				var innerWidth = this.width - (this.paddingLeft + this.paddingRight);
+				var valueOffset = (innerWidth * decimal) + this.paddingLeft;
 
-					// Move to next point
-					left = scaleInstance.right;
-				};
+				return this.left + Math.round(valueOffset);
+			} else {
+				return this.top + (decimal * (this.height / this.ticks.length));
+			}
+		},
+		// Fit this axis to the given size
+		// @param {number} maxWidth : the max width the axis can be
+		// @param {number} maxHeight: the max height the axis can be
+		// @return {object} minSize : the minimum size needed to draw the axis
+		fit: function(maxWidth, maxHeight, margins) {
+			// Set the unconstrained dimension before label rotation
+			if (this.isHorizontal()) {
+				this.width = maxWidth;
+			} else {
+				this.height = maxHeight;
+			}
 
-				var horizontalScalePlacer = function(scaleInstance) {
-					scaleInstance.left = totalLeftWidth;
-					scaleInstance.right = totalLeftWidth + maxChartWidth;
-					scaleInstance.top = top;
-					scaleInstance.bottom = top + scaleInstance.height;
+			this.buildTicks();
+			this.buildRuler();
+			this.calculateTickRotation(maxHeight, margins);
 
-					// Move to next point 
-					top = scaleInstance.bottom;
-				};
+			var minSize = {
+				width: 0,
+				height: 0,
+			};
 
-				helpers.each(leftScales, verticalScalePlacer);
-				helpers.each(topScales, horizontalScalePlacer);
+			var labelFont = helpers.fontString(this.options.ticks.fontSize, this.options.ticks.fontStyle, this.options.ticks.fontFamily);
+			var longestLabelWidth = helpers.longestText(this.ctx, labelFont, this.ticks);
 
-				// Account for chart width and height
-				left += maxChartWidth;
-				top += maxChartHeight;
+			// Width
+			if (this.isHorizontal()) {
+				minSize.width = maxWidth;
+			} else if (this.options.display) {
+				var labelWidth = this.options.ticks.show ? longestLabelWidth + 6 : 0;
+				minSize.width = Math.min(labelWidth, maxWidth);
+			}
 
-				helpers.each(rightScales, verticalScalePlacer);
-				helpers.each(bottomScales, horizontalScalePlacer);
+			// Height
+			if (this.isHorizontal() && this.options.display) {
+				var labelHeight = (Math.sin(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation)) * longestLabelWidth) + 1.5 * this.options.ticks.fontSize;
+				minSize.height = Math.min(this.options.ticks.show ? labelHeight : 0, maxHeight);
+			} else if (this.options.display) {
+				minSize.height = maxHeight;
+			}
 
