Thread: Buying Bone for wedges

Here's a great US source:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/origindia09...1&_ipg=&_from=

I deal with them a lot and have been very pleased.

Nice link pete. Thanks.
Thanks for reply Shaun. A soak for a few days?

Good link, I have used them over the years.

~Richard

Great link indeed.
Boy, do they have stuff!
If you can't find the bone or horn you need there...
There's a problem.

Pete <:-}

Yes, a couple days in a warm spot is good for most. Of course it does depend a little on how dry they are to start with. I buy raw, unbleach bone from India to combat the dry issue.

Originally Posted by RezDog

I save my messed up pieces and slabs with osteo issues in unfortunate places for wedges and experiments. I have used a few bones that came out of the soup pot for making stuff out of as well. I have never used pet shop bones, it seems better to be able to make soup first. Bronze the bones in the oven and then boiled them to make stock, it is too delicious to not use butcher shop bones.

Even so, your bone slabs are cheap enough that I'd buy them just for cutting into wedges.

Cut 3 strips out of the bone and got them soaking in mineral oil. Hope to be able to work with them on my days off.

I think i will buy the bone next time already ready. Less work!

Wow they have quite an array of bone and horn.
I've always saved old broken horn scales for that use but have mostly stuck to wood for scales.
Sometimes old scales are a bit thin for a wedge, or not much thickness to work with..
If the wedge is too thin a good way to increase thickness (and weight for balance) is to sandwich it with copper or any other metal. Probably my favorite look.

I really like the extra effect that a wedge can give besides the technical aspects.

My first scales were too thick and heavy, so the wedge didn't need any weight.
As I progressed the scales got thinner and thinner, for better flex, and lighter.
But then a properly weighted wedge became necessary.

Originally Posted by RezDog

Light mineral oil.

Does the mineral oil effect later scrimshaw?

It appears not to effect mine. With different inks it may.