A question for those who handle their own knives

[Dannytsg]

Okay,

I have started to plan my next build and I am looking for something more than a simple handle material. I have been looking at using either horn or bone but I want to know from those with experience how easy it is to cut with something such as a jigsaw.

I do not have access to a band saw or anything like that and other than using a coping saw or hack saw all I have at my disposal is a jig saw.

Is bone or horn prone to splintering when cutting and how easy would it be to work?

Thanks in advance

 

[shaggystu]

i've never tried sawing bone but i have filed it. it's slow, hard work that kicks out masses of potentially quite dangerous dust, however you decide to go about it i think you're best off wearing a dust mask.

as for splintering, i've never had a problem with splintering when i've worked bone in the past

HTH

stuart

 

[Silverclaws]

Bone stinks when it is being cut, the smell is unbelievable and if you think, it reminds you of the dentist, but cutting is easy with a saw, I used to get bleached dog bones and cut them up to make bone needles for sale at living history faires. Horn also stinks when it is being cut but if you think, it is basically what your nails and hair are made from, think burning hair.

However, I have not experienced any problems with cutting the materials with hand tools as long as one selects the right cutting tools for the material in hand, remember thickness of sections and match the number of teeth in contact to suit.

 

[sasquatch]

You'll be fine with hand tools. It does smell bad at first but you soon get used to it.

 

[ex-member Raikey]

dont forget,.you can always "form" horn with steam too if its not the right sort of shape,...

i,m sure one of the members here whos into walking stick making would be able to advise the best technique

 

[mereside]

on my first build i made the fatal mistake of under drilling my hole size slightly on my buffallo horn scales my thinking was it would hold the scales tight when the pins went in and oops they cracked i was gutted. as others have said what a stink so you will offend the wife when you go back in the house smelling of burning horn/ antler. good luck with your knife and show pics ,atb wayne

 

[brancho]

Are we talking fulltang scales or stick stacked peices?

 

[Dannytsg]

Sorry I forgot to add it will be full tang. I am mainly concerned about the profile cutting of the scale with a jigsaw.

 

[Firefly1]

Hi Guy's
Oh how i want to post on this as the humour of ambiguity on this topic could be a thread on its own,I'm ok now just thought of Ann widdlecome in black suzzy's and that stopped all ambigous thought.

Thank god that happend as i promised the Mods(Gods) not to let my thoughs free rein.

Firefly1

 

[mikew]

Sorry I forgot to add it will be full tang. I am mainly concerned about the profile cutting of the scale with a jigsaw.

I would avoid using a jigsaw on bone, a coping/fret saw is much easier to control. Where a good mask as bone dust is not the most pleasant thing to get up your nose!