Bone Tools

[RandyScott]

Here is a link to google to search for 'how to degrease bones': https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&gs_mss=how%20to%20degrease%20bo&tok=mFMYrWuI9p8ieIo0iWQrag&cp=20&gs_id=1x&xhr=t&q=how+to+degrease+bones&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=how+to+degrease+bone&aq=0&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=d6f68e5c56c9b3bd&biw=1130&bih=639

I have made boning tools from hardwoods, both exotic/foreign and domestic... it is quicker, cheaper and easier. Bone has a propensity to leach fat for years if it has not been degreased properly.

One Christmas season Rockler's, a retail woodworking chain, had a box of 'exotic hardwood' cutoffs. I paid about 50 cents each and made fids, creasers, burnishers, boners, etc.. Some of that wood was really hard to work with hand tools. It will hold well against leather.

[TexasLady]

6/3/12

Hi robertmeco,

Thanks for that suggestion and link. Yes, the bone awl looks very nice. I would like to make something like that myself. The baskets on that link are beautiful, too. I'm really glad to have this link, as I hadn't known that there was any 'one spot' on the internet where I would be able to find so much information on 'basket-making'. I took a 'required' 3-D Design class a couple of years ago at a community college. When I got there, it turned out to be a 'combined' class. Half of the students were taking 3-D Design and the other half were taking 'Fibers'. Fibers was mostly 'basket weaving'. I soon realized that the teacher's heart was in the Fibers half of her class, not in the 3-D half. She was really good at basket-weaving. I watched as much of it as I was able, while still keeping up with what I was there to accomplish.

However, help me with something. There's no way to find out the prices of anything without registering on that site, right? But, again, thanks for the link. I'll probably go back to it when I get ready to learn basket making. – Texas Lady

6/3/12

Hi again, WinterBear. Peroxide. Okay. Yes, I have some right by the sink. Food grade. I brush my teeth with it. I'll try that if the sun doesn't work. Right now, my round steak bones (the ones with any pinkness to them) have found their way into that new, shiny, and as yet unused rat trap that I bought at a Chinese grocery store a few years ago. I don't want to put it out in the yard until I've purchased either some strong wire or else a small chain to tie it down with. The whole thing doesn't weigh very much, and a determined dog could easily walk off with the whole kit 'n kaboodle if it isn't tied down. My back yard isn't dog proof,… nor people proof for that matter. I'll wrap the chain around a railroad tie or a tree to secure the rat trap and leave those bones out in the hot Texas sun for a few days. I'm reluctant to tie it to a tree near the house, as I don't want to encourage the ants to come any closer to my habitat than necessary. Thanks for all your suggestions.

Oh, no,… I've got lots of files, rasps, and sandpaper. But you're right. Even the little emery boards for manicures can be very useful. A friend who used to have a 'framing' store used those emery boards with a foam center for her touch up work. – Texas Lady

6/3/12

Hi Randy Scott,

Those were such good links on that Google search that you sent me. I looked into the first five of them and have learned a lot already. Also, your idea of going to Rockler for some exotic wood was a great idea. I have a Rockler within my 'stomping ground' limits, too. I went there day before yesterday and bought several beautiful pieces of mahogany (about 18" x 2" x 8") for a dollar apiece. I have the illusion of making leatherworking tools out of it as you have done. Thanks for those helpful ideas. – Texas Lady

Edited June 4, 2012 by TexasLady

[Annonymouse]

I've never even heard of burying bone to "sanitize" it. I would probably just scrub it, and bleach it. You don't want bugs growing on your bone, and you don't want it to smell like a dead thing.

If you need to shape it, you could wear a dust mask and use a Dremel on it. You can also chip it with rocks to shape it well, like you were making an arrowhead.

[TexasLady]

6/22/12

Hi Annonymouse,

I'm glad that people who see my Thread are still sending me help. On sanitizing the bone, I think the idea is that ants will clean up any tiny bits of flesh and that UV rays will bleach out the bone,... you know, like the old cow skeletons that sometimes appear in Western Movies? Maggots have sometimes been used by doctors to clean up rotten flesh from live humans with infections in tricky, dangerous spots. They will only eat 'dead' flesh, not 'live' flesh, while even the best doctor's scaple can't differenciate at that microscopic level. So, I do see the logic in letting insects clean up the bones. For now though, I've just concentrated on carving the bones that were already 'pure bone', not the ones with pink, stinky, spots on them. I'm in two Summer classes, and pretty much overwhelmed for now with that. It's been heart-warming to hear back from folks when I felt lonely with my urge to make bone tools. - TexasLady