what bone shall I use?

[monkey boy]

I need to get hold of some bone for some projects I have in mind, im finding it hard to find some, I am thinking about buying some dog bone from the pet shop, do you think it will be ok to use for handle making, needle making and other crafts?

 

[Mesquite]

I need to get hold of some bone for some projects I have in mind, im finding it hard to find some, I am thinking about buying some dog bone from the pet shop, do you think it will be ok to use for handle making, needle making and other crafts?

Very sensible idea... it'll do nicely for all those jobs

 

[copper_head]

I think dog bones are roasted generally, im not sure if it would work. Try a butchers, you'll get them for pence.

 

[John Fenna]

I have used dog bones for needles and other tools - it can be a bit brittle at times "green" bones are more "elastic".

 

[copper_head]

Well I stand corrected, might have to get down the pet shop!

 

[monkey boy]

thank you for the advice I will deffo check out the butchers thats a good Idea,

 

[monkey boy]

theres a pets at home near me maybe I will pop in a see what they have got

 

[Dave Budd]

yeah, go to the butchers. bones that have been roasted, boiled or bleached all have different properties to fresh bone. Like John says, they tend to be brittle but can work fine (alot depends on what you want to use the bone for).

Also, the species and body part van vary according to what you want to make. metatarsels and shins for dense bone when you want things like handles, dice and like, femur/humerus for needles are quicker making, shoulder blades for shovels, skulls for bowls, etc, etc

If you want to clean the raw bone up without changing the mechanical properties you can bury it for some time in the garden or soak in a bucket of biological washing powder for a while (really stinky, but works). boiling in lie (bleach or wood ash) is quicker and less damaging than roasting.

have fun and show us what you end up making!

 

[Pandabean]

What about having a butchers around some local woods? I have seen the odd skeletal remains of deer and other animals lying around. But would it need treating though?

 

[John Fenna]

What about having a butchers around some local woods? I have seen the odd skeletal remains of deer and other animals lying around. But would it need treating though?

My Awl is from a sheeps bone that I found on the hills - naturally bleached and cleaned and I hafted a decorative knife with a deers shin - both work well for their jobs

 

[wasteoid]

Hey Monkey Boy,

If you are anywhere near London Bridge, Bourough Market's big butcher give them away free for "dogs" - I usually get a bunch of beef ribs and shin bones for mine. They will do exactly what you want I would have thought.

Chris

 

[Hugo]

Sammy there was the skeletal remains of a deer at the Sussex meet last time I was there, As you are going to the meet I'll show you where it is.

 

[monkey boy]

Sammy there was the skeletal remains of a deer at the Sussex meet last time I was there, As you are going to the meet I'll show you where it is.

that would be great, we can see what we can get out of it
thanx everyone will defo check the butchers out, will be in the london bridge area soon

 

[Bucketosudz]

The Pet Store bone I get for carving is not brittle at all, in fact it is quite possible to get very sharp edges and points with it. I have been carving pendants out the same bone for a couple of years now.

 

[21st century pict]

I've used the shin bones from the pet shops,works ok for needles and broadheads, its got a good long flat section on it.
As John Fenna says sheep and deer bone also work just fine, just tap it and if it sounds ok then there you go,free stuff rocks.
PS ace looking axe you got there Bucketosudz.