Bone and Jigged bone, how does it cut and finish ?

[Matt Shade]

This sort of goes along with my thread on handle materials. But I'd like to try bone sometime anyhow and would like to know what it takes before I buy any.
The stuff I'm looking at is white bone scales, and jigged bone scales from Koval. If I remember right their .15" thick. Would there be any marrow to that or would it all be hard face? I need to use it in some pretty small peices and I'm afraid that when I cut it down to size I will get into bad spots around the edges. Is there any chance of that?
Other than that, how is it to work with. I have a wood cutting bandsaw, a 6 inch disk, and a 4x36 grinder to rough stuff out. Files, sandpaper, and a dremel for finishing. No buffer, except for the small wheels that fit my dremel. I'm willing to put the time in with just hand tools if need be also.Would I be able to work with the stuff, or do a need a variable speed sander and a buffer?
What grit would you finish it to by hand? Does it need to be finished/sealed or anything? Sorry for all the questions but I hate the idea of having a knife 95% finished and starting over :barf:
Thanks for any help.

 

[Bruce Bump]

Matt, I like using the dyed jigged bone scales. They work nice and can be thinned down if your set has some marrow on the back. Most that I have used were plenty thick with very little marrow. Stabilized bone would be best but I have never stabilized mine and have had no shrinkage trouble. It can be worked with your tools and can be brought down to 2000 grit by hand easily. I usually do buff after that for the gloss but it looks good with a satin also. The white bone may pick up some color from the buffer so use white rouge. Sharp drill bits and fresh belts are best.

 

[Tom Anderson]

Ditto, Bruce!

Matt - this stuff is easy to work with!

If you're travelling to Kovals to pick it out, just look at the back side for any hollows. Most of the pieces I have worked with had few voids and were thick enough that I could sand them out.

The only things I'd like to add are to use slower cutting speeds (if you can), leave a little extra on when sawing (it might splinter on the edge slightly with a wood cutting bandsaw), use sharp abrasives and cutters, and back the drill bits out to clean them often!

 

[Matt Shade]

Thanks alot guys
Sounds like I'll be using some kind of bone. I really like the weight and feel of a bone handle and it should fit the type of knife pretty well.I'll try to let you guys see how it turns out.

 

[Possum]

Howdy There....!
I have used alot of bone on blades, in fact I like using it. It is a good materail to work with and can be shape easy as woods. I agree with the above advice, be sure to watch your grinding and buffing speeds. If you get them too fast you can actually burn the bone. One trick I use on white bone at the buffing process is to coat it with (the Knifemaker's friend) super glue before buffing. This will seal alot of the pores and it will not pick up as much compound on the bone. Good luck and just take your time work the bone.
Later "Possum"