Bugg's Tagua Nut arrowhead

[Appalachian Hillbilly]

Bugs, I got some of those Tagua nuts and carved an arrowhead for my limb pads.

These things are rock hard!

Shot a coat of gloss to sand as filler just to see how they look.

[Mad Max]

What did you shape them with?

[wood carver 2]

That’s cool! I have some tagua nuts and I have never done anything with them. They really are as hard as rocks.
Dave.

[Appalachian Hillbilly]

Kutzall carbide burr and a Millwaukee M12 cordless die grinder

[Mad Max]

 

[Buggs]

Very nice That will look great. I think it looks great freshly cut, but it really looks like Ivory when it gets the age patina. No kidding they are hard, just like a coconut shell!
I was thinking a combo of Tagua and Water Buffalo horn, combined into some sort of checkerboard or keyboard pattern, might be an interesting look.

[Stagmitis]

Looks like it would work for tip overlays- wonder if its stainable.

[Buggs]

I don't know about staining, but they do take color with fiber reactive dyes. I think they must color after shaping. I cant imagine it penetrates very deep. Aniline dyes might work?
Found a stock photo. Image searches show a lot of cool colors and translucency

[Stagmitis]

Thanks for digging that up bugs- that brown would look cool caramel glass

[Kirkll]

Where do you guys get those nuts at?  I’ve been known to do a bit of wood carving now and then, and that stuff looks very much like ivory.

Did you use a Dremel tool to carve it? I’ve used those Diamond bits they use for jewelry on really hard material before like mother of pearl. You think it might work on these nuts?

I just gotta play with this stuff! That’s looking good!   Kirk

[Buggs]

I don't think its quite as hard as Abalone and it sure does not smell as bad when you are grinding it.

[Appalachian Hillbilly]

I got a pack from Amazon. Get the largest size they have. I use the Kutzall carbide burrs to carve it. Carefully slice it in half on bandsaw,  then glue each half to a paint stick so you can slice the 2 half safely.  After rough shaping g on belt sander, 5 minutes with the Kutzall burr a d you are done!

[Kirkll]

You got a photo of that kutzall burr you use?  I have some ceramic cutting  Dremel tips I use for doing tip overlays that are pretty aggressive, but you cannot do any detailed carving with them. And the Diamond tips for jewelry are pretty much made for stone and really hard materials, but gum up to badly on epoxy composite materials. Kirk

[Appalachian Hillbilly]

"Kutzall 1/8 X 7/8 Ballnose X-Crs 1/8 SH" https://www.woodworkingshop.com/product/KZBX188/

I have this in the X course and course.

[Kirkll]

"Kutzall 1/8 X 7/8 Ballnose X-Crs 1/8 SH" https://www.woodworkingshop.com/product/KZBX188/

I have this in the X course and course.

Thanks bro…. That bit looks like it might be a good stippling bit too with the round nose….I’m going to try one of those.   Kirk

[wood carver 2]

Those Kutzall burrs are awesome. When one gets all gummed up, clamp it in a vicegrip and burn off the gunk with a torch.
Dave.

[Appalachian Hillbilly]

I kinda balked at paying that for one...till I used it. Mine was like $19 locally.  Then I realized I blow that in stupid soft drinks and nasty fast food.

[Kirkll]

Those Kutzall burrs are awesome. When one gets all gummed up, clamp it in a vicegrip and burn off the gunk with a torch.
Dave.

I'll bet that torch would clean that epoxy gum up nicely!  Great idea! I typically use a sand paper gum bar used for sand paper, but i gotta try a torch now... Thanks... 

You guys are just full of it! ...... Wait.... That didn't sound right...      Kirk

[Kirkll]

I went to purchase one of these bits for $15.00 and could handle that price ok. But they wanted $11.00 to ship it. :….. I’m going to pass on that for now. I have issues getting gouged for shipping like that. 

I may see if woodcrafters has them in stock next time I run down there in Portland.


  Kirk

[rainman]

Woodcraft should have carving bits. Used to sell the Tagua nuts also.  If you turn them you have to be careful because they have voids.