Any simple examples of scrimshaw in bone handle?

M

MT Borg

Joined
Jun 14, 2007
Messages
224
I am taking a knife making class and am using bone for the handle and would like to dress it up a bit with some simple scrimshaw lines that I could put in it with my dremmel.

Was thinking of taking a design, copying it onto some clear contact plastic, stick it on and dremmel thru the lines.

Then maybe take some colored epoxy, fill in the lines, then sand and super glue for the finish... would that work, is there a better way?

Thank you for your suggestions....
 
I have never worked with any type of bone before. But I have transferred a design on to a project before. I used carbon paper taped to my design then taped to a project I was working on. It was a jewelry box for my daughter I made her. Then just trace the lines of the pattern take the paper off and there it is. Now I am not sure if this will work on bone but it should unless it is a super smooth surface. At least this way you wouldn't have to dremmel thru the paper. It's something you could try. I have seen bone that a design was burned in. Not alot of details but it wasn't that kind of design worked good. Just a thought. Don't know if this will help you but thought I would throw it out there. John
 
What you want to do isn't exactly scrimshaw, but will work fine.

Sand and shape the bone to the final shape, stopping at 400 grit. Seal the bone well with thin CA.(You need to seal the bone pores with the CA before you put on any colored epoxy or it may bleed into the bone and look bad.) Re-sand with 400 grit to remove the excess CA. Mark your pattern, and cut it in. Go slow and be gentle, bone will chip and burn. After the pattern is cut, fill with dyed epoxy, and let cure for 48 hours. Sand the excess epoxy down to the bone, and continue up the grits to the desired finish, buffing lightly if desired.

Simple geometric patterns work best for this style of inlay. You can do two colors of epoxy by cutting the lines for one color,sanding it down, and then cutting the lines for the second color ,filling and sanding again.

Stacy
 
I agree with pre sealing the bone with cyano acrylate glue before starting but if the cuts are very wide I would seal them again before adding colour because the cuts will expose the bone pores again.

George
 
Thank you great points. Have been looking at tattoo's to get some ideas, but have found nothing so far... that I want to live with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top