Bone Carving Tools
Bone carving can result in intricate and delicate works of art, or they can be strikingly simple. Whatever the goal, a number of different bone carving tools are used. Cattle, oxen, moose and deer are some of the more popular bones that are widely used, according to the site Iknewit.org. Leg bones are particularly desirable as they are thick and very dense, the site said, making them less liable to break or crack. While not every bone carving tool will be used on every project, bone carvers usually arm themselves with a number of fundamental items.
Saw
A saw is needed for cutting the bone down to size and can be used in larger pieces for cutting details into the bone. Coping or fret saws are the best types of saw to use, as both can be manipulated to saw around bends and curves. Coping and fret saws are similar, as both have a handle attached to a U-shaped frame that holds the blade in place, but coping saws are a bit longer and larger.
Drill or Dremel
A drill or Dremel tool with a small, thin drill bit attachment are needed to drill any holes through the bone. Holes are necessary for bone pieces that will become pendants, earrings or other jewelry. Drills can also be used to carve deeper patterns than a saw can muster without drilling all the way through the bone.
Gravers
Gravers are chisels created out of top quality steel. These are used for cutting out designs that are very fine, requiring more control and precision than a saw can provide.
Files and Sandpaper
Metal files are used to smooth down jagged edges. Bone carvers may use a number of different size files, depending on the size of their piece, with the ideal files being very coarse. Fine files will not have the strength to properly smooth down the bone. Needles files, which feature a slim body that often tapers to a point, are useful for very fine details.
Sandpaper is used to further smooth down jagged edges that may still remain after filing. It also works to erase any grooves or markings left from any of the tools. Carvers start with the coarsest sandpaper and keep working their way down to the finer-grained paper, depending on the smoothness desired. Sandpaper can be used both dry and wet.
Polishing Tool
Polishing is optional but adds a fine sheen to the finished product. A polishing head can be attached to the Dremel tool or other grinding tool. The best polishing head for bone is a buffing wheel made of cotton. Using a polish with the wheel is also optional. Silver and brass polish work but both must be washed off after use.
Safety Equipment
Since bone fragments can snap, break or cause dust, carvers should invest in at least the basic safety equipment. Goggles are a must for keeping fragments and dust out of the eyes. A mask over the nose and mouth keeps dust from being inhaled.
Related Posts:
Deworm Your Cat Naturally
Deworm your cat naturally with a few simple techniques.Worms are a very common problem in cats. Symptoms your cat may display that she has worms are vomiting, loss of appetite and diarrhea. There...
How Do Grass Seed Drills Work
Grass Seed Drill BasicsA grass seed drill is a type of metering system. While seed drill systems can be used for nearly any type of seed, thanks especially to recent technological advancements, gr...
Lubricate A Zipper
Lubricate a ZipperIf those jeans are tight as all get-out and really tough to zip up, you may need to lubricate the zipper. When you're in a hurry and can't get that nasty zipper to budge, lubrica...
The Plans & Materials To Build A 12 X 12 Storage Shed
A 12-by-12-foot shed is a good size, large enough to store lawn implements and other tools and supplies but small enough not to dominate a yard. Check local building regulations before starting be...
The Best Way To Aerate Your Lawn
Aeration is a process in which you use a tool to plunge three- to four-inch holes into the soil of your yard so that your lawn will absorb water, fertilizers and other nutrients that will help it...
