[Regia-NA] first antler comb project = major fustration.

[Chris Knight]

Hiya!  yours huh? great looking peice of work, and alot of good tips.
but Im afraid I dident think about mounting the teeth plates at a right 
angle with the grain!(DOH!!)  That was probably why it wasent working.
I'll try to take the plates out and make more. I have quite a bit of antler 
to work with. It's a 5 point elk rack. and so far I still have an entire 
side left not including the scraps from the side I cut the comb peices from. 
                          thanks for the help.
                                              Chris Knight

>From: "yolli" <yolli@lineone.net>
>Reply-To: list-regia-na@lig.net
>To: <list-regia-na@lig.net>
>Subject: Re: [Regia-NA] first antler comb project = major fustration.
>Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2002 16:20:34 +0100
>
>Dear Chris,
>
>The comb on the web site is mine all mine! - well the one at the top of the
>photo. I've made about six or seven of the things and they can be a 
>complete
>swine.
>
>Not only because of the teeth, but the material is hard to come by in the
>quality that our forebears were used to - simply the antler we get today is
>often too small in diameter. You need the antler from an animal that's at
>least five years old or so for good results.
>
>Making a comb is a good way of hacking your antler beam into lots of
>potentially useless lumps. If for example you have to make the decision
>whether to cut the beam into hands grips or handles, then it won't then 
>make
>up sections for a comb if you change your mind and vice versa. So be brave
>'mon brave'.
>
>The best tools I have come across are:
>
>An Angle Grinder with a variety of sanding disks and a modellers band saw.
>in addition to this you should have Arthur MacGregors book Bone, Antler and
>Other Skeletal Materials - or something like that.
>
>I always find as I implied above that to make one good comb you need to
>scrap a fair bit of antler and consign it to the bin really. As the 
>material
>twists in both directions at once, you'll find it very difficult to make 
>the
>side panels and tooth plates out of flat sections of the outer slice of the
>antler. You can rivet flat slightly curved plates, but it's best to start
>with truly flat sections or panels if you can.
>
>For ease of construction, you can glue tooth plates or the side panels in
>situ if you feel you need, as they won't all sit flat and behave themselves
>at all times. Make sure you make the comb up first and then cut the teeth.
>Cut marks on the side panels or originals show that this was the usual
>practice 1000 years ago. There is a 'grain' to the antler ( up and down 
>it's
>length.......) and the teeth must follow this grain making the tooth plates
>sit at right angles to the side panels. The Viking and Saxon practice was
>not to always rivet the plates and panels in the most appropriate places
>such as in the middle of the side panel securing the centre area of the
>tooth plate. Oh no, lets plonk the rivet in a tooth joint......They aren't
>all let's say quaint - some are sensible pieces of work.
>
>Kim's tooth cutter is okay, but I've personally never had recourse to make
>one and use it. If you wish to cut teeth of differing sizes at either end 
>of
>the comb you'll need two different thickness saws anyway. I tend to draw on
>the comb the teeth I expect to cut. Now this is hit and miss bit. As I go
>along, I modify my cut and tooth size subtly to suit the width of the tooth
>plate at hand, so that the end cut is in fact down the centre of a tooth
>plate joint - disguising it a bit.
>
>I do spend a fair bit of time finishing the teeth with sand paper etc,
>otherwise the comb is a little aggressive. You can make the teeth too sharp
>as well which is not too comfortable either. The teeth at say 3mm thick at
>their root are sturdy and will take a lot of punishment - unlike a bone
>comb. Even finer teeth are strong - much to my surprise every time really.
>But above all, take it easy. I do wonder if a reciprocating saw ( fret saw 
>)
>will do the job as well. A cutting disk on a Dremel might do it - not that
>I've tried.
>
>Cheers, Roll.
>
>
>---- Original Message -----
>From: "Chris Knight" <knight1066@hotmail.com>
>To: <list-regia-na@lig.net>
>Sent: Saturday, July 27, 2002 1:29 AM
>Subject: [Regia-NA] first antler comb project = major fustration.
>
>
> >   I have had an antler comb project going on for a couple months now and 
>I
> > am nearly finished. I used the diagram on the Regia bone and antler
>working
> > page, and all I need to do now is cut the teeth. I started yesterday 
>using
> > my dremel but the smallest bit I had on it was too wide and left a large
> > space between the teeth. Then I tried using a small hacksaw and it was
> > working fine untill I snapped the tooth off (aaaarrrgghhh!!!) is there
> > anyone on the list with experiance in comb making?  any tips? should I
>just
> > saw slower next time?
> >                                                 Thanks for any help.
> >                                                    Chris Knight
>
>
>
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