-				// Step 8
-				chartInstance.chartArea = {
-					left: totalLeftWidth,
-					top: totalTopHeight,
-					right: totalLeftWidth + maxChartWidth,
-					bottom: totalTopHeight + maxChartHeight,
-				};
+
+			this.width = minSize.width;
+			this.height = minSize.height;
+			return minSize;
+		},
+		// Actualy draw the scale on the canvas
+		// @param {rectangle} chartArea : the area of the chart to draw full grid lines on
+		draw: function(chartArea) {
+			if (this.options.display) {
+
+				var setContextLineSettings;
+
+				// Make sure we draw text in the correct color
+				this.ctx.fillStyle = this.options.ticks.fontColor;
+
+				if (this.isHorizontal()) {
+					setContextLineSettings = true;
+					var yTickStart = this.options.position == "bottom" ? this.top : this.bottom - 10;
+					var yTickEnd = this.options.position == "bottom" ? this.top + 10 : this.bottom;
+					var isRotated = this.labelRotation !== 0;
+					var skipRatio = false;
+
+					if ((this.options.ticks.fontSize + 4) * this.ticks.length > (this.width - (this.paddingLeft + this.paddingRight))) {
+						skipRatio = 1 + Math.floor(((this.options.ticks.fontSize + 4) * this.ticks.length) / (this.width - (this.paddingLeft + this.paddingRight)));
+					}
+
+					helpers.each(this.ticks, function(label, index) {
+						// Blank ticks
+						if ((skipRatio > 1 && index % skipRatio > 0) || (label === undefined || label === null)) {
+							return;
+						}
+						var xLineValue = this.getPixelFromTickIndex(index); // xvalues for grid lines
+						var xLabelValue = this.getPixelFromTickIndex(index, this.options.gridLines.offsetGridLines); // x values for ticks (need to consider offsetLabel option)
+
+						if (this.options.gridLines.show) {
+							if (index === 0) {
+								// Draw the first index specially
+								this.ctx.lineWidth = this.options.gridLines.zeroLineWidth;
+								this.ctx.strokeStyle = this.options.gridLines.zeroLineColor;
+								setContextLineSettings = true; // reset next time
+							} else if (setContextLineSettings) {
+								this.ctx.lineWidth = this.options.gridLines.lineWidth;
+								this.ctx.strokeStyle = this.options.gridLines.color;
+								setContextLineSettings = false;
+							}
+
+							xLineValue += helpers.aliasPixel(this.ctx.lineWidth);
+
+							// Draw the label area
+							this.ctx.beginPath();
+
+							if (this.options.gridLines.drawTicks) {
+								this.ctx.moveTo(xLineValue, yTickStart);
+								this.ctx.lineTo(xLineValue, yTickEnd);
+							}
+
+							// Draw the chart area
+							if (this.options.gridLines.drawOnChartArea) {
+								this.ctx.moveTo(xLineValue, chartArea.top);
+								this.ctx.lineTo(xLineValue, chartArea.bottom);
+							}
+
+							// Need to stroke in the loop because we are potentially changing line widths & colours
+							this.ctx.stroke();
+						}
+
+						if (this.options.ticks.show) {
+							this.ctx.save();
+							this.ctx.translate(xLabelValue, (isRotated) ? this.top + 12 : this.top + 8);
+							this.ctx.rotate(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation) * -1);
+							this.ctx.font = this.font;
+							this.ctx.textAlign = (isRotated) ? "right" : "center";
+							this.ctx.textBaseline = (isRotated) ? "middle" : "top";
+							this.ctx.fillText(label, 0, 0);
+							this.ctx.restore();
+						}
+					}, this);
+				} else {
+					// TODO Vertical
+					if (this.options.gridLines.show) {}
+
+					if (this.options.ticks.show) {
+						// Draw the ticks
+					}
+				}
 			}
 		}
-	};
+	});
+
 }).call(this);
diff --git a/src/core/core.scaleService.js b/src/core/core.scaleService.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..75b76ff66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/core.scaleService.js
@@ -0,0 +1,319 @@
+(function() {
+	"use strict";
+
+	var root = this,
+		Chart = root.Chart,
+		helpers = Chart.helpers;
+
+	// The scale service is used to resize charts along with all of their axes. We make this as
+	// a service where scales are registered with their respective charts so that changing the 
+	// scales does not require 
+	Chart.scaleService = {
+		// Scale registration object. Extensions can register new scale types (such as log or DB scales) and then
+		// use the new chart options to grab the correct scale
+		constructors: {},
+		// Use a registration function so that we can move to an ES6 map when we no longer need to support
+		// old browsers
+		// Scale config defaults
+		defaults: {},
+		registerScaleType: function(type, scaleConstructor, defaults) {
+			this.constructors[type] = scaleConstructor;
+			this.defaults[type] = helpers.extendDeep({}, Chart.defaults.scale, defaults);
+		},
+		getScaleConstructor: function(type) {
+			return this.constructors.hasOwnProperty(type) ? this.constructors[type] : undefined;
+		},
+		getScaleDefaults: function(type) {
+			return this.defaults.hasOwnProperty(type) ? this.defaults[type] : {};
+		},
+		// The interesting function
+		fitScalesForChart: function(chartInstance, width, height) {
+			var xPadding = width > 30 ? 5 : 2;
+			var yPadding = height > 30 ? 5 : 2;
+
+			if (chartInstance) {
+				var leftScales = helpers.where(chartInstance.scales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					return scaleInstance.options.position == "left";
+				});
+				var rightScales = helpers.where(chartInstance.scales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					return scaleInstance.options.position == "right";
+				});
+				var topScales = helpers.where(chartInstance.scales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					return scaleInstance.options.position == "top";
+				});
+				var bottomScales = helpers.where(chartInstance.scales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					return scaleInstance.options.position == "bottom";
+				});
+
+				// Essentially we now have any number of scales on each of the 4 sides.
+				// Our canvas looks like the following.
+				// The areas L1 and L2 are the left axes. R1 is the right axis, T1 is the top axis and 
+				// B1 is the bottom axis
+				// |------------------------------------------------------|
+				// |          |             T1                      |     |
+				// |----|-----|-------------------------------------|-----|
+				// |    |     |                                     |     |
+				// | L1 |  L2 |         Chart area                  |  R1 |
+				// |    |     |                                     |     |
+				// |    |     |                                     |     |
+				// |----|-----|-------------------------------------|-----|
+				// |          |             B1                      |     |
+				// |          |                                     |     |
+				// |------------------------------------------------------|
+
+				// What we do to find the best sizing, we do the following
+				// 1. Determine the minimum size of the chart area. 
+				// 2. Split the remaining width equally between each vertical axis
+				// 3. Split the remaining height equally between each horizontal axis
+				// 4. Give each scale the maximum size it can be. The scale will return it's minimum size
+				// 5. Adjust the sizes of each axis based on it's minimum reported size. 
+				// 6. Refit each axis
+				// 7. Position each axis in the final location
+				// 8. Tell the chart the final location of the chart area
+
+				// Step 1
+				var chartWidth = width / 2; // min 50%
+				var chartHeight = height / 2; // min 50%
+
+				chartWidth -= (2 * xPadding);
+				chartHeight -= (2 * yPadding);
+
+
+				// Step 2
+				var verticalScaleWidth = (width - chartWidth) / (leftScales.length + rightScales.length);
+
+				// Step 3
+				var horizontalScaleHeight = (height - chartHeight) / (topScales.length + bottomScales.length);
+
+				// Step 4;
+				var minimumScaleSizes = [];
+
+				var verticalScaleMinSizeFunction = function(scaleInstance) {
+					var minSize = scaleInstance.fit(verticalScaleWidth, chartHeight);
+					minimumScaleSizes.push({
+						horizontal: false,
+						minSize: minSize,
+						scale: scaleInstance,
+					});
+				};
+
+				var horizontalScaleMinSizeFunction = function(scaleInstance) {
+					var minSize = scaleInstance.fit(chartWidth, horizontalScaleHeight);
+					minimumScaleSizes.push({
+						horizontal: true,
+						minSize: minSize,
+						scale: scaleInstance,
+					});
+				};
+
+				// vertical scales
+				helpers.each(leftScales, verticalScaleMinSizeFunction);
+				helpers.each(rightScales, verticalScaleMinSizeFunction);
+
+				// horizontal scales
+				helpers.each(topScales, horizontalScaleMinSizeFunction);
+				helpers.each(bottomScales, horizontalScaleMinSizeFunction);
+
+				// Step 5
+				var maxChartHeight = height - (2 * yPadding);
+				var maxChartWidth = width - (2 * xPadding);
+
+				helpers.each(minimumScaleSizes, function(wrapper) {
+					if (wrapper.horizontal) {
+						maxChartHeight -= wrapper.minSize.height;
+					} else {
+						maxChartWidth -= wrapper.minSize.width;
+					}
+				});
+
+				// At this point, maxChartHeight and maxChartWidth are the size the chart area could
+				// be if the axes are drawn at their minimum sizes.
+
+				// Step 6
+				var verticalScaleFitFunction = function(scaleInstance) {
+					var wrapper = helpers.findNextWhere(minimumScaleSizes, function(wrapper) {
+						return wrapper.scale === scaleInstance;
+					});
+
+					if (wrapper) {
+						scaleInstance.fit(wrapper.minSize.width, maxChartHeight);
+					}
+				};
+
+				var horizontalScaleFitFunction = function(scaleInstance) {
+					var wrapper = helpers.findNextWhere(minimumScaleSizes, function(wrapper) {
+						return wrapper.scale === scaleInstance;
+					});
+
+					var scaleMargin = {
+						left: totalLeftWidth,
+						right: totalRightWidth,
+						top: 0,
+						bottom: 0,
+					};
+
+					if (wrapper) {
+						scaleInstance.fit(maxChartWidth, wrapper.minSize.height, scaleMargin);
+					}
+				};
+
+				var totalLeftWidth = xPadding;
+				var totalRightWidth = xPadding;
+				var totalTopHeight = yPadding;
+				var totalBottomHeight = yPadding;
+
+				helpers.each(leftScales, verticalScaleFitFunction);
+				helpers.each(rightScales, verticalScaleFitFunction);
+
+				// Figure out how much margin is on the left and right of the horizontal axes
+				helpers.each(leftScales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					totalLeftWidth += scaleInstance.width;
+				});
+
+				helpers.each(rightScales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					totalRightWidth += scaleInstance.width;
+				});
+
+				helpers.each(topScales, horizontalScaleFitFunction);
+				helpers.each(bottomScales, horizontalScaleFitFunction);
+
+				helpers.each(topScales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					totalTopHeight += scaleInstance.height;
+				});
+				helpers.each(bottomScales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					totalBottomHeight += scaleInstance.height;
+				});
+
+				// Let the left scale know the final margin
+				helpers.each(leftScales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					var wrapper = helpers.findNextWhere(minimumScaleSizes, function(wrapper) {
+						return wrapper.scale === scaleInstance;
+					});
+
+					var scaleMargin = {
+						left: 0,
+						right: 0,
+						top: totalTopHeight,
+						bottom: totalBottomHeight
+					};
+
+					if (wrapper) {
+						scaleInstance.fit(wrapper.minSize.width, maxChartHeight, scaleMargin);
+					}
+				});
+
+				helpers.each(rightScales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					var wrapper = helpers.findNextWhere(minimumScaleSizes, function(wrapper) {
+						return wrapper.scale === scaleInstance;
+					});
+
+					var scaleMargin = {
+						left: 0,
+						right: 0,
+						top: totalTopHeight,
+						bottom: totalBottomHeight
+					};
+
+					if (wrapper) {
+						scaleInstance.fit(wrapper.minSize.width, maxChartHeight, scaleMargin);
+					}
+				});
+
+				// Recalculate because the size of each scale might have changed slightly due to the margins (label rotation for instance)
+				totalLeftWidth = xPadding;
+				totalRightWidth = xPadding;
+				totalTopHeight = yPadding;
+				totalBottomHeight = yPadding;
+
+				helpers.each(leftScales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					totalLeftWidth += scaleInstance.width;
+				});
+
+				helpers.each(rightScales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					totalRightWidth += scaleInstance.width;
+				});
+
+				helpers.each(topScales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					totalTopHeight += scaleInstance.height;
+				});
+				helpers.each(bottomScales, function(scaleInstance) {
+					totalBottomHeight += scaleInstance.height;
+				});
+
+				// Figure out if our chart area changed. This would occur if the dataset scale label rotation
+				// changed due to the application of the margins in step 6. Since we can only get bigger, this is safe to do
+				// without calling `fit` again
+				var newMaxChartHeight = height - totalTopHeight - totalBottomHeight;
+				var newMaxChartWidth = width - totalLeftWidth - totalRightWidth;
+
+				if (newMaxChartWidth !== maxChartWidth || newMaxChartHeight !== maxChartHeight) {
+					helpers.each(leftScales, function(scale) {
+						scale.height = newMaxChartHeight;
+					});
+
+					helpers.each(rightScales, function(scale) {
+						scale.height = newMaxChartHeight;
+					});
+
+					helpers.each(topScales, function(scale) {
+						scale.width = newMaxChartWidth;
+					});
+
+					helpers.each(bottomScales, function(scale) {
+						scale.width = newMaxChartWidth;
+					});
+
+					maxChartHeight = newMaxChartHeight;
+					maxChartWidth = newMaxChartWidth;
+				}
+
+				// Step 7 
+				// Position the scales
+				var left = xPadding;
+				var top = yPadding;
+				var right = 0;
+				var bottom = 0;
+
+				var verticalScalePlacer = function(scaleInstance) {
+					scaleInstance.left = left;
+					scaleInstance.right = left + scaleInstance.width;
+					scaleInstance.top = totalTopHeight;
+					scaleInstance.bottom = totalTopHeight + maxChartHeight;
+
+					// Move to next point
+					left = scaleInstance.right;
+				};
+
+				var horizontalScalePlacer = function(scaleInstance) {
+					scaleInstance.left = totalLeftWidth;
+					scaleInstance.right = totalLeftWidth + maxChartWidth;
+					scaleInstance.top = top;
+					scaleInstance.bottom = top + scaleInstance.height;
+
+					// Move to next point 
+					top = scaleInstance.bottom;
+				};
+
+				helpers.each(leftScales, verticalScalePlacer);
+				helpers.each(topScales, horizontalScalePlacer);
+
+				// Account for chart width and height
+				left += maxChartWidth;
+				top += maxChartHeight;
+
+				helpers.each(rightScales, verticalScalePlacer);
+				helpers.each(bottomScales, horizontalScalePlacer);
+
+				// Step 8
+				chartInstance.chartArea = {
+					left: totalLeftWidth,
+					top: totalTopHeight,
+					right: totalLeftWidth + maxChartWidth,
+					bottom: totalTopHeight + maxChartHeight,
+				};
+			}
+		}
+	};
+
+
+}).call(this);
diff --git a/src/scales/scale.category.js b/src/scales/scale.category.js
index 939d32404..6a305193b 100644
--- a/src/scales/scale.category.js
+++ b/src/scales/scale.category.js
@@ -7,349 +7,35 @@
 
