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tourmaline-83 — Relief carving bone: tutorial
Published: 2011-07-10 02:33:04 +0000 UTC; Views: 26598; Favourites: 87; Downloads: 311
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Just thought I'd share for those interested at all.I use both a battery-operated dremel tool and an electric one, the electric because of it's ability to turn at higher speeds, and the battery one because of its lighter weight (the red one weighs 1.5 to 2 pounds!) and the assurance that I'm not going to take a huge chunk of bone out by accident while doing detailed finishing work. There's a lot of experimentation involved in these projects, but there are only a couple bits I use that aren't pictured here. You basically have to experiment and find out what works best for you. Gotta pitch in some money, but even the electric rotary tool was only $20. What we all need to save up for is a big, fancy flexi-shaft Foredom power carver! *sighs dreamy*
ANYWAY! Enjoy! There will be more pics to come, hopefully, and I think this guy will be up for sale when I finish ^^
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Comments: 29
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Do you think that a carver for glas-carving stick would work for that?
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I'm not sure 
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Awesome, I'm planning on getting a dremmel this Christmas. <3
Where would I go to find the size bits needed for carving?
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Any hardware store should have them. You can buy them individually or in packs. I can't find the specific number bit I want at the moment so I may end up purchasing it online. Whichever rotary tool you end up getting should include with it different sized collects to accommodate different sized bit shanks, also. And, since that tutorial, I've actually gotten a flex-shaft as well, which makes carving much easier. I actually want to save up for a power carver for Christmas ^^
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I see now, thanks.... I'm sure flexi-shaft foredom power carver is the beavers teeth!
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Oops. Disregard my other comment, heh!
I actually didn't have the money to spend on an actual 'power carver'. So, a simple high-speed rotary tool that you can hang up and a flex shaft work very well ^^
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Thank you so much for this! The funny thing is I just found your gallery after ordering a coyote skull myself and was wondering what I could do with it. Your work is fantastic it's beautiful yet subtle and clean, I love it.
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Glad I could be of use! <3 Good luck!
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Very cool! I'd love to try this someday. <3
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Thank you for posting this! I just found your gallery and was thinking how amazing these are. Do you need a breathing mask or anything from bone dust being thrown into the air?
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Definitely wear eye protection and a mask. Breathing bone dust always leaves me gagging and coughing for at least a day and half. It's not good for you! LoL
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Yaaaaaay! Thank you so much for posting this! It's the next best thing to having an apprenticeship!
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Ah, but experience is the best teacher ^^ Good luck and have fun!
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Yeah, but this is free. Still, you get what you pay for!
Thanks!
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Oh, definitely. I learned a lot just through experimentation. So, play, have fun. There's a little bit of planning involved (you can't un-carve bone) but if you take your time it's very rewarding ^^
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Sweet. May I ask, what a good place to get bones from is- like a reliable online shop, or maybe places in most city communities that might give or sell me some?
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Ebay's always good though you have to shop around. Taxidermy.net has 'for sale' and 'wanted to buy' sections. That's probably a good place to get things cheap. I've been macerating my own skulls, so basically, buy them raw from a trapper and clean them myself. But, heck, you can find bones/antlers in garage sales. I just found a complete roadkill deer to pilfer! Keep your eyes open and snoop around ^^
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Ah, thanks. I'll have to buy them pre-cleaned- I'll only have a small apartment, and probably no balcony/yard bone boiling space. That'd be a great way to meet my neighbors, though...
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LMAO!
Actually, you'd be surprised. I'd never try it, but some people swear they can muffle the smell completely inside their house/apartment somehow o__O; *baffled shrug*
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It would be my guess that these people either have very little in the way of carpets/soft furnishings, or they're extremely heavy smokers. 
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Thanks for posting this tutorial!
Do you get much "skipping" action with these bits when you go to start carving? I have this happen often with some of my forms I use my dremel on and I'm worried about it happening on a skull and me ruining it, lol.
Thanks again!
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Skipping, as in the bit bouncing off your material? I find that happens if I'm using a slower speed. If you think it's the bits then it could just be they're taking bigger chunks with each swing. I use the ones shown as well as diamond bits which are more like fine sandpaper.
Try different things, see what happens 
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Thanks kindly for the advice!
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