Where to buy bone?

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
5,703
I am looking for small pieces of bones suitable for carving. Not to attach to knives for now, just to practice. Not even sure what the best type is but I was wondering if any of you good folks know of a good supplier?

Thanks
 
Places like Boone Trading sell all sort of bone, fur etc. or just go to a pet store.

Ken
 
http://www.giraffebone.co.za/web/contact_us.asp

Nicest people in the world... Jerry McClure is one of the best knifemakers around too. Seriously....

The other option for scales is Camel bone. I spent a bit of time talking to people who know more than I at the OKCA show last week and they were split on which of the two they prefer.

Hope this helps!
 
go down to your local pet food store and pick up some cow bone chew toys. Red Barn brand has a plain bleached white, unfilled femur bone sections for a few bucks each. I know many bone carvers use these to practice. I also manage a pet store so I am familiar with them, and many other materials sold typically that can have knife uses. If you want some ideas, let me know!


-Xander
 
This is mostly for small non knife related carvings. Bone, either camel or giraffe, seems to have a stigma attached to it with knife collectors/buyers so it is not something I will likely use. Too bad cause I do like to look of some of it.

Thanks for all the tips and links guys. Much appreciated.
 
If you want cow bone to practice on, I have a pretty unlimited supply and could send you some. If you aren't picky, I can just cut the knuckles off some femurs and shin bones and send them in a flat rate box. Let me know.

-Mike
 
I appreciate the offer Mike. I'll go take a look at pet shops around like folks suggested and if this doesn't work, I'll take you up on it.
 
Hit the butcher shops Patrice, around here we have custom butchers and I can get all the bones I want pretty cheap. Just boil them out or go bury them for awhile, just make sure animals won't dig them up.
 
Mike Turner said:
Hit the butcher shops Patrice, around here we have custom butchers and I can get all the bones I want pretty cheap. Just boil them out or go bury them for awhile, just make sure animals won't dig them up.
Click to expand...


I was going to mention that too.
We can get bones for free at the butcher, we ask for "dog bones" but of course they are cow leg bone.


They are full of meat and connective tissue.
If you soak them in water in a pail outside for a week or two - the warmer the better they will breakdown.

It's still work to brush them down, and scrape the connective tissue down.
you can then white and clean them with hydrogen peroxide.

Chlorine bleach will weaken the bone.
I found that the TSP I had must have had chlorine in it, because it disintegrated the bones I had.

Boiling changes the bone and makes it hard to get the blood and marrow out.
It also melts the marrow fat and the bones must be degreased.
When you soak them, eventually the blood channels and marrow just fall out.


It's worth paying to buy those already clean bones from the pet store.
 
Patrice heres a quick pic of the stuff I use. First off I'd like to say I'm in agreement
with everything the Count says above. Top bone local farm and barn, clean degreased
and cheap- the best for carving, middle one layed in my dog kennel for a month or so.
The bottom was also done for a dog bone but smoked and the low heat spread the fat
throughout the bone. If I were going to dye it the bottom would be my first choice.
Ken.
102_0832.jpg
 
I lucked out. My bone carving friend, Louie the Fish, just had a couple complimentary boxes shipped to our high school for the Hawaiian hook carving classes I'm starting up this week as part of the 9th grade Hawaii Studies humanities course.

attachment.php
 
Phil, those are the exact bones I was suggesting. Nice to see it confirmed, anyways, Patrice- if you talk to the manager of an independant petshop they might be able to cut you a deal on a box of bones. Small bones are 30 to a box and large ones are 25 to a box. Large bones run about $85 a box manufacterer direct and might be able to find them cheaper at a local petshop. I would do it for you for just over cost if the shipping weren't gonna negate that savings from buying local.


-Xander
 
Well looks like dogs in Quebec don't like white bones.:mad:
Could not find some in any of the pet shops I went too. They also had never heard of the brand Red Barn. Now I have to find out if they sell them in pet shops in Maine so I can pick some up when I go in June.:rolleyes:

I may take you up on that offer Xander, depending on how it goes. Thanks.
 
Patrice, if you want I'll send you one or two. Any specific features you looking for? Large flat areas, uniformity, roundness, size? Would be shipping from 95204 if you want to check on shipping.


-Xander
 
I would prefer something already cleaned Hengelo but I'll keep that in mind.

Thanks for the offer Xander. I'll look into it and let you know.
 
fast14riot said:
Patrice, if you want I'll send you one or two. Any specific features you looking for? Large flat areas, uniformity, roundness, size? Would be shipping from 95204 if you want to check on shipping. -Xander
Click to expand...
Ya, what are you wanting to do? I just ripped a bunch of rough slabs out of some bones. Want a few?
 
Thanks for the offer Phil but shipping from your little piece of paradise would be even worst than from Xander. I'll see if I can get some when I go to the US and if not, I'll take one of you guys up on their offer.
 
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