     // Default config for a category scale
     var defaultConfig = {
-        display: true,
         position: "bottom",
-
-        // grid line settings
-        gridLines: {
-            show: true,
-            color: "rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)",
-            lineWidth: 1,
-            drawOnChartArea: true,
-            drawTicks: true,
-            zeroLineWidth: 1,
-            zeroLineColor: "rgba(0,0,0,0.25)",
-            offsetGridLines: false,
-        },
-
-        // scale label
-        scaleLabel: {
-            fontColor: '#666',
-            fontFamily: 'Helvetica Neue',
-            fontSize: 12,
-            fontStyle: 'normal',
-
-            // actual label
-            labelString: '',
-
-            // display property
-            show: false,
-        },
-
-        // label settings
-        labels: {
-            show: true,
-            maxRotation: 90,
-            template: "<%=value%>",
-            fontSize: 12,
-            fontStyle: "normal",
-            fontColor: "#666",
-            fontFamily: "Helvetica Neue",
-        },
     };
 
-    var DatasetScale = Chart.Element.extend({
-        isHorizontal: function() {
-            return this.options.position == "top" || this.options.position == "bottom";
-        },
-        buildLabels: function(index) {
-            this.labels = [];
+    var DatasetScale = Chart.Scale.extend({
+        buildTicks: function(index) {
+            this.ticks = [];
 
-            if (this.options.labels.userCallback) {
+            if (this.options.ticks.userCallback) {
                 this.data.labels.forEach(function(labelString, index) {
-                    this.labels.push(this.options.labels.userCallback(labelString, index));
+                    this.ticks.push(this.options.ticks.userCallback(labelString, index));
                 }, this);
             } else {
-                this.labels = this.data.labels;
+                this.ticks = this.data.labels;
             }
         },
-        getPixelForValue: function(value, index, datasetIndex, includeOffset) {
-            // This must be called after fit has been run so that 
-            //      this.left, this.top, this.right, and this.bottom have been defined
-            if (this.isHorizontal()) {
-                var isRotated = (this.labelRotation > 0);
-                var innerWidth = this.width - (this.paddingLeft + this.paddingRight);
-                var valueWidth = innerWidth / Math.max((this.labels.length - ((this.options.gridLines.offsetGridLines) ? 0 : 1)), 1);
-                var valueOffset = (valueWidth * index) + this.paddingLeft;
+        buildRuler: function() {
+            var datasetCount = this.data.datasets.length;
 
-                if (this.options.gridLines.offsetGridLines && includeOffset) {
-                    valueOffset += (valueWidth / 2);
-                }
-
-                return this.left + Math.round(valueOffset);
-            } else {
-                return this.top + (index * (this.height / this.labels.length));
-            }
-        },
-        getPointPixelForValue: function(value, index, datasetIndex) {
-            return this.getPixelForValue(value, index, datasetIndex, true);
+            this.ruler = {};
+            this.ruler.tickWidth = this.getPixelFromTickIndex(1) - this.getPixelFromTickIndex(0) + 3; // TODO: Why is 2 needed here to make it take the full width?
+            this.ruler.categoryWidth = this.ruler.tickWidth * this.options.categoryPercentage;
+            this.ruler.categorySpacing = (this.ruler.tickWidth - (this.ruler.tickWidth * this.options.categoryPercentage)) / 2;
+            this.ruler.allBarsWidth = ((this.ruler.tickWidth - (this.ruler.categorySpacing * 2)) / datasetCount);
+            this.ruler.barWidth = this.ruler.allBarsWidth * this.options.barPercentage;
+            this.ruler.barSpacing = this.ruler.allBarsWidth - (this.ruler.allBarsWidth * this.options.barPercentage);
         },
 
