Page 1 of 1

Letter Opener...

Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 9:37 pm
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.

Image

Image

Image

Re: Letter Opener...

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 12:25 am
by kamkiel
I'd open my letters with it!

Re: Letter Opener...

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 8:32 am
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.

Re: Letter Opener...

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 2:02 pm
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.

Re: Letter Opener...

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 2:43 pm
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.

Re: Letter Opener...

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 9:13 am
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! :)

Re: Letter Opener...

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 2:30 pm
by Charl
Very nice!