bone handle

[tompdw]

I bought a beef bone from the butcher and wish to use it for a handle. could anyone tell me what I need to do to get from still having meat on it to ready to mount on my tang?

[clifford]

I boil them on the Coleman camp stove out side, untill the meat and stuff is cooked off. I slightly sun dry them, then put them up untill I need them. I like the yellow, cracked look. Sometimes I'll fill them with a cheap two part epoxy, or whatever I have on hand.

I am curiuos how others treat bone, particulary well aged and dried bone.

[Dodge]

Wear a dust mask and use caution when sawing, grinding and sanding. The dust is hazardous. I boiled mine in water for 2 hrs and then cut up and scraped greasy marrow out of centers. Then I boiled in a 1/2 cup to 2 gallon mixed of TSP and water for another hour. Bones were very clean and very white. I got most of my bone info from JPH (Jim Hrisoulas).

[brucegodlesky]

Dodge, did the TSP clean up the fat in the bone?

[Don A]

I'm no authority on stabilization, but if you are concerned about good fit 'n finish, you might want to look into it.

That fresh bone, untreated, will shink a little as it ages. And a little is really just a little. But, if you have a piece dead-butted to a bolster, and it draws up by 1/64, that hairline gap is going to stand out.

Also, if it is pinned, say two or three pins, and it contracts, you will get pressure cracks around the pins.

It all depends on how critical you intend to get.

Don

[ThomasPowers]

TSP is a strong detergent and will clean up fat in the bone.

[Dodge]

Bruce,
As Thomas confirmed, TSP does clean the fat. After I boiled in plain water for 2 hours, there was still greasy marrow on the inside of the bones and even some gristle still attached to the outside. You usually have to split bones anyway as a typical leg bone is usually too big for anything but the biggest knives and swords, so this opens them up to the marrow, and TSP solution takes care of it. It also will dissolve the bone if you boil too long and use too strong a mix. Even at the 1:64 mix I used, there was a white chalky coat on all the bone. It scraped and sanded of easily, however. Again, take caution of dust when working with bone!

[fat pete]

anyone ever just bury the bones and dig them up later...takes time but nature does its job well

[pete46]

Cleaning Bones , Fire Ants Do Good Work!
But To Really Get Rid Of All Clues [and Or Body]use A Swamp!

[Finnr]

Plain ole fashioned ants are great too bury a bone in any ant hill and it will be slick in a short time. Word of warning though set a milk crate over the top to keep critters from "borrowing " your future handle material.
Finnr