-        // Functions needed for bar charts
-        calculateBaseWidth: function() {
-            var base = this.getPixelForValue(null, 1, 0, true) - this.getPixelForValue(null, 0, 0, true);
-            var spacing = 2 * this.options.categorySpacing;
-            if (base < spacing * 2) {
-                var mod = Math.min((spacing * 2) / base, 1.5);
-                base = (base / 2) * mod;
-                return base;
-            }
-            return base - spacing;
-        },
-        calculateBarWidth: function(barDatasetCount) {
-            //The padding between datasets is to the right of each bar, providing that there are more than 1 dataset
-            var baseWidth = Math.max(this.calculateBaseWidth() - (this.options.stacked ? 0 : (barDatasetCount - 1) * this.options.spacing), 1);
-
-            if (this.options.stacked) {
-                return Math.max(baseWidth, 1);
-            }
-            return Math.max((baseWidth / barDatasetCount), 1);
-        },
-        calculateBarX: function(barDatasetCount, datasetIndex, elementIndex) {
-            var xWidth = this.calculateBaseWidth(),
-                xAbsolute = this.getPixelForValue(null, elementIndex, datasetIndex, true) - (xWidth / 2),
-                barWidth = this.calculateBarWidth(barDatasetCount);
-
-            if (this.options.stacked) {
-                return xAbsolute + barWidth / 2;
-            }
-
-            return xAbsolute + (barWidth * datasetIndex) + (datasetIndex * this.options.spacing) + barWidth / 2;
-        },
-
-        calculateLabelRotation: function(maxHeight, margins) {
-            //Get the width of each grid by calculating the difference
-            //between x offsets between 0 and 1.
-            var labelFont = helpers.fontString(this.options.labels.fontSize, this.options.labels.fontStyle, this.options.labels.fontFamily);
-            this.ctx.font = labelFont;
-
-            var firstWidth = this.ctx.measureText(this.labels[0]).width;
-            var lastWidth = this.ctx.measureText(this.labels[this.labels.length - 1]).width;
-            var firstRotated;
-            var lastRotated;
-
-            this.paddingRight = lastWidth / 2 + 3;
-            this.paddingLeft = firstWidth / 2 + 3;
-
-            this.labelRotation = 0;
-
-            if (this.options.display) {
-                var originalLabelWidth = helpers.longestText(this.ctx, labelFont, this.labels);
-                var cosRotation;
-                var sinRotation;
-                var firstRotatedWidth;
-
-                this.labelWidth = originalLabelWidth;
-
-                //Allow 3 pixels x2 padding either side for label readability
-                // only the index matters for a dataset scale, but we want a consistent interface between scales
-
-                var datasetWidth = Math.floor(this.getPixelForValue(0, 1) - this.getPixelForValue(0, 0)) - 6;
-
-                //Max label rotation can be set or default to 90 - also act as a loop counter
-                while (this.labelWidth > datasetWidth && this.labelRotation <= this.options.labels.maxRotation) {
-                    cosRotation = Math.cos(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation));
-                    sinRotation = Math.sin(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation));
-
-                    firstRotated = cosRotation * firstWidth;
-                    lastRotated = cosRotation * lastWidth;
-
-                    // We're right aligning the text now.
-                    if (firstRotated + this.options.labels.fontSize / 2 > this.yLabelWidth) {
-                        this.paddingLeft = firstRotated + this.options.labels.fontSize / 2;
-                    }
-
-                    this.paddingRight = this.options.labels.fontSize / 2;
-
-                    if (sinRotation * originalLabelWidth > maxHeight) {
-                        // go back one step
-                        this.labelRotation--;
-                        break;
-                    }
-
-                    this.labelRotation++;
-                    this.labelWidth = cosRotation * originalLabelWidth;
-
-                }
-            } else {
-                this.labelWidth = 0;
-                this.paddingRight = 0;
-                this.paddingLeft = 0;
-            }
-
-            if (margins) {
-                this.paddingLeft -= margins.left;
-                this.paddingRight -= margins.right;
-
-                this.paddingLeft = Math.max(this.paddingLeft, 0);
-                this.paddingRight = Math.max(this.paddingRight, 0);
-            }
-
-        },
-        // Fit this axis to the given size
-        // @param {number} maxWidth : the max width the axis can be
-        // @param {number} maxHeight: the max height the axis can be
-        // @return {object} minSize : the minimum size needed to draw the axis
-        fit: function(maxWidth, maxHeight, margins) {
-            // Set the unconstrained dimension before label rotation
-            if (this.isHorizontal()) {
-                this.width = maxWidth;
-            } else {
-                this.height = maxHeight;
-            }
-
-            this.buildLabels();
-            this.calculateLabelRotation(maxHeight, margins);
-
-            var minSize = {
-                width: 0,
-                height: 0,
-            };
-
-            // Are we showing a label for the scale?
-            if (this.options.scaleLabel.show) {
-                if (this.isHorizontal()) {
-                    minSize.height += (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize * 1.5);
-                } else {
-                    minSize.width += (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize * 1.5);
-                }
-            }
-
-            var labelFont = helpers.fontString(this.options.labels.fontSize, this.options.labels.fontStyle, this.options.labels.fontFamily);
-            var longestLabelWidth = helpers.longestText(this.ctx, labelFont, this.labels);
-
-            // Width
-            if (this.isHorizontal()) {
-                minSize.width = maxWidth;
-            } else if (this.options.display) {
-                var labelWidth = this.options.labels.show ? longestLabelWidth + 6 : 0;
-                minSize.width += labelWidth;
-                minSize.width = Math.min(minSize.width, maxWidth);
-            }
-
-            // Height
-            if (this.isHorizontal() && this.options.display) {
-                var labelHeight = (Math.sin(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation)) * longestLabelWidth) + 1.5 * this.options.labels.fontSize;
-                minSize.height += this.options.labels.show ? labelHeight : 0;
-                minSize.height = Math.min(minSize.height, maxHeight);
-            } else if (this.options.display) {
-                minSize.height = maxHeight;
-            }
-
-            this.width = minSize.width;
-            this.height = minSize.height;
-            return minSize;
-        },
-        // Actualy draw the scale on the canvas
-        // @param {rectangle} chartArea : the area of the chart to draw full grid lines on
-        draw: function(chartArea) {
-            if (this.options.display) {
-
-                var setContextLineSettings;
-
-                // Make sure we draw text in the correct color
-                this.ctx.fillStyle = this.options.labels.fontColor;
-
-                if (this.isHorizontal()) {
-                    setContextLineSettings = true;
-                    var yTickStart = this.options.position == "bottom" ? this.top : this.bottom - 10;
-                    var yTickEnd = this.options.position == "bottom" ? this.top + 10 : this.bottom;
-                    var isRotated = this.labelRotation !== 0;
-                    var skipRatio = false;
-
-                    if ((this.options.labels.fontSize + 4) * this.labels.length > (this.width - (this.paddingLeft + this.paddingRight))) {
-                        skipRatio = 1 + Math.floor(((this.options.labels.fontSize + 4) * this.labels.length) / (this.width - (this.paddingLeft + this.paddingRight)));
-                    }
-
-                    helpers.each(this.labels, function(label, index) {
-                        // Blank labels
-                        if ((skipRatio > 1 && index % skipRatio > 0) || (label === undefined || label === null)) {
-                            return;
-                        }
-                        var xLineValue = this.getPixelForValue(label, index, null, false); // xvalues for grid lines
-                        var xLabelValue = this.getPixelForValue(label, index, null, true); // x values for labels (need to consider offsetLabel option)
-
-                        if (this.options.gridLines.show) {
-                            if (index === 0) {
-                                // Draw the first index specially
-                                this.ctx.lineWidth = this.options.gridLines.zeroLineWidth;
-                                this.ctx.strokeStyle = this.options.gridLines.zeroLineColor;
-                                setContextLineSettings = true; // reset next time
-                            } else if (setContextLineSettings) {
-                                this.ctx.lineWidth = this.options.gridLines.lineWidth;
-                                this.ctx.strokeStyle = this.options.gridLines.color;
-                                setContextLineSettings = false;
-                            }
-
-                            xLineValue += helpers.aliasPixel(this.ctx.lineWidth);
-
-                            // Draw the label area
-                            this.ctx.beginPath();
-
-                            if (this.options.gridLines.drawTicks) {
-                                this.ctx.moveTo(xLineValue, yTickStart);
-                                this.ctx.lineTo(xLineValue, yTickEnd);
-                            }
-
-                            // Draw the chart area
-                            if (this.options.gridLines.drawOnChartArea) {
-                                this.ctx.moveTo(xLineValue, chartArea.top);
-                                this.ctx.lineTo(xLineValue, chartArea.bottom);
-                            }
-
-                            // Need to stroke in the loop because we are potentially changing line widths & colours
-                            this.ctx.stroke();
-                        }
-
-                        if (this.options.labels.show) {
-                            this.ctx.save();
-                            this.ctx.translate(xLabelValue, (isRotated) ? this.top + 12 : this.top + 8);
-                            this.ctx.rotate(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation) * -1);
-                            this.ctx.font = this.font;
-                            this.ctx.textAlign = (isRotated) ? "right" : "center";
-                            this.ctx.textBaseline = (isRotated) ? "middle" : "top";
-                            this.ctx.fillText(label, 0, 0);
-                            this.ctx.restore();
-                        }
-                    }, this);
-
-                    if (this.options.scaleLabel.show) {
-                        // Draw the scale label
-                        this.ctx.textAlign = "center";
-                        this.ctx.textBaseline = 'middle';
-                        this.ctx.font = helpers.fontString(this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize, this.options.scaleLabel.fontStyle, this.options.scaleLabel.fontFamily);
-
-                        var scaleLabelX = this.left + ((this.right - this.left) / 2); // midpoint of the width
-                        var scaleLabelY = this.options.position == 'bottom' ? this.bottom - (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize / 2) : this.top + (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize / 2);
-
-                        this.ctx.fillText(this.options.scaleLabel.labelString, scaleLabelX, scaleLabelY);
-                    }
-                } else {
-                    // Vertical
-                    if (this.options.gridLines.show) {}
-
-                    if (this.options.labels.show) {
-                        // Draw the labels
-                    }
-
-                    if (this.options.scaleLabel.show) {
-                        // Draw the scale label
-                        var scaleLabelX = this.options.position == 'left' ? this.left + (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize / 2) : this.right - (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize / 2);
-                        var scaleLabelY = this.top + ((this.bottom - this.top) / 2);
-                        var rotation = this.options.position == 'left' ? -0.5 * Math.PI : 0.5 * Math.PI;
-
-                        this.ctx.save();
-                        this.ctx.translate(scaleLabelX, scaleLabelY);
-                        this.ctx.rotate(rotation);
-                        this.ctx.textAlign = "center";
-                        this.ctx.font = helpers.fontString(this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize, this.options.scaleLabel.fontStyle, this.options.scaleLabel.fontFamily);
-                        this.ctx.textBaseline = 'middle';
-                        this.ctx.fillText(this.options.scaleLabel.labelString, 0, 0);
-                        this.ctx.restore();
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        }
     });
+
+
     Chart.scaleService.registerScaleType("category", DatasetScale, defaultConfig);
 }).call(this);
diff --git a/src/scales/scale.linear.js b/src/scales/scale.linear.js
index 2446be246..5d3263d88 100644
--- a/src/scales/scale.linear.js
+++ b/src/scales/scale.linear.js
@@ -25,22 +25,8 @@
 		beginAtZero: false,
 		override: null,
 
