Letter Opener...

We all make stuff other than pipes, so here's a place where "anything goes" as far as showing off some of your projects and other hobbies.
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JMG
Posts: 1185
Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:28 pm
Location: Mississippi

Letter Opener...

Post by JMG »

I don't use a letter opener, but tonight after ruining a perfectly good pipe I decided to take a break and make something different. I used the base of a whitetail antler (I use the tips for tampers) and made this letter opener out of it. I really love working with this stuff...it polishes up really nicely.

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"No reserves, no retreats, no regrets"

"When you're dumb...you've got to be tough." - my dad
kamkiel
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Location: Chongqing, China

Re: Letter Opener...

Post by kamkiel »

I'd open my letters with it!
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terryR
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Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2016 11:31 am

Re: Letter Opener...

Post by terryR »

Very nice! that's a great shape!

Although I cannot believe you "really love working" antler...yuck the smell never leaves me! :)

I've made several knives from antler/bone, scary sharp material. I'd sure like to discover a way to fill the pores on the inner sections...that doesn't look like crap. So far, I've failed with colored epoxy, bone dust and epoxy, and chalk/epoxy.

sorry about the bummed pipe.
-tr
see one, do one, teach one
LatakiaLover
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Re: Letter Opener...

Post by LatakiaLover »

Sweet.

Prehistoric-looking rusticity perfectly blended with modern purpose. Brilliant, actually.

I bet you'd find a ready market for those in the fountain pen collector's community.
UFOs must be real. There's no other explanation for cats.
JMG
Posts: 1185
Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:28 pm
Location: Mississippi

Re: Letter Opener...

Post by JMG »

terryR wrote:Very nice! that's a great shape!

Although I cannot believe you "really love working" antler...yuck the smell never leaves me! :)

I've made several knives from antler/bone, scary sharp material. I'd sure like to discover a way to fill the pores on the inner sections...that doesn't look like crap. So far, I've failed with colored epoxy, bone dust and epoxy, and chalk/epoxy.

sorry about the bummed pipe.
Yeah, I'm a little curious to try stabilizing a piece after it is shaped, but before being final sanded and buffed. If I end up trying it I will let you know how it works out.
"No reserves, no retreats, no regrets"

"When you're dumb...you've got to be tough." - my dad
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terryR
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Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2016 11:31 am

Re: Letter Opener...

Post by terryR »

very cool, Thanks!

I have slowly been acquiring the parts needed to stabilize wood with epoxy resin, but haven't finished. (also installing horse fencing with hand held tools) I wonder if the pressure would help with bone or antler?

AND, believe me, I wasn't trying to imply your piece above needed to be modified in any way. It is awesome exactly as is!

But I tend to use cow bone from the nearest farm to shape whatever pops in my mind, so want to deal with the mediastinum sometimes.

Hard to believe what the www charges for 4" long bone scales! :)
-tr
see one, do one, teach one
Charl
Posts: 1901
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:03 pm
Location: South Africa

Re: Letter Opener...

Post by Charl »

Very nice!
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