Hogs fang open reed with Coyote scrimshaw

[ninthinning]

This call is made from a pure ivory warthog tusk.  Very loud call that makes good medium prey in distress.  Also makes good duck, elk, coyote, jack rabbit sounds.  $80



Actual size













Thank you,
9th

[Arkyyoter]

I like scrimshaw.....keep at it!!


Joe

[NASA]

Nice call!  I've always wondered how you do scrimshaw. Do you acid etch or hand carve, or use a dremmel tool somehow?  The fine detail must take a steadier hand than I have.  I could never do something as intricate as that.  Very nice.

[FinsnFur]

Ditto  The artwork is too cool.
Just out of curiosity, where do ya get all the hogs teeth? And dont say out of a hogs mouth 

[ninthinning]

Thanks Arky, and thank you for all your advice,

NASA,  I sketch an animal from a photograph then transfer the sketch to the ivory.  Its just a matter if making hundreds of little scratches or dots.  A few drops of India ink are rubbed into the scratches and the excess is wiped away.  What remains is the ink in the lines and holes. 

FinsnFur, Wart hog tusks come from Africa.  The ivory is very high grade and perfect for scrimshaw.  Lucky for me they come naturally almost a predator call.  The tusks come in different grades and sizes.  I use the largest tusks I can find in Grade A.


This is a howler with coyote scrimshaw.  The lines are filled with titanium white artist's acrylic paint.


I use a jewelers vice.  It is a heavy ball mounted in a ring that allows the work to be held in any position




The scrimshaw tools have a fine point sharpened on 800 grit stone.

[FinsnFur]

Daaaaaaaaang sweet little set up 

[Hawks Feather]

Ninth,

Thanks for posting the information.  That is how it is done, but doing it requires a lot more artistic ability than I will ever have.

Jerry

[FinsnFur]

I just got to thinking, you'd have to have the surface your scrimshawing dang near blemish free before you apply the Indian Ink or you'd get blotches outside the actual art too, wouldn't you?

[ninthinning]

Jim,
    First time I tried scrimshawing that is just what happened.  I rubbed the ink into the surface and every tiny blemish stood right out.  Now I get the tusk sanded down to a polished smooth surface.  The tusk is rough cut on a band saw. (I need a jig to hold the tusk after reading Arky's thumb post, I do use a Quacker Stacker jig to hold cast acrylic rod) The shaping is done with a one inch belt sander.  After that its 80 grit, 120 grit, 220 grit. 320 grit, 400 grit, 600 grit, 1000 grit the finally 2000 grit all hand sanding.  When scrimshawing the ivory one poor cut with the stylus or knife and its sand down and start again.
9th

[Arkyyoter]

Awesome!!! Thanks for the insight Eric!!!


Joe

[ninthinning]

Shot these pictures of the inking process.  Another happy bear.





















Still not charging for the scrimshaw as it is  practice.  some day I hope to get good at this but for now these calls are all hunting calls ment to be banged around.

thank you,
9th

[Hawks Feather]

Ninth,

I like watching the changes as the ink or dye is applied and the scrimshaw takes shape.

Thanks,

Jerry

[ninthinning]

The cuts and scratches look pretty rough in the enlarged photos.  The work is about the size of a postage stamp and when viewed with the naked eye looks good.  This picture is about the actual size:

[FinsnFur]

Nice work.
The bears face looks a little funky, but it's 100 times better then I could ever do. 

[ninthinning]

I agree,  the head just kept getting to look more and more like an Amish farmer.  3 seconds on the belt sander and it looks like a polar bear in a snow storm.
9th