-		// scale label
-		scaleLabel: {
-			fontColor: '#666',
-			fontFamily: 'Helvetica Neue',
-			fontSize: 12,
-			fontStyle: 'normal',
-
-			// actual label
-			labelString: '',
-
-			// display property
-			show: false,
-		},
-
 		// label settings
-		labels: {
+		ticks: {
 			show: true,
 			mirror: false,
 			padding: 10,
@@ -52,10 +38,7 @@
 		}
 	};
 
-	var LinearScale = Chart.Element.extend({
-		isHorizontal: function() {
-			return this.options.position == "top" || this.options.position == "bottom";
-		},
+	var LinearScale = Chart.Scale.extend({
 		generateTicks: function(width, height) {
 			// We need to decide how many ticks we are going to have. Each tick draws a grid line.
 			// There are two possibilities. The first is that the user has manually overridden the scale
@@ -91,7 +74,7 @@
 					maxTicks = Math.min(11, Math.ceil(width / 50));
 				} else {
 					// The factor of 2 used to scale the font size has been experimentally determined.
-					maxTicks = Math.min(11, Math.ceil(height / (2 * this.options.labels.fontSize)));
+					maxTicks = Math.min(11, Math.ceil(height / (2 * this.options.ticks.fontSize)));
 				}
 
 				// Make sure we always have at least 2 ticks 
@@ -148,30 +131,9 @@
 				this.end = this.max;
 			}
 		},
-		buildLabels: function() {
-			// We assume that this has been run after ticks have been generated. We try to figure out
-			// a label for each tick. 
-			this.labels = [];
-
-			helpers.each(this.ticks, function(tick, index, ticks) {
-				var label;
-
-				if (this.options.labels.userCallback) {
-					// If the user provided a callback for label generation, use that as first priority
-					label = this.options.labels.userCallback(tick, index, ticks);
-				} else if (this.options.labels.template) {
-					// else fall back to the template string
-					label = helpers.template(this.options.labels.template, {
-						value: tick
-					});
-				}
-
-				this.labels.push(label ? label : ""); // empty string will not render so we're good
-			}, this);
-		},
 		// Get the correct value. If the value type is object get the x or y based on whether we are horizontal or not
 		getRightValue: function(rawValue) {
-			return (typeof (rawValue) === "object" && rawValue !== null) ? (this.isHorizontal() ? rawValue.x : rawValue.y) : rawValue;
+			return (typeof(rawValue) === "object" && rawValue !== null) ? (this.isHorizontal() ? rawValue.x : rawValue.y) : rawValue;
 		},
 		getPixelForValue: function(value) {
 			// This must be called after fit has been run so that 
@@ -353,7 +315,6 @@
 		fit: function(maxWidth, maxHeight, margins) {
 			this.calculateRange();
 			this.generateTicks(maxWidth, maxHeight);
-			this.buildLabels();
 
 			var minSize = {
 				width: 0,
@@ -393,46 +354,37 @@
 				minSize.height = maxHeight; // fill all the height
 			}
 
