Carved Bone Fish From Bone Scraps

Here's a simple project that puts to use some of the scraps a butcher generates. You can also use the real beef bone dog bones that PetsMart sells.
I recommend getting the bone from someone who owns dogs that chew on them (finding them in their yard) or talking to a local butcher. Personally, I get an infinite bone supply from my neighbor's woods. Her dogs consume an enormous amount of treats, and I find the leftover bones buried amongst the conifer needles.

These little bone carvings make great necklaces, charms, and trinkets. If you tea-dye yours like I did here, they will have an natural aged quality that is irresistible to surfers, beach bums, and tourists :D

I have a blog, here!

Step 1 Cutting Down The Bone

 You want to cut down the big bone (on the far left) into a little bone blank (on the far right). Plan all your cuts and you will get the maximum use of the material.

I used a band saw. The blade is 3/8" wide (6 teeth/inch), and I recommend the same for you. 

WEAR SAFETY GLASSES!

Comments

[doomsdayltd]

dyeing makes the bone...well tacky and fake, how the bone becomes yellowed is part of the fun and learning process of wearing them!

[Asmodeous]

Nice work, but the stench of burning bone when sawing or cutting is horrid. It reminds me of burning human flesh. I just stoped the project because of it. You have to have an iron will to work with the smell of burning bone. I almost vomited.

[nepheron]

 If the bone smells really bad, then it's burning... your saw blade may be really REALLY dull. It smelled bad until i got a new blade.

Bone, like any material, has a smell. It's not exactly roses, but it shouldn't smell like rotting flesh...

[BHStibal]

 this is an awesome idea!!! how did you even come up with this idea?

[nepheron]

 Google knows everything! It's just a matter of gathering ideas and putting them together in one place.
 Here is another cool bone carving 'ible.

[xboxfox]

 CRYS! i broke the tail off mine when i was cutting! lucky i cut a few pieces 
im so close to finishing and it looks good! +1000000000000000000 for this

[nepheron]

 Thanks! Do you have any Photos of your work? Check out these carvings, they are another on of my simple designs.

[DragonSpike]

If you cut the fish ribs into more prongs, you could have a decent comb!

[nepheron]

 LOL That's something I'll have to try!

[BeanGolem]

 Do you have pictures of any experiments with other "species" of fish? 

[nepheron]

 hmm...I have fish carved from coconut shell.

[lemonie]

Like sailor-craft?
Really super.

L

[nepheron]

 Thanks!
Sailor-craft? What's that?

[lemonie]

Old sailors, scrimshaw, whale bones / walrus tusks and that.

L

[nepheron]

 Oh, ok! Thanks!

[munik]

Could you use any bone? Like from pork roasts and such?

If so, do you have to dry or cure them, or could you use them right away?

[nepheron]

 Any bone will do!
If your using fresh bones with grease or meat in them, you'll need to clean and dry them.

[Tool Using Animal]

Very nice, but please emphasize the wisdom of wearing a respirator while sanding bone.

[nickodemus]

Very nice, these would make some interesting necklaces. Somebody needs to feature this 'ible! Great job!

[nickodemus]

Okay, now I see that it is featured. I didn't see it before.

[nepheron]

 LOL
I love being featured! :)