Thread: Not to sound stupid but...

can i go grab a bone out of the cemetery(cows not human) and use it for scales? or is there more to it than I know?

Originally Posted by simpleman

can i go grab a bone out of the cemetery(cows not human) and use it for scales? or is there more to it than I know?

honestly, I thought human bone would be kind of cool...especially if you could get someone famous like hoffa or JFK or someone.

it would but not as easily accessible as my bone.

Stupid questions are the ones that are not asked.
Bob Allman has worked with bone, you may wish to send him a pm.
Think you may need to be cautious about the dust and use a certain grade respirator. I think you have to boil it for ages also.

Yes and No there is actually a thread in the workshop where somebody used one of the big processed dog bones that you can buy at the pet store... They are plain cow bone but dried and processed...

I am working a set of dried Elk bones ATM but the bones have to be clean and dried... You have to make sure any biologic processes are stopped or the bone will fall apart rather quickly... Boil and dry is what I am using...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I am working a set of dried Elk bones ATM but the bones have to be clean and dried... You have to make sure any biologic processes are stopped or the bone will fall apart rather quickly... Boil and dry is what I am using...

Can it be dried in the oven?

Here are some guidelines...


Non-hunters don't hit the link the descriptions are for people that have field dressed game before...

How to Boil a skull or make a European mount | eHow.com

Use as much of those instructions as needed

I have several deer bones in my garage waiting to use. I am using the beetle method of tissue removal. (I have no idea if they will work out or not, but they didn't cost anything, so I figured it'd be worth a shot)

I don't think dug up bones will work so well. IIRC from digging up cows as a kid (when I was a 10 year old amateur archaeologist) they get pretty spongy after being buried for awhile. You'd probably be better to start with fresh bones and find a good way to process them from the start.

I'd go the pet store route. I use the "dog bones" for wedges, and I think Undream does too. I'm not entirely positive, but he may also have posted a couple months back a set of scales made from bone. Maybe send him a PM and see what he says.