Official Luthiers Forum!

What kind of bone is actually used in nuts, saddles, pins, etc sold at places like Stew-Mac, LMI, etc?

Mike (just wondering)

cow, horse, camel, oxen ...depends where in the world it was procured from.

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A cows thigh bone is the thickest and easiest to obtain from a butcher
but even at that its hard to get ones thick enough to bother working with
Since we are on the subject

Has anyone gone to an abattoirs place to find bulls legs thats going to the pet store?
what about the shin bone of an old bull, is it thick enough for nuts?
thanks
tomas

I recall reading somewhere that pig bone is no good though. Probably on here.

Tomas,
I have access to nice cow bones. Lots of them.
The first one I tried to cut up was the thigh bone, and let me tell you, it was tough to find adequate thickness for saddles.
I think you'll be happier with shins than you will with thighs.

Dave

I read somewhere that you need ox bone . I suspect that older cattle will have better developed bone structure. That means that you want "canners and cutters" (hamberger beef).

Bob

Hey guys, I was just wondering what SM and LMI (et al) were using. I have no intentions of visiting my local butcher and trying to make my own. It ain't worth it.

Mike

I make my own using clean (not filled) bones from the local pet store. They have smaller ones that are almost square in shape and the outer walls are up to 3/8" thick. They are pre-bleached and sterile so no worries about getting them cleaned up. Keeping our dog out of them is a different matter. LOL

-Matthew

id still boil your blanks for a few hours
their was a really good tute about bone degreasing on the
web about a year ago but its gone now
but the man said that grease seeps out of the bone after
a few years and can part glue joints

Not to get too far off topic, but am wondering if anyone has tried using glass for the nut or/and saddle. I am currently building my 1st steel string so havent been able to experiment yet, but was thinking of trying this out. My mother works with stained glass, fused glass, and the like so I have access to a pluthora of colors and types with the ability to melt or fuse it to about any shape I can imagine. I am thinking glass is dense and hard enough to withstand the strings vibrations and may add to the sound. If anything it could at least provide some aesthetic options with different colors or multiple colors in the same piece.

Any input would be helpful, thanks in advance.

Heck of an idea, and worth some experimentation. I only see problems with adjusting the slots for strings...even a diamond file may make a mess trying to file a slot in glass.

Bet you need to use tempered glass.

Now back to a previous post by Matthew: I make my own using clean (not filled) bones from the local pet store. They have smaller ones that are almost square in shape and the outer walls are up to 3/8" thick. They are pre-bleached and sterile so no worries about getting them cleaned up. Keeping our dog out of them is a different matter. LOL

So you are using pet bones? Like dog & cat?

Mike

No...no...no. Beef bones for dogs to chew on.

I get mine from noisy neighborhood dogs.

Ha! You have to admit that thar was a funny interpretation. Neat way to remember the family dog in perpetuity.

Mike

I also use the bones from the pet store. I cut them to approximate shape and then let them degrease in naptha for 6 or 8 weeks or when I remember to take them out. They have worked really well for me, especially when I want to compensate a saddle and need the extra width.

Oh yeah, loved it.

Has anyone ever tried usingt the antlers of a deer? Kevin, TN

Well, we sure do have a lot of deer antlers around here... surely worth a try!

Mike

Deer antlers are too soft.

Interesting posts....Looks like I need to check out the dog shop for horn a bone material.
Glass is an interesting thought. My wife also works with glass. The only issue I see is the potential of a fracture. If there is the slightest nick in the slotting for strings or heat fracture using a diamond bit...it's just a matter of time before she blows. Absolute flat bottoms and neck/bridge surface beneath would be imperative. Tempered glass will also shatter under stress....just differently. So....my input would be to try it on a classical and stay away from steel strings and high tension as a trial. I can visualize some pretty cool color compliments to a guitar this way.

regarding the post on inlaying wifes stone beads for a rosette. I suppose it is also possible to use a softer stone material like Jadeite or even turquoise, alabaster or marble for nuts and bridges. Those materials CAN be shaped and filed without diamond tools..however, additional thickness (girth) would probably be required (much like glass) to keep that brittle a material from cracking under stress too. Then it's a weight issue I guess.

Kent

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