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Fine Embellishment Everything from hand engraving and scrimshaw to filework and carving. The fine art end of the knifemaker's craft.

 
 
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Old 03-11-2017, 08:56 AM
Andrew Garrett's Avatar
Andrew Garrett Andrew Garrett is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Nampa, Idaho
Posts: 3,584
Scrimshaw Discovery

For a long time now, I've been wanting to dive into scrimshaw.

As a recently retired tattoo artist, I thought scrimshaw would be a natural transition for me. It draws on the same disciplines, attention to detail, fine dexterity, etc. I even wanted to re-tune a tattoo machine to attempt some powered scrimshaw. However, wanting to walk before I run, I started with a hand scrim on the polished crown of a Kansas White-tail Deer antler.

Having read a book or two on scrimshaw, I made my own scribe from a round file handle. I tried a few different types of point geometry before I found one I liked.

I used a pencil eraser on the polished antler to give it the correct surface for drawing and scrimming. I drew a compass rose on the crown and dove in.

For ink, I used Kuro Sumi tattoo/calligraphy ink which I already had, of course.

Learnings:
Antler is harder than skin. It is also harder than ivory. It was incredibly difficult to get uniform line weights for the outline. Failing to meet expectations, I switched to a bulino style (stippling). Leaving impressions deep enough to take ink was almost impossible.

I retired from tattooing after 13 years because of the toll it was taking on my body--specifically, the tendons in my wrist, shoulders, and elbows. As much as it was true that scrimshaw draws on the same motions and techniques as tattooing, it is exponentially more true that scrimshaw abuses the same tendons. Two minutes into the job, the writing was on the wall. I am embarrassed I didn't make that mental connection sooner.

Rounded surfaces are tough to scrimshaw. Some sort of vice will be in order for future jobs. Yes..., I said future jobs. I'm going to convert my tattoo machine for some scrim work. It will be all bulino since that's what those machines do. I'll try a test piece and make a decision from there.

Needless to say, my rudimentary 'artwork' was sanded off and polished again. Good riddance.

I have mad respect for scrimshanders even more than I did before.


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antler, bee, bone, book, books, buffalo horn, bulino, deer antler, file, for sale, hand, handle, horn, ivory, knife, made, make, micarta, paint, plastic, sale, scrimshaw, surface, water, white


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