How to Carve Bone Into Jewlery
In this instructable I will be teaching you how to carve bone into tribal pendants, or anything really.
Carving bone is a cheap fun hobby that takes up a lot of time. After just a few days you may be able to make something impressive. But as I understand it takes many years to master.
Carving bone is a cheap fun hobby that takes up a lot of time. After just a few days you may be able to make something impressive. But as I understand it takes many years to master.
Tools and Materials You Will Need
You will absolutely need these items
A RESPIRATOR, BONE DUST... OR ANY FINE DUST FOR THAT MATTER IS VERY BAD FOR YOUR LUNGS ABSOLUTELY DO NOT START THIS PROJECT UNLESS YOU HAVE A WAY TO KEEP YOURSELF AWAY FROM THE DUST.
(YOU WILL ALSO NEED A STRONG STOMACH IF YOU USE A CARBON FILTER RESPIRATOR. BONE CAN MAKE VERY DISGUSTING SMELLS)
Bone
And a dremel with a diamond bit, a drill bit, and sanding bits with sand paper .
To make better designs you will also need:
Sand paper 300, (600, 1000 are optional. I don't have any and will explain what to do if you don't have any either)
A jewelers saw with the coarsest blade you can find
1 needle files (The one is the coarseness of the file)
a tooth brush
Baking soda
and a Linen towel
A RESPIRATOR, BONE DUST... OR ANY FINE DUST FOR THAT MATTER IS VERY BAD FOR YOUR LUNGS ABSOLUTELY DO NOT START THIS PROJECT UNLESS YOU HAVE A WAY TO KEEP YOURSELF AWAY FROM THE DUST.
(YOU WILL ALSO NEED A STRONG STOMACH IF YOU USE A CARBON FILTER RESPIRATOR. BONE CAN MAKE VERY DISGUSTING SMELLS)
Bone
And a dremel with a diamond bit, a drill bit, and sanding bits with sand paper .
To make better designs you will also need:
Sand paper 300, (600, 1000 are optional. I don't have any and will explain what to do if you don't have any either)
A jewelers saw with the coarsest blade you can find
1 needle files (The one is the coarseness of the file)
a tooth brush
Baking soda
and a Linen towel
Find Insperation
To find ideas for designs I look at amazon.com, tribal tattoo's and other peoples work.
Then I enter GIMP and draw my design and print it out. (If like 15 people request it I will make a GIMP tutorial on how to make templates.)
Then I get ready to carve
I recommend that beginners start off making harpoon tips to get used to the material and tools they are using.
Then I enter GIMP and draw my design and print it out. (If like 15 people request it I will make a GIMP tutorial on how to make templates.)
Then I get ready to carve
I recommend that beginners start off making harpoon tips to get used to the material and tools they are using.
Trace Your Template on Your Bone.
Trace your template on your bone!
Start Making Your "Blank"
1. Sand down the edges of the bone until it is flat.
2. Cut out your pater roughly using the jewelery saw leaving about 3/4 a centimeter around your pattern.
3. Round off the edges of the blank carefully with the dremel and sandpaper bit
2. Cut out your pater roughly using the jewelery saw leaving about 3/4 a centimeter around your pattern.
3. Round off the edges of the blank carefully with the dremel and sandpaper bit
Add the Rest of Your Patern
I drew a little wave inside the pendant by removing negative space.
Drill Holes Into the Area That Needs to Be Removed
Drill a hole into the area that needs to be removed and then insert the saw blade in the hole.
Cut Out the Space.
Cut out the space.
Sand Baby, Sand!
Sand all the edges with 300 grit sandpaper.
If you have needle files clean up the edges and round them out, you can also use the diamond dremel bit to do this but it often looks very sloppy.
If you have needle files clean up the edges and round them out, you can also use the diamond dremel bit to do this but it often looks very sloppy.
Now Make It Bling.
Sand the pendent with the 600 and 1000 grit sandpaper.
If you don't have the sand paper you can use this method.
Mix baking soda with water and then shake it up.
Pour the mixture out on the linen towel and put your pendant in the middle.
fold the mixture over the pendant and rub it between your hands for about a half hour.
If you don't have the sand paper you can use this method.
Mix baking soda with water and then shake it up.
Pour the mixture out on the linen towel and put your pendant in the middle.
fold the mixture over the pendant and rub it between your hands for about a half hour.
Put It on a Necklace or Key Fob... Whatever You Want.
By now you should have a pendant :)
Tips and Tricks
Step Three: Add more space depending on how sharp you want your edges to be.
Step Five: Draw your pattern smaller than you want it to be to avoid messing it up.
Step Six: Work slowly cutting out this pattern took me an hour and a half... and thats because i was rushing which caused me to break five saw blades.
Step Nine: This one is for cheaters only, after your pendant is flawless coat it with a a few layers of clear nail paint and then carefully sand that down to make your pendant extremely shiny.
Step Ten: READ MY TIPS.
Tips and Tricks
Step Three: Add more space depending on how sharp you want your edges to be.
Step Five: Draw your pattern smaller than you want it to be to avoid messing it up.
Step Six: Work slowly cutting out this pattern took me an hour and a half... and thats because i was rushing which caused me to break five saw blades.
Step Nine: This one is for cheaters only, after your pendant is flawless coat it with a a few layers of clear nail paint and then carefully sand that down to make your pendant extremely shiny.
Step Ten: READ MY TIPS.