-			// Are we showing a label for the scale?
-			if (this.options.scaleLabel.show) {
-				if (this.isHorizontal()) {
-					minSize.height += (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize * 1.5);
-				} else {
-					minSize.width += (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize * 1.5);
-				}
-			}
-
 			this.paddingLeft = 0;
 			this.paddingRight = 0;
 			this.paddingTop = 0;
 			this.paddingBottom = 0;
 
 
-			if (this.options.labels.show && this.options.display) {
-				// Don't bother fitting the labels if we are not showing them
-				var labelFont = helpers.fontString(this.options.labels.fontSize,
-					this.options.labels.fontStyle, this.options.labels.fontFamily);
+			if (this.options.ticks.show && this.options.display) {
+				// Don't bother fitting the ticks if we are not showing them
+				var labelFont = helpers.fontString(this.options.ticks.fontSize,
+					this.options.ticks.fontStyle, this.options.ticks.fontFamily);
 
 				if (this.isHorizontal()) {
 					// A horizontal axis is more constrained by the height.
 					var maxLabelHeight = maxHeight - minSize.height;
-					var labelHeight = 1.5 * this.options.labels.fontSize;
+					var labelHeight = 1.5 * this.options.ticks.fontSize;
 					minSize.height = Math.min(maxHeight, minSize.height + labelHeight);
 
-					var labelFont = helpers.fontString(this.options.labels.fontSize, this.options.labels.fontStyle, this.options.labels.fontFamily);
+					var labelFont = helpers.fontString(this.options.ticks.fontSize, this.options.ticks.fontStyle, this.options.ticks.fontFamily);
 					this.ctx.font = labelFont;
 
-					var firstLabelWidth = this.ctx.measureText(this.labels[0]).width;
-					var lastLabelWidth = this.ctx.measureText(this.labels[this.labels.length - 1]).width;
+					var firstLabelWidth = this.ctx.measureText(this.ticks[0]).width;
+					var lastLabelWidth = this.ctx.measureText(this.ticks[this.ticks.length - 1]).width;
 
-					// Ensure that our labels are always inside the canvas
+					// Ensure that our ticks are always inside the canvas
 					this.paddingLeft = firstLabelWidth / 2;
 					this.paddingRight = lastLabelWidth / 2;
 				} else {
 					// A vertical axis is more constrained by the width. Labels are the dominant factor 
 					// here, so get that length first
 					var maxLabelWidth = maxWidth - minSize.width;
-					var largestTextWidth = helpers.longestText(this.ctx, labelFont, this.labels);
+					var largestTextWidth = helpers.longestText(this.ctx, labelFont, this.ticks);
 
 					if (largestTextWidth < maxLabelWidth) {
 						// We don't need all the room
@@ -443,8 +395,8 @@
 						minSize.width = maxWidth;
 					}
 
-					this.paddingTop = this.options.labels.fontSize / 2;
-					this.paddingBottom = this.options.labels.fontSize / 2;
+					this.paddingTop = this.options.ticks.fontSize / 2;
+					this.paddingBottom = this.options.ticks.fontSize / 2;
 				}
 			}
 
@@ -473,7 +425,7 @@
 				var hasZero;
 
 				// Make sure we draw text in the correct color
-				this.ctx.fillStyle = this.options.labels.fontColor;
+				this.ctx.fillStyle = this.options.ticks.fontColor;
 
 				if (this.isHorizontal()) {
 					if (this.options.gridLines.show) {
@@ -521,8 +473,8 @@
 						}, this);
 					}
 
-					if (this.options.labels.show) {
-						// Draw the labels
+					if (this.options.ticks.show) {
+						// Draw the ticks
 
 						var labelStartY;
 
@@ -536,25 +488,13 @@
 						}
 
 						this.ctx.textAlign = "center";
-						this.ctx.font = helpers.fontString(this.options.labels.fontSize, this.options.labels.fontStyle, this.options.labels.fontFamily);
+						this.ctx.font = helpers.fontString(this.options.ticks.fontSize, this.options.ticks.fontStyle, this.options.ticks.fontFamily);
 
-						helpers.each(this.labels, function(label, index) {
+						helpers.each(this.ticks, function(label, index) {
 							var xValue = this.getPixelForValue(this.ticks[index]);
 							this.ctx.fillText(label, xValue, labelStartY);
 						}, this);
 					}
-
-					if (this.options.scaleLabel.show) {
-						// Draw the scale label
-						this.ctx.textAlign = "center";
-						this.ctx.textBaseline = 'middle';
-						this.ctx.font = helpers.fontString(this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize, this.options.scaleLabel.fontStyle, this.options.scaleLabel.fontFamily);
-
-						var scaleLabelX = this.left + ((this.right - this.left) / 2); // midpoint of the width
-						var scaleLabelY = this.options.position == 'bottom' ? this.bottom - (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize / 2) : this.top + (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize / 2);
-
-						this.ctx.fillText(this.options.scaleLabel.labelString, scaleLabelX, scaleLabelY);
-					}
 				} else {
 					// Vertical
 					if (this.options.gridLines.show) {
@@ -602,54 +542,38 @@
 						}, this);
 					}
 
-					if (this.options.labels.show) {
-						// Draw the labels
+					if (this.options.ticks.show) {
+						// Draw the ticks
 
 						var labelStartX;
 
 						if (this.options.position == "left") {
-							if (this.options.labels.mirror) {
-								labelStartX = this.right + this.options.labels.padding;
+							if (this.options.ticks.mirror) {
+								labelStartX = this.right + this.options.ticks.padding;
 								this.ctx.textAlign = "left";
 							} else {
-								labelStartX = this.right - this.options.labels.padding;
+								labelStartX = this.right - this.options.ticks.padding;
 								this.ctx.textAlign = "right";
 							}
 						} else {
 							// right side
-							if (this.options.labels.mirror) {
-								labelStartX = this.left - this.options.labels.padding;
+							if (this.options.ticks.mirror) {
+								labelStartX = this.left - this.options.ticks.padding;
 								this.ctx.textAlign = "right";
 							} else {
-								labelStartX = this.left + this.options.labels.padding;
+								labelStartX = this.left + this.options.ticks.padding;
 								this.ctx.textAlign = "left";
 							}
 						}
 
 						this.ctx.textBaseline = "middle";
-						this.ctx.font = helpers.fontString(this.options.labels.fontSize, this.options.labels.fontStyle, this.options.labels.fontFamily);
+						this.ctx.font = helpers.fontString(this.options.ticks.fontSize, this.options.ticks.fontStyle, this.options.ticks.fontFamily);
 
