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This was done simply to discover if I could do it. I went though a stage where my goal was to remove as much material from an egg shell as possible while still retaining the shape and image of the egg. Carving an egg shell like this is great fun and watching people's reactions when they seem something like this is even more fascinating.
Hope you like it.
Hope you like it.
Here's a couple of tips: Acid solutions dissolve eggshell. Draw the pattern, coat it by writing (correct expression) with lines of wax. Submerge the egg in acid, and watch the shell dissolve. The patterns remain because they are covered. Remove the wax coating by heating. Voila!
For "extreme" patterns: Try stabilizing the eggshell by filling it with melted candlewax before you begin. This also helps "sink" the egg in the acid solution. Melt all wax in the oven when you are finished. In the oven the egg should rest above the surface of the heated plate: use points- e.g. on three pinheads or nails standing vertically. Wax crayons are also fine, traditionally beeswax was used: The setup is a tablespoon to melt the wax in, rested over a candle to keep it warm. You write the pattern with any point dipped in wax, a toothpick will do. The technique is known from batique, and the tool is called a "kistka". The soot from the candle would colour the beeswax brown, so the pattern is easy to see while you are working.
You need to watch your timing: once the acid has eaten through the eggshell, it will also work from the INSIDE: SO the secret is to stop when it is ALMOST through, and THEN do the final by polishing with a fine-point set of delicate files. Use less concentrated acid by diluting with water.
Further tips: goose and duck eggs are often stronger than hen. Translumination gives an idea of weaknesses in the eggshell before you begin. The batique technique is mostly used for colouring, and coloured dyes are safer to make patterns than acid solutions: They are also more fun, because you can do sequential colouring (light-to-dark)... Good luck eggcrafting, everybody!
also, i think you should make an instructable of how to do this type of artwork
Ostrich is our largest eggshell and strongest of-course. It has other challenges for eggcraft, because of the deep pores in the surface of the eggshell. This disturbs fine patterns for detailed decorations, so it needs sanding to smoothen in preparation: The resulting surface is a marvellous canvas, though!.
I have not seen the wax-resist method used with acid for these largest eggs, it works but takes longer time. Some egg artists have actually "carved", but it is hard with a high-speed rotating disk. The difference between hobby tools and more professional is speed and precision. Watch out for the dust, though - it may be allergenic: use mask/filter and ventilation.
I have tried the various species (ratites)- nandu/rhea, emu, cazuar and so on. Emu is the only eggshell that lends to layered carving (cameo-style)
http://www.instructables.com/id/Carving-a-lattice-and-acanthus-pattern-on-an-emu-e/
I am sure this comment will be removed, I just had to add my $0.02
They spin so fast there is no drag or vibration to crack the eggshell. They'll cut thru material as thick as an Ostrich egg.
Thanks for sharing your opinion
Some prefer the white eggshell, like "marble" colour and others create trompe d'oeuil or magnificent effects by adding patterns, "shadows", see e.g. Gabriella Szutors books.
A technique that lends itself to carving is scraffiti: Scratching patterns with a point in addition to carving: a highly accurate method: and combining scratched, etched and carved is possibly the ultimate in eggcraft in this direction.
In a sense, a layer of paint does add to the shell, yes - and some work in egg tempera but then you should varnish the surface afterwards. I have also seen some collect the eggshell dust from drilling, mixing it with glue and making decorative "points" on the surface - still true to the idea that this is all-eggshell.
I focus on the egg art itself, (originality of pattern or design, various angles, etc) not so much these special effects with "openings"/holes and hinges - and once you start glueing things to the eggshell you are departing from its natural origin.... It is not really that hard to add "special effects" by perforating an egg (make holes), just remember your tool has to rotate, use gentle/firm pressure. To go all the way, i.e. if you take away more than seen above, you may need to embed the result in a transparent medium (which works better for transport and collectors)... Not all have access to dentistry tools, though.