Any Scrimshanders Here?

[GobblerKnob]

I'm not sure if this is the right area to post such a question, but I am looking for any information on the art of scrimshaw. I'm really looking for some good reference material that I can purchase as opposed to initially asking someone a lot of questions.
I'd like to learn to do this myself as well as teach my son how. He has expressed a desire to do something relating to 18th Century Americana and I thought this might be a likely path. I know it takes patience and an artistic knack and he has both.
Any help would be appreciated. Rick

 

[vradin]

Not really having only attempted it once, and found I didn't have either the talent or patience for it. I can make a couple of suggestions from things I learned on the way to learning about other things...

1- Tagua Nut. Get a bunch for working on. Looks, feels, works, and ages exactly like ivory. If you have a bandsaw you can slice discs for inlay work or making small 'ivory' filigree. It has a hollow in the center so care is needed when slicing or deep cutting. My only "success" in carving is an ivory (tagua nut) bear.

2- Get some kevlar gloves with gauntlet wrist protection. Look for the non-puncture type, not just the slice protections ones. Costs a little more, but worth it when the scriber DOESN'T go thru the palm or into a wrist.

3- Scratch awl with a ball handle makes a decent inexpensive scribing tool for beginners.

Hope this helps, maybe triggers some other ideas from the real experts out there.

vic

 

[Deadeye]

You can use plastic, ivory, bone, horn, antler and lots of other things. You can make the tools but an exacto knife is a good place to start then as you progress you'll see what you need to get a particular scratch. Have you done a search on the net? I've bought books and never got much help from them. I do mostly powder horns and knife handles
in the styles I see on originals.

 

[Huntinfool]

Hi Gobblerknob,

Here's a link to Ron Ehlert's video about scrimshawing horns and such. It's the best instructional video I've ever found.
:redthumb:
Chuck

 

[Gary]

Ron Ehlert's tape is a good start. Pick up Lee Larkin's pattern books. Xerox, cut, paste and then carve over the lines.

 

[2172]

It appears we have two threads running on the same topic..see the accessories board or whatever it's called..both threads are interesting..can't they be combined? Hank

 

[Claude Mathis]

It appears we have two threads running on the same topic..see the accessories board or whatever it's called..both threads are interesting..can't they be combined? Hank

We can't combine threads. The only solution is to lock one and add a link to the other one.