-						helpers.each(this.labels, function(label, index) {
+						helpers.each(this.ticks, function(label, index) {
 							var yValue = this.getPixelForValue(this.ticks[index]);
 							this.ctx.fillText(label, labelStartX, yValue);
 						}, this);
 					}
-
-					if (this.options.scaleLabel.show) {
-						// Draw the scale label
-						var scaleLabelX = this.options.position == 'left' ? this.left + (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize / 2) : this.right - (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize / 2);
-						var scaleLabelY = this.top + ((this.bottom - this.top) / 2);
-						var rotation = this.options.position == 'left' ? -0.5 * Math.PI : 0.5 * Math.PI;
-
-						this.ctx.save();
-						this.ctx.translate(scaleLabelX, scaleLabelY);
-						this.ctx.rotate(rotation);
-						this.ctx.textAlign = "center";
-						this.ctx.font = helpers.fontString(this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize, this.options.scaleLabel.fontStyle, this.options.scaleLabel.fontFamily);
-						this.ctx.textBaseline = 'middle';
-						this.ctx.fillText(this.options.scaleLabel.labelString, 0, 0);
-						this.ctx.restore();
-					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/src/scales/scale.time.js b/src/scales/scale.time.js
index de8b2cb8f..5952f15ce 100644
--- a/src/scales/scale.time.js
+++ b/src/scales/scale.time.js
@@ -77,26 +77,12 @@
 			displayFormat: false, // defaults to unit's corresponding unitFormat below or override using pattern string from http://momentjs.com/docs/#/displaying/format/
 		},
 
-		// scale label
-		scaleLabel: {
-			fontColor: '#666',
-			fontFamily: 'Helvetica Neue',
-			fontSize: 12,
-			fontStyle: 'normal',
-
-			// actual label
-			labelString: '',
-
-			// display property
-			show: false,
-		},
-
 		// scale numbers
 		reverse: false,
 		override: null,
 
 		// label settings
-		labels: {
+		ticks: {
 			show: true,
 			mirror: false,
 			padding: 10,
@@ -109,10 +95,7 @@
 		}
 	};
 
-	var TimeScale = Chart.Element.extend({
-		isHorizontal: function() {
-			return this.options.position == "top" || this.options.position == "bottom";
-		},
+	var TimeScale = Chart.Scale.extend({
 		parseTime: function(label) {
 			// Date objects
 			if (typeof label.getMonth === 'function' || typeof label == 'number') {
@@ -155,7 +138,7 @@
 			} else {
 				// Determine the smallest needed unit of the time
 				var innerWidth = this.width - (this.paddingLeft + this.paddingRight);
-				var labelCapacity = innerWidth / this.options.labels.fontSize + 4;
+				var labelCapacity = innerWidth / this.options.ticks.fontSize + 4;
 				var buffer = this.options.tick.round ? 0 : 2;
 
 				this.tickRange = Math.ceil(this.lastTick.diff(this.firstTick, true) + buffer);
@@ -188,11 +171,11 @@
 				this.displayFormat = this.options.tick.displayFormat;
 			}
 
-			// For every unit in between the first and last moment, create a moment and add it to the labels tick
-			if (this.options.labels.userCallback) {
+			// For every unit in between the first and last moment, create a moment and add it to the ticks tick
+			if (this.options.ticks.userCallback) {
 				for (i = 0; i <= this.tickRange; i++) {
 					this.ticks.push(
-						this.options.labels.userCallback(this.firstTick.clone()
+						this.options.ticks.userCallback(this.firstTick.clone()
 							.add(i, this.tickUnit)
 							.format(this.options.tick.displayFormat ? this.options.tick.displayFormat : time.unit[this.tickUnit].display)
 						)
@@ -261,76 +244,76 @@
 			return xAbsolute + (barWidth * datasetIndex) + (datasetIndex * this.options.spacing) + barWidth / 2;
 		},
 
-		calculateTickRotation: function(maxHeight, margins) {
-			//Get the width of each grid by calculating the difference
-			//between x offsets between 0 and 1.
-			var labelFont = helpers.fontString(this.options.labels.fontSize, this.options.labels.fontStyle, this.options.labels.fontFamily);
-			this.ctx.font = labelFont;
+		// calculateTickRotation: function(maxHeight, margins) {
+		// 	//Get the width of each grid by calculating the difference
+		// 	//between x offsets between 0 and 1.
+		// 	var labelFont = helpers.fontString(this.options.ticks.fontSize, this.options.ticks.fontStyle, this.options.ticks.fontFamily);
+		// 	this.ctx.font = labelFont;
 
-			var firstWidth = this.ctx.measureText(this.ticks[0]).width;
-			var lastWidth = this.ctx.measureText(this.ticks[this.ticks.length - 1]).width;
-			var firstRotated;
-			var lastRotated;
+		// 	var firstWidth = this.ctx.measureText(this.ticks[0]).width;
+		// 	var lastWidth = this.ctx.measureText(this.ticks[this.ticks.length - 1]).width;
+		// 	var firstRotated;
+		// 	var lastRotated;
 
-			this.paddingRight = lastWidth / 2 + 3;
-			this.paddingLeft = firstWidth / 2 + 3;
+		// 	this.paddingRight = lastWidth / 2 + 3;
+		// 	this.paddingLeft = firstWidth / 2 + 3;
 
-			this.labelRotation = 0;
+		// 	this.labelRotation = 0;
 
-			if (this.options.display) {
-				var originalLabelWidth = helpers.longestText(this.ctx, labelFont, this.ticks);
-				var cosRotation;
-				var sinRotation;
-				var firstRotatedWidth;
+		// 	if (this.options.display) {
+		// 		var originalLabelWidth = helpers.longestText(this.ctx, labelFont, this.ticks);
+		// 		var cosRotation;
+		// 		var sinRotation;
+		// 		var firstRotatedWidth;
 
-				this.labelWidth = originalLabelWidth;
+		// 		this.labelWidth = originalLabelWidth;
 
-				//Allow 3 pixels x2 padding either side for label readability
-				// only the index matters for a dataset scale, but we want a consistent interface between scales
+		// 		//Allow 3 pixels x2 padding either side for label readability
+		// 		// only the index matters for a dataset scale, but we want a consistent interface between scales
 
-				var datasetWidth = Math.floor(this.getPixelForValue(null, 1 / this.ticks.length) - this.getPixelForValue(null, 0)) - 6;
+		// 		var datasetWidth = Math.floor(this.getPixelForValue(null, 1 / this.ticks.length) - this.getPixelForValue(null, 0)) - 6;
 
-				//Max label rotation can be set or default to 90 - also act as a loop counter
-				while (this.labelWidth > datasetWidth && this.labelRotation <= this.options.labels.maxRotation) {
-					cosRotation = Math.cos(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation));
-					sinRotation = Math.sin(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation));
+		// 		//Max label rotation can be set or default to 90 - also act as a loop counter
+		// 		while (this.labelWidth > datasetWidth && this.labelRotation <= this.options.ticks.maxRotation) {
+		// 			cosRotation = Math.cos(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation));
+		// 			sinRotation = Math.sin(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation));
 
-					firstRotated = cosRotation * firstWidth;
-					lastRotated = cosRotation * lastWidth;
+		// 			firstRotated = cosRotation * firstWidth;
+		// 			lastRotated = cosRotation * lastWidth;
 
-					// We're right aligning the text now.
-					if (firstRotated + this.options.labels.fontSize / 2 > this.yLabelWidth) {
-						this.paddingLeft = firstRotated + this.options.labels.fontSize / 2;
-					}
+		// 			// We're right aligning the text now.
+		// 			if (firstRotated + this.options.ticks.fontSize / 2 > this.yLabelWidth) {
+		// 				this.paddingLeft = firstRotated + this.options.ticks.fontSize / 2;
+		// 			}
 
