It should be possible to use a scroll of destroy armor to remove dragon scales from a piece of armor without outright destroying the whole armor piece, so the piece can then be used in a forging recipe.

A blessed scroll of destroy armor should allow the player to select which piece of armor to destroy. If they decline to choose, it selects a random piece of armor like the uncursed scroll.

Remove the monster spell destroy armor, and instead allow them to read destroy armor scrolls at you offensively.

The scroll of destroy armor, when confused, cursed, and naked, grants temporary disintegration resistance.