-					this.paddingRight = this.options.labels.fontSize / 2;
+		// 			this.paddingRight = this.options.ticks.fontSize / 2;
 
-					if (sinRotation * originalLabelWidth > maxHeight) {
-						// go back one step
-						this.labelRotation--;
-						break;
-					}
+		// 			if (sinRotation * originalLabelWidth > maxHeight) {
+		// 				// go back one step
+		// 				this.labelRotation--;
+		// 				break;
+		// 			}
 
-					this.labelRotation++;
-					this.labelWidth = cosRotation * originalLabelWidth;
+		// 			this.labelRotation++;
+		// 			this.labelWidth = cosRotation * originalLabelWidth;
 
 
-				}
-			} else {
-				this.labelWidth = 0;
-				this.paddingRight = 0;
-				this.paddingLeft = 0;
-			}
+		// 		}
+		// 	} else {
+		// 		this.labelWidth = 0;
+		// 		this.paddingRight = 0;
+		// 		this.paddingLeft = 0;
+		// 	}
 
-			if (margins) {
-				this.paddingLeft -= margins.left;
-				this.paddingRight -= margins.right;
+		// 	if (margins) {
+		// 		this.paddingLeft -= margins.left;
+		// 		this.paddingRight -= margins.right;
 
-				this.paddingLeft = Math.max(this.paddingLeft, 0);
-				this.paddingRight = Math.max(this.paddingRight, 0);
-			}
+		// 		this.paddingLeft = Math.max(this.paddingLeft, 0);
+		// 		this.paddingRight = Math.max(this.paddingRight, 0);
+		// 	}
 
-		},
+		// },
 		// Fit this axis to the given size
 		// @param {number} maxWidth : the max width the axis can be
 		// @param {number} maxHeight: the max height the axis can be
@@ -351,32 +334,21 @@
 				height: 0,
 			};
 
-			 // Are we showing a label for the scale?
-            if (this.options.scaleLabel.show) {
-                if (this.isHorizontal()) {
-                    minSize.height += (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize * 1.5);
-                } else {
-                    minSize.width += (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize * 1.5);
-                }
-            }
-
-			var labelFont = helpers.fontString(this.options.labels.fontSize, this.options.labels.fontStyle, this.options.labels.fontFamily);
+			var labelFont = helpers.fontString(this.options.ticks.fontSize, this.options.ticks.fontStyle, this.options.ticks.fontFamily);
 			var longestLabelWidth = helpers.longestText(this.ctx, labelFont, this.ticks);
 
 			// Width
 			if (this.isHorizontal()) {
 				minSize.width = maxWidth;
 			} else if (this.options.display) {
-				var labelWidth = this.options.labels.show ? longestLabelWidth + 6 : 0;
-				minSize.width += labelWidth;
-                minSize.width = Math.min(minSize.width, maxWidth);
+				var labelWidth = this.options.ticks.show ? longestLabelWidth + 6 : 0;
+				minSize.width = Math.min(labelWidth, maxWidth);
 			}
 
 			// Height
 			if (this.isHorizontal() && this.options.display) {
-				var labelHeight = (Math.sin(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation)) * longestLabelWidth) + 1.5 * this.options.labels.fontSize;
-				minSize.height += this.options.labels.show ? labelHeight : 0;
-                minSize.height = Math.min(minSize.height, maxHeight);
+				var labelHeight = (Math.sin(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation)) * longestLabelWidth) + 1.5 * this.options.ticks.fontSize;
+				minSize.height = Math.min(this.options.ticks.show ? labelHeight : 0, maxHeight);
 			} else if (this.options.display) {
 				minSize.height = maxHeight;
 			}
@@ -393,7 +365,7 @@
 				var setContextLineSettings;
 
 				// Make sure we draw text in the correct color
-				this.ctx.fillStyle = this.options.labels.fontColor;
+				this.ctx.fillStyle = this.options.ticks.fontColor;
 
 				if (this.isHorizontal()) {
 					setContextLineSettings = true;
@@ -402,8 +374,8 @@
 					var isRotated = this.labelRotation !== 0;
 					var skipRatio = false;
 
-					if ((this.options.labels.fontSize + 4) * this.ticks.length > (this.width - (this.paddingLeft + this.paddingRight))) {
-						skipRatio = 1 + Math.floor(((this.options.labels.fontSize + 4) * this.ticks.length) / (this.width - (this.paddingLeft + this.paddingRight)));
+					if ((this.options.ticks.fontSize + 4) * this.ticks.length > (this.width - (this.paddingLeft + this.paddingRight))) {
+						skipRatio = 1 + Math.floor(((this.options.ticks.fontSize + 4) * this.ticks.length) / (this.width - (this.paddingLeft + this.paddingRight)));
 					}
 
 					helpers.each(this.ticks, function(tick, index) {
@@ -446,7 +418,7 @@
 							this.ctx.stroke();
 						}
 
-						if (this.options.labels.show) {
+						if (this.options.ticks.show) {
 							this.ctx.save();
 							this.ctx.translate(xLabelValue, (isRotated) ? this.top + 12 : this.top + 8);
 							this.ctx.rotate(helpers.toRadians(this.labelRotation) * -1);
@@ -457,41 +429,13 @@
 							this.ctx.restore();
 						}
 					}, this);
-
-					if (this.options.scaleLabel.show) {
-                        // Draw the scale label
-                        this.ctx.textAlign = "center";
-                        this.ctx.textBaseline = 'middle';
-                        this.ctx.font = helpers.fontString(this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize, this.options.scaleLabel.fontStyle, this.options.scaleLabel.fontFamily);
-
-                        var scaleLabelX = this.left + ((this.right - this.left) / 2); // midpoint of the width
-                        var scaleLabelY = this.options.position == 'bottom' ? this.bottom - (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize / 2) : this.top + (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize / 2);
-
-                        this.ctx.fillText(this.options.scaleLabel.labelString, scaleLabelX, scaleLabelY);
-                    }
 				} else {
 					// Vertical
 					if (this.options.gridLines.show) {}
 
-					if (this.options.labels.show) {
-						// Draw the labels
+					if (this.options.ticks.show) {
+						// Draw the ticks
 					}
-
-					if (this.options.scaleLabel.show) {
-                        // Draw the scale label
-                        var scaleLabelX = this.options.position == 'left' ? this.left + (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize / 2) : this.right - (this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize / 2);
-                        var scaleLabelY = this.top + ((this.bottom - this.top) / 2);
-                        var rotation = this.options.position == 'left' ? -0.5 * Math.PI : 0.5 * Math.PI;
-
-                        this.ctx.save();
-                        this.ctx.translate(scaleLabelX, scaleLabelY);
-                        this.ctx.rotate(rotation);
-                        this.ctx.textAlign = "center";
-                        this.ctx.font = helpers.fontString(this.options.scaleLabel.fontSize, this.options.scaleLabel.fontStyle, this.options.scaleLabel.fontFamily);
-                        this.ctx.textBaseline = 'middle';
-                        this.ctx.fillText(this.options.scaleLabel.labelString, 0, 0);
-                        this.ctx.restore();
-                    }
 				}
 			}
 		}